What an avatar is and where Facebook shows yours
Your avatar is the small picture that appears next to your name everywhere on Facebook — in comments, posts, messages, and your profile. It is the image people see first when they interact with you on the platform. Facebook calls this your "profile picture," but the term avatar applies to any account image that represents you online.
Your avatar shows up in the News Feed when you post or comment, in Messenger conversations, on your profile page, and in search results when someone looks for your name. It is one of the first things people notice about your account, so changing it is straightforward and takes less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Your avatar is the small picture next to your name on Facebook, visible in posts, comments, messages, and your profile.
- You can change your avatar by clicking your profile picture in the top right corner, selecting "Profile," and choosing "Edit profile picture."
- Facebook lets you upload a new photo, choose from existing photos, or take a new one with your device camera.
- You can set a temporary avatar frame that displays for a limited time, or remove your picture entirely if you prefer not to use one.
- Changes take effect when ready across all of Facebook, and old avatars are not deleted — you can switch back anytime.
How to upload a new photo as your avatar
On a computer, click your profile picture in the top right corner of Facebook. A dropdown menu appears. Select "Profile" to go to your profile page. Look for your current avatar picture and hover over it — a camera icon will appear. Click that icon, then select "Upload photo." Choose an image file from your computer and click "Open." Facebook uploads it when ready and sets it as your new avatar.
On a phone or tablet, tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the Facebook app. Scroll down and tap "Profile." Tap your current avatar picture. A menu appears with options to upload a photo, choose from existing photos, or take a new one. Select "Upload photo," find the image in your phone's photo library, and tap it. The new avatar appears right away.
Choosing from photos you already have on Facebook
You do not have to upload a brand new file. Facebook lets you pick any photo already on your account. When you tap or click the camera icon on your avatar, select "Choose from photos" instead of "Upload photo." A gallery of your existing photos appears — these include pictures you have posted, been tagged in, or saved to your account.
Scroll through and tap or click the photo you want to use. Facebook crops it to a square and shows you a preview. You can adjust the crop by dragging the image around inside the square frame. Once you are satisfied, confirm the selection. The photo becomes your new avatar when ready, and the original photo stays on your account unchanged.
Taking a new photo with your device camera
If you want to take a fresh picture right now, Facebook's app lets you do this directly. On your phone or tablet, tap your avatar picture and select "Take a photo." Your device's camera opens. Take the picture, review it, and tap the checkmark or confirm button. Facebook crops it to a square, lets you adjust the framing, and sets it as your avatar once you confirm.
This option is only available in the Facebook mobile app, not on the website. If you are on a computer and want to take a new photo, you will need to take the picture with your device first, save it, and then upload it through the "Upload photo" option.
Using avatar frames and temporary profile pictures
Facebook also offers avatar frames — decorative borders that appear around your profile picture for a set time. These are different from changing your actual avatar. To add a frame, click your profile picture, select "Add frame," and browse available frames. Some are seasonal, some support causes, and some are just decorative. Choose one and set how long you want it to display — options range from a few hours to several weeks. The frame appears around your current avatar but does not replace it.
You can also set a temporary profile picture that displays for a limited time before reverting to your regular avatar. Click your avatar, select "Use temporary profile picture," choose a photo, and set an end date. This is useful if you want to change your picture for an event or holiday without making it permanent. When the time expires, Facebook automatically switches back to your previous avatar.
What happens to your old avatars
Changing your avatar does not delete the old one. Facebook keeps a history of your profile pictures in your profile photo album, which only you and people you have given permission to see can view. You can switch back to any previous avatar anytime by going to your profile, clicking your current avatar, selecting "See all photos," and choosing an old one from the list.
If you want to remove a photo from this history entirely, you can delete it from your profile photo album. However, this does not affect the avatar itself — it only removes the photo from your account. Your current avatar will stay in place until you change it to something else.
Removing your avatar or using a default image
Facebook requires some kind of image next to your name, but you do not have to use a photo of yourself. You can upload an illustration, a logo, a landscape, or any other image. If you want to remove your current avatar, you cannot leave the space blank — instead, you can set it to Facebook's default silhouette image, which is a generic outline of a person.
To use the default image, click your avatar, select "Remove," and confirm. Facebook replaces your picture with the silhouette. You can change back to a real photo anytime by following the upload steps above. Some people use the default image for privacy reasons, though it makes your account less recognizable to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my avatar on Facebook without uploading a new photo?
Yes. You can choose any photo already on your account by selecting "Choose from photos" when you click the camera icon on your avatar. You can also use a frame to add decoration around your current picture without changing the picture itself.
How long does it take for my new avatar to show up everywhere on Facebook?
Your new avatar appears when ready on your profile and in your own view. It may take a few minutes to show up in other people's feeds and in search results as Facebook updates across its servers, but this is usually very fast.
Can someone else change my avatar?
No. Only you can change your own avatar. If someone else has access to your Facebook password, they could change it, which is why keeping your password private is important. If you think someone changed your avatar without permission, change your password right away.
What size should my avatar photo be?
Facebook automatically crops your photo to a square and resizes it to fit. You do not need to resize it yourself beforehand. Any photo you upload will work — Facebook handles the technical details. Larger, clearer photos tend to look better when shrunk down to avatar size.
Can I set different avatars for different Facebook groups or pages?
No. Your personal avatar is the same across all of Facebook. However, if you manage a Facebook Page (not your personal profile), that Page can have its own separate image. Pages and personal profiles use different avatar systems.