To change your profile picture on Facebook, go to your profile, tap or click the camera icon on your current profile picture, then pick a photo or upload a new one, adjust it and save. It works the same way in the app and on a computer, and you can also change it from Accounts Centre under Profiles.
Before you hit save, it helps to know where the new photo will show up. Facebook's Help Centre says a new profile picture is posted on your profile and may appear in your friends' Feeds, lands in your Profile Pictures album, and becomes the small thumbnail next to your name everywhere you comment or post.
The rule people don't expect: Facebook says your current profile picture and cover photo are always public, so anyone on or off Facebook can see them. You can't set your current one to Friends only. You can only limit who sees your old ones, or lock your profile if that's offered in your country.
On a computer
These are the steps Facebook's Help Centre gives for the website:
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook, then click your name to open your profile.
- Click the camera icon in the bottom right of your profile picture.
- Select a photo you've already posted, upload a new one, or add a frame to your existing picture.
- Follow the on-screen steps to crop and position it, then save.
On your phone
- Open the Facebook app and go to your profile.
- Tap your profile picture or the camera icon on it.
- Choose to select a new profile picture, then pick a photo from your phone or from your Facebook photos.
- Drag and zoom to position your face in the circle.
- Add a frame or make it temporary if you want, then tap Save.
Menus shift between app versions. If a label looks different on your phone, search Facebook's settings for the words profile picture.
In the app you may see an option about sharing the update to your Feed before you save. If it's there and you'd rather change your photo quietly, switch it off. If you don't see it, that's fine: the update can still appear on your profile and in friends' Feeds, as Facebook's Help Centre explains.
The Accounts Centre route
Facebook is moving some account settings into Accounts Centre, and the Help Centre gives a second path there. It's handy if you manage more than one profile:
- Click your profile picture in the top right, then Settings and privacy.
- Click Settings.
- Click See more in Accounts Centre, then Profiles.
- Choose the profile you want to update and click Profile picture.
- Click Upload new photo and follow the steps to save.
Facebook notes that some people now see Meta Account settings instead of Accounts Centre. The steps inside are similar. It also says Meta Verified subscribers follow a slightly different process, so if you have that subscription, check its own help article first.
Extras you can add while you're there
| Option | What it does | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Edit thumbnail | Repositions the small version that shows next to your name | Use the zoom scale and drag the image, then save |
| Frame | Adds a decorative frame over your photo | You can remove a frame later from the same menu |
| Make temporary | Switches back to your previous picture on a date you choose | Expired pictures still stay in your Profile Pictures album |
| Animate | Turns a still photo into a short animation from preset styles | Visitors to your profile see the animated version |
Temporary pictures are great for a birthday, a cause or a big match day. Pick Make temporary, choose when to switch back, and Facebook does the rest.
If the picture won't change
Facebook's own troubleshooting list is short and sensible:
- Update the Facebook app to the latest version, or close and restart it.
- Check you're on a reliable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
- Refresh the page and try again if you're on a computer.
- If it still fails, report a problem from Facebook's help menu.
One more thing I'd check: very large or unusual image files can stall on a slow connection. Try a regular photo straight from your camera roll first.
Choosing a photo that works
Your profile picture shows up tiny in comments and Messenger, so pick something that reads at thumbnail size. A clear face, decent light and a plain background beat a group shot every time. If you use Facebook for business, use the same photo you use on LinkedIn and Instagram so people know it's you.
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Timing can matter too. If you'd like friends to notice and react, my guide on the best time to change your Facebook profile picture covers when people are most likely to see it. Updating your header at the same time? Here's how to change your cover photo on Facebook.
A quick checklist I'd run before uploading:
- Is your face centred, so it survives being cropped into a circle?
- Does it still look like you when it's shrunk to the size of a fingernail?
- Is there anything in the background you'd rather strangers didn't see, like your house number, your car registration or your children's school badge?
- Would you be comfortable with a future employer or client seeing it, given it's public?
- Is it a photo you took or one you have the right to use?
If the answer to all five is yes, you're good to go. If not, it takes two minutes to crop or pick another shot, and that's much easier than explaining a photo later.
Keeping old profile pictures private
Your current photo is public, but your old ones don't have to be. Facebook lets you change the audience for photos you've used as profile pictures in the past, and if profile lock is offered where you live, it hides your full-size picture from people who aren't your friends. I've set out the steps in how to make your Facebook profile picture private.
My advice: if privacy is the reason you're changing your photo, choose an image you're happy for strangers to see. That's the only setting you fully control on the current picture.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change my profile picture on Facebook?
Go to your profile, tap or click the camera icon on your profile picture, choose or upload a photo, adjust it and save.
Can I change my Facebook profile picture without everyone seeing?
Your current profile picture is always public, according to Facebook. In the app, switch off any option to share the update to Feed if you see one, but anyone can still view the photo itself.
Can I change my profile picture back after a while automatically?
Yes. Choose Make temporary when you upload, then pick when Facebook should switch back to your previous picture.
Where do my old profile pictures go?
They stay in your Profile Pictures album. You can change their audience or delete them from there.
Why won't Facebook let me change my profile picture?
Facebook suggests updating or restarting the app, checking your connection and refreshing the page. If that fails, report the problem from the help menu.
