- Removing your Twitter profile picture on the website
- Removing your X profile picture in the iPhone or Android app
- What your Twitter profile looks like after removing the picture
- Replacing the picture instead of removing it
- Choosing between removing, replacing and editing the rest of your X profile
- If your Twitter profile picture won't remove or save
- The first-time profile set-up on X
- Keeping a consistent look across your accounts
- Frequently asked questions
To remove your Twitter profile picture on X (formerly Twitter), go to your profile, click or tap Edit profile, then click or tap the camera icon on your photo and select Remove. Click or tap Save. X's help page lists the same camera-icon step for both uploading and removing a profile or header photo.
Maybe you want a cleaner, more anonymous profile. Maybe you're rebranding your business, or you've simply gone off the photo you chose years ago. Whatever the reason, taking your picture down is a quick job on X (formerly Twitter), and it's worth knowing exactly where the button lives.
I've followed X's help page on customising your profile. It covers the web and the mobile apps together, and I've added the wording differences I could confirm. If a label on your screen differs slightly, follow the closest match.
Removing your Twitter profile picture on the website
Here are the steps from X's help page, written for x.com in a browser:
- Sign in to x.com.
- Go to your profile.
- Click the Edit profile button.
- Click the camera icon on your profile photo.
- Select Remove.
- Click Save.
That's the whole job. If you don't click Save, the change won't stick, which is the most common reason people think it didn't work.
Removing your X profile picture in the iPhone or Android app
X's help page says to do the same thing in the apps. The route to Edit profile is slightly different between the two phone types:
- Open the app and go to your profile. On iPhone that's through the navigation menu. On Android, X says the top menu shows either a navigation menu icon or your profile icon, so select whichever you see.
- Select Profile, then Edit profile.
- Tap the camera icon on your photo.
- Select Remove.
- Tap Save.
X's page says to tap the camera icon and choose Upload photo or Remove whenever you change a profile or header photo, so look for those two choices on your own screen.
What your Twitter profile looks like after removing the picture
X's help page doesn't describe the placeholder image that appears once your photo is gone, so I won't guess at what it looks like. Open your profile after saving and see for yourself, preferably from a second account or a logged-out browser window, so you can see what everyone else sees.
If you run a business account, a missing photo can make you look less trustworthy, so I wouldn't leave it empty for long. Replace it with a logo or a clear face shot as soon as you can.
Replacing the picture instead of removing it
If you want a different picture rather than none at all, use the same camera icon but pick Upload photo. X's help page gives these details for photos:
- The recommended profile photo size is 400x400 pixels.
- The recommended header size is 1500x500 pixels.
- Photos can be JPG, GIF or PNG.
- X doesn't support animated GIFs for profile or header images.
My guide to X header sizes goes through the banner side of this, which is worth a look if you're rebranding your whole profile in one go.
Choosing between removing, replacing and editing the rest of your X profile
Removing a picture is only one of the things the Edit profile screen handles. X's help page says the same screen lets you change your header photo, name, bio, location and website. That makes it a handy one-stop spot if you're tidying up in one sitting.
| What you want | What to do on Edit profile |
|---|---|
| No picture at all | Camera icon on the profile photo, then Remove, then Save |
| A new picture | Camera icon, then Upload photo, then Save |
| A new banner | Camera icon on the header photo, then Upload photo or Remove, then Save |
| A new name or bio | Click or tap into the field and make your change, then Save |
X's help page also notes that the bio has a maximum of 160 characters, so keep that in mind if you rewrite it while you're there. If you're removing your photo for privacy reasons, think about whether the header, bio and location say more about you than you'd like.
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If your Twitter profile picture won't remove or save
A few things to check:
- Make sure you tapped Save at the end.
- Update the X app, as menu names change between versions.
- Try the website if the app is being awkward, because the steps are the same.
- Check your connection, since a weak signal can stop a change saving.
- Sign out and in again, then look at your profile once more.
X's help page also links to a separate article for trouble uploading a photo. If your problem is with a new image, not the removal itself, that is the right place to look.
The first-time profile set-up on X
There's one detail in the help page that surprises people. During your initial profile set-up, you won't see the option to change your display name until you've uploaded a profile and header photo. If you're working on a brand-new account and wondering why the name box is missing, that's the reason. It's about the first set-up and not about removing a photo later.
Keeping a consistent look across your accounts
Many small businesses use the same picture on every platform so people recognise them. If you update it on X, update the rest the same day. My guide to changing your Discord profile picture is one example of a sister platform with its own steps, and changing your username on X on mobile covers the name part of the same job.
And if someone else is using your photo to pretend to be you, don't just remove yours. Report the account to X through its help centre, and if you feel threatened, contact the police.
If you want the full set, start at the Twitter (X) Help: 21 Guides to Features, Verification, Video Fixes and Tools.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove my profile picture on Twitter?
Go to your profile, click or tap Edit profile, click or tap the camera icon on your photo, select Remove, then click or tap Save.
Is it called Twitter or X now?
The platform is now called X, formerly Twitter. Its help pages use X, but the steps for changing a profile photo are the ones described here.
What size should my X profile picture be?
X's help page recommends 400x400 pixels for the profile photo, and 1500x500 pixels for the header.
What file types can I use for an X profile picture?
JPG, GIF or PNG. X doesn't support animated GIFs for profile or header images.
Why can't I change my display name on a new X profile?
X says that during initial profile set-up you won't see the option to change your display name until you've uploaded a profile photo and a header photo.
