To add a profile picture on Zoom, sign in to the Zoom web portal, click your initials in the top-right corner, choose Profile, click the pencil icon on the picture frame, upload or take a photo, crop it and click Save. Use a JPG, PNG or GIF under 2MB, and it updates on every device you're signed in to.
A Zoom profile picture is what people see when your camera is off, which on most calls is more often than we'd admit. Without one you're a name on a black box. Zoom handles pictures through its web portal rather than the app, which is why people often can't find the option. Here's how to add one, the file rules, and what to do when it won't show up in meetings.
Add your Zoom profile picture
- Sign in to the Zoom web portal in your browser.
- Click your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner, then click Profile.
- In the section with your name, click the pencil icon on the picture frame.
- Drag and drop a photo, click Choose Files, or click Take photo to use your webcam.
- Adjust the crop if you need to, then click Save.
Zoom says changes you make in the web portal show up on every device where you're signed in to your account, so there's no need to repeat it on your phone.
File rules
| Rule | What Zoom accepts |
|---|---|
| File types | JPG or JPEG, GIF, or PNG |
| File size | Smaller than 2MB |
| Changes appear | On all devices signed in to your account |
If the upload fails, the file is probably too large. Phone photos are often bigger than 2MB, so crop or resize it first, or take a quick screenshot of the photo, which usually produces a smaller file.
Where people see your picture
- In meetings when your video is off, unless the host hides profile pictures.
- Next to your messages in the meeting chat, unless the host turns that off.
- In Zoom Contacts, next to your name.
- In Zoom Chat.
- To your account owner and admins.
That first point is the big one. In a meeting where you keep your camera off, your picture is your face for the whole call, so make it a clear one.
Signed in with Google?
If you sign in to Zoom with Google or Gmail and haven't added a Zoom picture, Zoom says it uses your Google profile picture instead. No Google picture means an empty box. So if an old Google photo keeps appearing in your meetings, either change it in your Google account or add a separate picture in the Zoom web portal, which takes over.
If your new picture won't show in meetings
Zoom's fix is simple: sign out of the Zoom app, restart it and sign back in. The app sometimes holds on to the old picture until it refreshes your account. And if the host of a meeting has chosen to hide profile pictures, yours won't appear there, which is a host setting rather than a problem with your picture.
Changing or deleting your picture
To change it, follow the same steps and upload a new photo. To remove it, click the pencil icon, open the Change drop-down and choose Delete, then confirm. Zoom warns that a deleted picture can't be retrieved, so keep a copy of any photo you like.
Doing it from your phone
Zoom's own instructions for profile pictures are written for the web portal, and that's the route I'd use even on a phone. Open your phone's browser, sign in to the Zoom web portal, go to Profile and tap the pencil icon on the picture frame. You can pick a photo from your camera roll or take a new one. Because changes made in the web portal apply to every device you're signed in on, the new picture will appear in the Zoom app too, once it refreshes. If it doesn't, sign out of the app and back in.
Smart name tags in Zoom Rooms
When you upload, you may see an option to use your picture for Zoom Rooms automatic smart name tags. If your office has Zoom Rooms, this lets Zoom recognise you on camera in the meeting room and add your name to your video. It needs a picture of your face to work. Leave it unticked if you'd rather not.
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Choosing a good Zoom photo
- Head and shoulders, facing the camera, in good light.
- A plain background so you're easy to see at small sizes.
- The same photo you use on LinkedIn and your email signature, so clients recognise you everywhere.
- For a shared company account, a clear logo rather than a person.
If you're refreshing profile photos across your apps, my guide on changing your Spotify profile picture covers another one people forget, and a quick look at the Google Business Profile checklist helps if you're updating your business photos too.
My verdict
Add your picture through the Zoom web portal, not the app: Profile, the pencil icon, upload, crop, save. Keep the file under 2MB, and if it doesn't appear in meetings, sign out and back in. A clear, friendly photo makes cameras-off calls feel far more human.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a profile picture on Zoom?
Sign in to the Zoom web portal, click your initials, choose Profile, click the pencil icon on the picture frame, upload or take a photo and click Save.
What size should a Zoom profile picture be?
Zoom accepts JPG/JPEG, GIF or PNG files smaller than 2MB.
Why isn't my Zoom profile picture showing in meetings?
Sign out of the Zoom app, restart it and sign back in. The host may also have hidden profile pictures for the meeting.
Why does Zoom show my Google photo?
If you sign in with Google and have no Zoom picture, Zoom uses your Google profile picture. Add one in the Zoom web portal to replace it.
Can I recover a deleted Zoom profile picture?
No. Zoom says a deleted profile picture can no longer be retrieved.
