How to Delete Snapchat Profile Picture (and Bitmoji Too)

Snapchat has two different things that people call a profile picture, and mixing them up is why so many guides leave you stuck. One is the photo on a Public Profile. The other is your Bitmoji avatar. They're removed in different places.

I've followed Snapchat's own help articles for both. If you run a creator page or a small brand profile, it's worth knowing the difference before you delete anything, because one of the two can't be undone. It's also worth knowing who can see the picture, which I'll cover below.

Which Snapchat profile picture are you trying to delete?

• A photo on your Public Profile: this is the picture you chose from your Memories or Camera Roll. You can delete it.
• Your Bitmoji avatar: this is the cartoon you made in Bitmoji. You can remove it from Snapchat.

If you haven't set up a Public Profile, there may be no photo to delete. In that case, jump down to the Bitmoji section.

Deleting the photo on your Snapchat Public Profile

1. Open Snapchat and go to your Public Profile.
2. Tap your existing profile picture.
3. Tap Delete Existing Photo.

That's the entire process according to Snapchat's help article. You can tap the pencil icon at the top of your Public Profile to edit it, and menu names can differ slightly between app versions.

Changing the Snapchat profile picture instead of deleting it

If you'd rather swap the photo than lose it, Snapchat gives these steps for updating an existing picture:

1. Tap your existing profile picture.
2. Tap Choose from Library and pick a photo.
3. Move and scale the picture to fit.
4. Tap Confirm.

To add a picture for the first time, tap the pencil icon in your Public Profile, tap the empty profile picture, and choose a photo from your Memories or Camera Roll. Then move, scale and tap Confirm.

Who can see your Snapchat profile picture

Before you decide, it helps to know where the photo appears. Snapchat's help article says that, as well as on your Public Profile, your profile picture can be seen by people you're not friends with in Add Friends, in the Add a Friend section in Search, and in the Suggested For You section on Profiles.

So deleting it changes what strangers see when they come across you. If you use Snapchat for a business or as a creator, a clear, recognisable picture helps people trust that they've found the right account. My guide to adding a link to a Snapchat story is useful once your profile looks the way you want.

Deleting a Snapchat profile picture versus replacing it

Deleting leaves the space empty, so strangers who find you in Add Friends or Search have nothing to recognise. Replacing it keeps a face or logo there. Snapchat's steps for both start in the same place, by tapping the existing picture, so you can decide at the last moment.

• Delete it if you want your Public Profile to carry no photo at all.
• Replace it if you want a cleaner or newer image.
• Choose a photo from Memories or your Camera Roll, then move and scale it so your face or logo sits in the middle.

If you're a creator, it helps to use the same picture on every platform so people know it's you. Snapchat's help centre also has an article on editing your Public Profile, which covers the other details on that page, such as your name.

Removing your Snapchat Bitmoji avatar

If it's the cartoon you want gone, Snapchat's help centre gives these steps:

1. Tap your Bitmoji or Story icon at the top to open My Account.
2. Tap the gear icon in the top-right corner.
3. Scroll down to App and Privacy and tap My App.
4. Under Customize Appearance, tap Bitmoji.
5. Tap Remove My Bitmoji.

Snapchat warns about one thing. If you created a Bitmoji through Snapchat, unlinking will permanently delete your Bitmoji avatar and all the fashion items saved in your Closet. Think twice before you tap it.

What friends see after you remove your Snapchat Bitmoji

Snapchat says that when your Bitmoji is removed, friends should not see your old Bitmoji on your Profile or in Chat. If a friend still sees it, they may need to close and reopen Snapchat to refresh.

You may still see a cartoon on your own Profile. Snapchat explains that if you previously tried creating an avatar, a draft avatar may be saved on your device, and your Profile may show that instead of the default placeholder. Only you see this.

If you can't delete your Snapchat profile picture

1. Check which picture you mean: a Public Profile photo or a Bitmoji.
2. Update Snapchat to the newest version and try again.
3. For a Bitmoji, use the My App route in Settings rather than the Public Profile.
4. If a friend still sees an old picture, ask them to close and reopen the app.
5. If nothing changes, contact Snapchat Support through the app's help centre.

And if you're deleting a photo because someone is misusing it or bothering you, block and report the account in the app, and contact the police if you feel in danger. For clearing out old messages as well, my guide to deleting messages on Snapchat is a good companion.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete my Snapchat profile picture?

On your Public Profile, tap your existing profile picture and then tap Delete Existing Photo.

Is a Bitmoji the same as a Snapchat profile picture?

No. Snapchat treats them separately. The Public Profile photo is deleted from the picture itself, while a Bitmoji is removed under Settings, My App, Bitmoji.

Who can see my Snapchat profile picture?

Snapchat says people you're not friends with can see it in Add Friends, the Add a Friend section in Search and Suggested For You on Profiles.

Does removing my Bitmoji delete it for good?

Snapchat says that if you created a Bitmoji through Snapchat, unlinking permanently deletes the avatar and the fashion items saved in your Closet.

Why do I still see a Bitmoji after removing it?

Snapchat says a draft avatar saved on your device may show on your own Profile. Only you see it.