In classic Outlook, select File, then Change under your current photo, which opens Outlook in a web browser where you choose Change photo and Save. In Outlook on the web, select your profile picture, then View account, select the picture in the My account pane, choose Upload a new photo and select Apply.
The steps depend on which Outlook you're using, and that's where most of the confusion starts. Microsoft has two separate support articles for this, one for classic Outlook and one for Outlook on the web, and what follows is taken from both as of Nov 2026. I've set it out as the questions people ask, in the order they usually ask them.
Which Outlook are you on?
How do I tell classic Outlook from Outlook on the web?
Classic Outlook is the one with a File menu. Microsoft's classic article applies to Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2024, Outlook 2021, Outlook 2019 and Outlook 2016. Outlook on the web is the one you open in a browser, and Microsoft's web article applies to Office 365 Small Business and Outlook.com. If you sign in to read your mail in a browser tab, you're on the web version.
Why does classic Outlook send me to a browser?
Because the photo itself is changed online. When you click Change in classic Outlook, Microsoft says you're taken to Outlook in a web browser, and you may be asked to sign in again. Don't be thrown by that: it's expected, not a sign something's gone wrong. Have your password handy before you start.
It also explains why the two sets of steps look so different. Classic Outlook is just a doorway: it shows your Account Information and a Change link, then hands the job to the browser. On the web, you're already in the right place, so you go straight to your profile picture and View account. Same result, different starting point.
Changing the photo, one version at a time
What are the steps in classic Outlook?
- In Outlook, select File to see Account Information.
- Select Change under your current photo.
- In the browser window that opens, sign in again if asked.
- Select your profile picture in the top corner, then select it again.
- Select Change photo, browse to the image and select Open.
- Select Save.
What are the steps in Outlook on the web?
- At the top of the page, select your profile picture, then select View account.
- In the My account pane, select your profile picture.
- In the Change your photo dialog, select Upload a new photo.
- Choose a photo to upload and select Apply.
Which image files can I use?
Microsoft says Outlook can use image file formats such as .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, or .tif. You can resize, zoom or rotate the picture before you save it, so there's no need to crop it perfectly beforehand. Pick a square-ish image with your face in the middle, since Outlook shows the photo small next to your name, and fine detail won't survive. A clear, well-lit head shot will read best at the tiny size Outlook shows it.
How long until people see the new photo?
This is the catch most people miss. For classic Outlook, Microsoft's guide to changing your profile photo says it can take up to 48 hours for the new photo to appear. On the web, the new photo appears the next time you sign in to Microsoft 365. So if you've saved it and nothing's changed, don't upload it three more times. Wait, sign out and back in, and give it the full 48 hours before you decide it hasn't worked.
While you're tidying up your Outlook setup, it's worth knowing about email addresses disappearing from Outlook, because that one catches people out in a similar way.
Why is the Change link missing?
Who controls my photo at work?
If there's no Change link, it's usually not a bug. Microsoft says your name, photo or title may be controlled by systems your IT or human resources department controls, and if you want to update those details you'll need to contact your administrator. The web article says the same about details like your name and job title, which you can see via your profile picture, then View account, then My account. In plain terms: on a work account, the photo might not be yours to change.
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What about a personal Outlook.com address?
Microsoft links a separate article, 'Change your photo or name in Outlook.com', for that. Its steps aren't covered on this page, so follow Microsoft's article for personal accounts.
Can I change it from the Outlook phone app?
Neither of Microsoft's two articles covers mobile app steps. Use the classic or web steps above, and the new photo should follow your account once it's had time to update.
My view: this is a two-minute job that people turn into a two-day saga because they don't know about the delay or the admin lock. Check which Outlook you're on, use the matching steps, then leave it alone for a while. And if your photo matters because you send a lot from Outlook, my guide to sending a newsletter from Outlook is the natural next read.
Quick answers
Why hasn't my new Outlook photo appeared?
In classic Outlook, Microsoft says it can take up to 48 hours for the new photo to appear. On the web it appears the next time you sign in to Microsoft 365.
Why can't I change my Outlook profile picture at work?
Your photo may be controlled by your IT or human resources department. Microsoft says to contact your administrator.
What file types does Outlook accept for a profile photo?
Microsoft lists .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp and .tif.
