How to Change Your WhatsApp Profile Picture (Android and iPhone)

Your WhatsApp profile picture is the first thing people see next to your name, in their chat list, in groups and when you message them for the first time. For a lot of small-business owners it's also the first impression a new customer gets. A blurry holiday snap from years ago doesn't say much, so it's worth a two-minute refresh. Here's how to change, remove or sync your WhatsApp profile photo on each device, and how to control who sees it, based on WhatsApp's help centre.

Change your WhatsApp profile photo on Android

1. Open WhatsApp and tap More options (the three dots), then Settings.
2. Tap your profile picture, then Edit.
3. Tap Camera to take a new photo, or Gallery to choose one you already have.
4. Tap Done.

Menus vary by app version, so if you don't see Edit straight away, tap your name or photo at the top of Settings first.

Change your WhatsApp profile photo on iPhone

1. Open WhatsApp and tap your profile picture to get to Settings.
2. Tap your profile picture again, then tap Edit.
3. Tap Take photo, then Use Photo and Done to take a new picture with your camera.
4. Or tap Choose photo, pick an image and tap Choose.

Remove your WhatsApp profile picture altogether

• Android: go to Settings, tap your profile picture, then Edit, tap the delete (bin) icon and then Remove.
• iPhone: go to Settings, tap your profile picture, then Edit, tap Delete photo and confirm with Delete.

Removing your photo doesn't affect your name, About or chats. It just takes the picture away until you add a new one.

Use your Facebook or Instagram picture on WhatsApp

If you've added WhatsApp to your Meta Account (WhatsApp's help page says Accounts Center is gradually being renamed Meta Account), you can bring your picture across from Facebook or Instagram.

1. Go to Settings, tap your profile picture, then Edit.
2. Tap Instagram or Facebook (on iPhone, Import from Facebook or Import from Instagram).
3. If asked, follow the steps to add your profiles to your Meta Account.
4. Move and resize the circle to crop the image, then tap Choose.

You can also keep one picture across all three apps. In Settings, open Meta Account, tap Syncing profile pictures, then Start a new sync, choose your profiles and a picture, and tap Save. WhatsApp's help page notes that once they're synced, changing the picture on one account updates the others too. Adding WhatsApp to your Meta Account is optional.

Choosing a WhatsApp profile picture that works for business

A few things I'd suggest if customers or clients message you on WhatsApp:

• Use a clear, well-lit photo of your face if you're the business. People like knowing who they're talking to.
• If you'd rather use a logo, keep it simple, because the photo shows as a small circle. My guide on getting a WhatsApp Business logo that looks professional goes into the detail.
• Centre the important part, because the corners get cropped by the circle.
• Use a decent-sized image. WhatsApp's help centre suggests a picture at least 192 pixels high and wide to avoid a low quality profile picture.

WhatsApp's help page also mentions that HD media isn't available for profile pictures, so don't worry if your photo looks a little softer than the original.

Update your WhatsApp name and About while you're there

Your picture sits alongside your profile name and About, and it's worth checking all three in one go, especially if customers see them.

• Name: go to Settings, tap your profile picture, then Name. WhatsApp's limit is 25 characters, and its help page says your profile name is visible to people in groups who haven't saved your contact details.
• About: go to Settings, tap your profile picture, then About. Pick a ready-made line or write your own, then tap Duration to choose how long it's visible.
• Username: WhatsApp's help page says you can edit your username at any time, separately from your name.

For a business, I'd use your trading name or your own name plus the business, and an About line that tells people when you usually reply.

Control who can see your WhatsApp profile photo

By default, WhatsApp's help centre says any user can see your profile photo. You can tighten that:

1. Go to Settings, then Privacy (on Android, tap More options first).
2. Tap Profile photo.
3. Choose Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except, or Nobody.

If someone's bothering you, WhatsApp says that people you block won't see updates to your photo or About. My guide on blocking someone on WhatsApp covers that step. WhatsApp also blocks screenshots of profile pictures, so other people can't screenshot yours, and you can't switch that protection off.

If your new WhatsApp picture won't show or save

• Check your privacy setting. If it's set to My contacts, people who haven't saved your number won't see it.
• Give WhatsApp permission to use your camera and photos in your phone's settings, or the Camera and Gallery options won't work.
• Update the app if the Edit option is missing or looks different.
• Changing your picture doesn't send any message to your contacts, so they'll only notice it when they next see your chat or profile.

Frequently asked questions

Does WhatsApp tell people when I change my profile picture?

WhatsApp's help pages don't describe any alert. People simply see the new picture next to your name.

Can I hide my WhatsApp profile picture from one person?

Yes. In Settings, then Privacy, then Profile photo, choose My contacts except and pick that person, or choose Nobody to hide it from everyone.

Can I use my Facebook photo on WhatsApp?

Yes, if you add WhatsApp to your Meta Account. Edit your profile picture and choose Facebook or Instagram to import it.

Why does my WhatsApp profile picture look blurry?

Profile photos are compressed, and WhatsApp says HD media isn't available for profile pictures. It suggests using an image at least 192 pixels high and wide.

Can people screenshot my WhatsApp profile picture?

No. WhatsApp blocks screenshots of profile pictures, and you can't turn that off.