How to Change Your Profile Picture on LinkedIn (Desktop and App)

Your LinkedIn photo is the first thing people notice in search results, comments and connection requests. LinkedIn's own help says a photo helps current and potential connections recognise you. If yours is years old, blurry or cropped from a wedding, a new one is among the quickest ways to make your profile feel current.

The steps differ a little between the website and the app, and there's one warning worth reading before you hit Delete. I'll go through both, plus the editing tools, who can see your photo and the kinds of image LinkedIn may remove.

Changing your LinkedIn profile picture on a computer

1. Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage, then View profile.
2. Click your current photo in the introduction section.
3. In the Profile photo window, choose Add photo to replace it.
4. Pick Upload photo to choose a file, or Use camera to take a new one.
5. Crop and adjust the image, then click Save photo.

If you don't have a photo yet, you'll see a Camera icon in your introduction section instead. Click it and follow the same Upload photo or Use camera options.

Updating your LinkedIn photo in the mobile app

1. Tap your profile photo, then View Profile.
2. Tap your photo in the upper left corner.
3. Tap View or edit profile photo.
4. Tap Add photo to choose a new picture from your library or take one.
5. Make any edits, then tap Save.

Editing your LinkedIn photo without replacing it

If you like the picture but the framing's off, you don't need to upload a new one. Choose Edit in the Profile photo window. LinkedIn's help lists these tools:

• Crop, to cut out background clutter.
• Filters and adjustments, to fix lighting.
• Position and size, to centre your face.
• Rotation, if the photo came in sideways.
• Visibility, to choose who can see your photo.

That visibility setting is useful if you want to keep your photo private from people outside your network, while still showing it to your connections.

The warning before you delete a LinkedIn photo

LinkedIn's help says that once you delete or replace a photo, it can't be restored. So save the file you want somewhere safe before swapping, especially if it was taken by a professional photographer and you might want it again.

What LinkedIn allows as a profile photo

LinkedIn's guidelines say your profile photo must reflect your likeness. An illustration or caricature of you is fine, as long as it still looks like you. It may remove photos that consist only of:

Likely to be removed	Why it matters
Company logos	Your profile is for you; logos belong on a company page
Emojis, words or phrases	They don't show who you are
Landscapes, animals or flags	Nobody can recognise you
Childhood or baby photos	They don't reflect your likeness now
Other people, stock images, celebrities or fictional characters	They aren't you

If a photo is removed, you can upload a different one.

Choosing a LinkedIn photo that works for your business

For small business owners and freelancers, your face often is the brand. A few pointers:

• Use a recent photo that looks like you on a video call today.
• Fill most of the circle with your head and shoulders.
• Pick a plain or softly blurred background.
• Face a window for natural light.
• Wear what you'd wear to meet a client.
• Use the same photo across your other professional profiles, so people recognise you everywhere.

Once the photo's sorted, the rest of your profile deserves the same care. My LinkedIn profile optimisation checklist goes section by section.

A quick word on timing. If you're about to speak at an event, launch something or start pitching new clients, update your photo a week or so beforehand. People who meet you will look you up, and a picture that matches the person they've just met builds trust straight away. It also helps to refresh it whenever your look changes noticeably, whether that's a new haircut, glasses or simply a few years passing.

Profile photo, frames and background photo on LinkedIn

Three images often get confused:

• Your profile photo is the circle with your face.
• Frames are overlays on that circle, such as #OpenToWork or #hiring. You can edit or remove them through Frames in the Profile photo window.
• Your background photo is the wide banner behind your profile photo in the introduction section. It follows the same LinkedIn policies.

Changing your photo doesn't have to change your frame, and vice versa. If you're juggling a lot of profile updates, my tips on saving time managing your LinkedIn profile will help.

If your new LinkedIn profile picture won't upload

1. Try a different photo file in case the original is damaged.
2. Switch between the app and the website.
3. Refresh the page, or update the app.
4. Check the photo meets LinkedIn's guidelines on showing your likeness.
5. If it keeps getting removed, read the guidelines again and choose a clear photo of you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my profile picture on LinkedIn?

On a computer, click Me, then View profile, click your photo and choose Add photo to upload a new one, then click Save photo. In the app, tap your photo, then View or edit profile photo and Add photo.

Can I get my old LinkedIn photo back after replacing it?

No. LinkedIn's help says a deleted or replaced photo can't be restored, so keep a copy before you swap.

Can I use a logo as my LinkedIn profile picture?

LinkedIn says it may remove photos that consist solely of company logos. Your profile photo must reflect your likeness.

Can I hide my LinkedIn photo from strangers?

Yes. When you edit your photo, LinkedIn includes a visibility setting so you can choose who sees it.

Can I use a cartoon of myself on LinkedIn?

LinkedIn allows an illustration, caricature or other artistic rendering of yourself, as long as it reflects your likeness.