Facebook Temporary Profile Picture: How to Set One (and Frames)

Temporary profile pictures are made for moments: a birthday week, a sports final, a charity campaign, an awareness day. You get to join in without remembering to change your picture back afterwards, which is the bit everyone forgets.

How to set a temporary profile picture

1. Click your profile picture at the top right of Facebook, then click your name to open your profile.
2. Click your profile picture, then click Choose profile picture.
3. Choose Upload Photo to use a new picture, or Add Frame to put a frame on your current one.
4. Click Make Temporary.
5. Choose when Facebook should switch back to your previous profile picture.
6. Click Save.

On the date you chose, your old picture comes back on its own. You don't need to do anything else, and there's no reminder to act on.

Two things to know before you do it

Fact	Why it matters
Your profile picture is always public	Anyone can see a temporary picture, whatever your other privacy settings
Expired pictures stay in your album	The temporary picture isn't deleted. It remains in your profile pictures album

That second point catches people out. If you used a temporary picture you'd rather not keep, open your profile pictures album after it expires and delete it or change who can see it. Your profile picture itself is always public, so choose something you're happy for strangers to see.

Profile frames explained

Frames are the borders and overlays you see on friends' pictures during big events. Facebook says you can add a frame to show support for causes, events you're marked as attending that have frames, your favourite holidays and more. Adding a frame creates a new picture that combines the frame with your old profile picture, so your original photo isn't changed.

Frames and temporary pictures work well together. Pick Add Frame, choose the frame, then Make Temporary, and the frame comes off by itself when the event is over.

Good uses for a temporary picture

• A charity fundraiser or awareness week you're supporting.
• Your team's big match or tournament.
• A birthday, anniversary or graduation week.
• A product launch or event if you use your personal profile for work.
• A holiday frame you'd otherwise forget to remove in January.

For business owners there's a practical angle too. If you're promoting an event, a temporary framed picture tells everyone who sees your comments that something's happening, and it reverts to your normal headshot once it's done. For timing, see my guide to the best time to change your Facebook profile picture.

Example: a charity week in five minutes

Say you're supporting a fundraising week that runs Monday to Sunday. Here's the whole job:

1. On Monday morning, open your profile picture and click Choose profile picture.
2. Choose Add Frame and search for the campaign's frame, or upload the campaign graphic as a photo if there's no frame.
3. Click Make Temporary and set it to switch back after a week.
4. Save, then share a post explaining why you're supporting the cause, so the new picture has context.
5. The following week, check your profile pictures album and decide whether to keep the framed version there.

That's it. Nobody sees you forget to change it back in March, and the post you shared does more for the cause than the picture alone. If several friends are joining in, send them the frame name so everyone's pictures match for the week.

Temporary picture vs changing it yourself

	Make Temporary	Change it manually
Reverts on its own	Yes, on the date you pick	No, you have to remember
Works with frames	Yes	Also works with frames
Kept in your album	Yes	Stays in the album too
Best for	Events, causes, holidays	A permanent new photo

Can I change it back early?

Yes. Just change your profile picture again the normal way: click the camera icon on your profile picture and choose your old photo from your albums. The temporary timer no longer matters once you've picked a new picture yourself.

Temporary picture not working?

1. Update the Facebook app, or restart it.
2. Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
3. Refresh the page and try again on a computer.
4. Still stuck? Report the problem from Facebook's help menu.

If your picture isn't updating at all, rather than just not reverting, Facebook's own advice is the same: update, check your connection and refresh. If your account itself is having problems, my guide to why Facebook locks accounts may help.

Animated profile pictures

Facebook can also turn a still photo into a short animation from a set of presets, which plays when people visit your profile. It's a different feature from temporary pictures, but it's worth knowing about if you want your profile to stand out for a while.

My verdict

Temporary profile pictures are the easy way to join a moment without forgetting to change back. Set the switch-back date at the same time, remember the picture is public, and tidy your profile pictures album afterwards if you don't want it kept. Used well, it's a small, friendly way to show what you care about without it becoming a permanent part of your profile.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a temporary profile picture on Facebook?

Click your profile picture, then Choose profile picture. Upload a photo or add a frame, click Make Temporary, pick a switch-back date and save.

Does a temporary profile picture get deleted?

No. After it expires, it stays in your profile pictures album.

Can everyone see my temporary profile picture?

Yes. Facebook says your profile picture is always public.

Can I add a frame for a limited time?

Yes. Choose Add Frame, then Make Temporary, and pick when to switch back.