Putting your picture as your Facebook profile picture is a great way to personalize your Facebook profile and let friends know it’s really you. Your profile picture appears next to your name on your timeline, as well in various places across Facebook.
Changing your Facebook profile picture is easy to do through the Facebook website or mobile app, and you can upload a new profile photo at any time. Here are the steps to change your Facebook profile picture on desktop, Android, and iOS.
Requirements for Facebook Profile Pictures
Before uploading a new Facebook profile photo, it’s important to keep Facebook’s profile picture requirements in mind:
- Your profile picture must show your face – you can’t use an object or logo as your profile picture
- Your photo must follow Facebook’s Community Standards – no nudity, hate speech, etc.
- Profile pictures must be at least 180 x 180 pixels
- Pictures can’t be more than 4MB in size
- You can only set one profile picture at a time
As long as your chosen profile picture meets these requirements, you’re ready to upload it and change your Facebook profile photo.
How to Change Your Facebook Profile Picture on Desktop
Here are step-by-step instructions for changing your profile picture on Facebook using a desktop browser:
- Go to Facebook.com and log into your account.
- Click on your current profile picture in the top left corner.
- Click on the ‘Update Profile Picture’ button.
- Click on ‘Upload Photo’ and select a new picture from your computer to upload.
- You can edit the picture by zooming and dragging to set the portion you want to use.
- Click on ‘Save Changes’ to set your new profile picture.
The new profile picture may take a few minutes to update across Facebook. You’ll get a notification once the new photo is live.
Tips for Changing Your Profile Picture on Desktop
Here are some tips to make changing your profile picture on desktop smooth:
- Crop your photo before uploading for the ideal framing.
- Use a clear photo of yourself for easy identification.
- Check that your photo meets Facebook’s size and dimension requirements.
- Preview how your photo will look as a profile picture before saving changes.
- Consider editing the photo to optimize brightness, contrast, and color.
Following these tips will help you upload a great-looking new profile photo that represents you well on Facebook.
How to Change Your Facebook Profile Picture on Mobile
You can also easily change your Facebook profile picture using the Facebook app on your iPhone, Android phone, or other mobile device. Here are the steps:
On iPhone or iPad
- Launch the Facebook app and tap on your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Tap on your current profile picture again.
- Tap ‘Change Picture’
- Select ‘Take Photo or Video’ to take a new photo with your camera, or tap ‘Choose From Photos/Videos’ to pick an existing one.
- You may need to grant the Facebook app permission to access your photos.
- Select the photo you want to use.
- Pinch and zoom on the photo to set the portion you want to use.
- Tap ‘Choose’ to set the photo as your new profile picture.
On Android
- Open the Facebook app and tap the three-line menu button in the top right corner.
- Tap on your name to go to your profile.
- Tap on your current profile picture.
- Tap ‘Update Profile Picture’
- Choose to take a new photo or select one from your device.
- Crop and edit the picture as desired.
- Tap ‘Save’ to make it your new profile photo.
Tips for Changing Profile Picture on Mobile
Some tips for smoothly changing your profile picture on your phone include:
- Make sure you grant the Facebook app permission to access your camera and photos.
- Take a new profile picture with good lighting and framing.
- Crop and edit your chosen picture in the Facebook app before saving.
- Use a recent photo that clearly shows your face.
- Preview how the profile picture will look before setting it.
Following these mobile tips will let you easily upload a great profile photo right from your phone.
How to Change Your Facebook Profile Picture Faster
If you want to speed up the process of changing your Facebook profile image, follow these tips:
- Have your new profile picture ready before accessing Facebook. Optimize it ahead of time by cropping, editing, and resizing it as needed.
- When accessing Facebook, log into your account and go directly to your profile page. Click on your current picture right away.
- Use the ‘Upload Photo’ option to select your prepped picture instead of taking a new one. This avoids having to crop a new photo.
- Quickly preview your uploaded photo and make any last tweaks. Click ‘Save’ as soon as it looks right.
- Double check that the new photo updated across Facebook to complete the process faster.
Preparing your profile picture beforehand is the key to changing your profile image quickly. This prevents all the extra steps of taking, editing and cropping a new photo after accessing Facebook.
How to Delete Your Current Facebook Profile Picture
If you want to remove your current Facebook profile picture without uploading a new one, here are the steps:
On Desktop
- Go to your profile page and click on your current profile picture.
- Click on the pencil icon to edit the picture.
- Click on the trash can icon in the bottom left corner.
- Click ‘Remove’ to confirm you want to delete your current profile picture.
This will remove your current profile picture and replace it with a generic placeholder image.
On Mobile
- Tap your profile picture from your News Feed or profile.
- Tap on your current profile picture again to bring up options.
- Tap on the trash icon in the top right corner.
- Confirm that you want to remove the profile picture.
Your profile picture will be removed right away with this quick mobile process.
How to Report an Inappropriate Facebook Profile Picture
If you see a Facebook profile picture that violates Facebook’s policies, you can report it:
On Desktop
- Click on the user’s profile picture to open it on their page.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the picture.
- Select ‘Report photo’ from the dropdown menu.
- Choose the option that best describes the inappropriate picture.
- Click ‘Report Photo’ to confirm.
On Mobile
- Tap and hold on the user’s profile picture to open the picture viewer.
- Tap the exclamation point icon in the top right corner.
- Select the option that best fits why you’re reporting the picture.
- Tap ‘Report’ to submit your report to Facebook.
Reporting inappropriate profile pictures helps keep Facebook safe and community-oriented for everyone.
Mistakes to Avoid When Changing Your Facebook Profile Picture
When changing your profile image on Facebook, there are some common mistakes to avoid:
- Uploading a blurry or low-resolution photo that will look bad as your small profile picture.
- Selecting a cropped picture where your face is obscured.
- Choosing an old photo that no longer looks like you.
- Putting up a silly or unprofessional picture for certain audiences like employers.
- Setting a group photo as your profile picture by accident.
- Forgetting to follow Facebook’s size and dimension requirements.
Avoiding these mistakes will ensure your new Facebook profile photo looks great and represents you in the best possible light.
Do’s and Don’ts for Facebook Profile Pictures
Here are some top do’s and don’ts to keep in mind for your Facebook profile picture:
Do:
- Do pick a clear, well-lit photo of your face looking at the camera.
- Do choose a photo that represents how you look day-to-day.
- Do take a new selfie if you can’t find a recent picture.
- Do make sure your main facial features are visible.
- Do maintain a neutral facial expression.
Don’t:
- Don’t use an overly edited or filtered picture.
- Don’t pick a cropped photo where you can’t see your face.
- Don’t choose a cartoon or illustrated profile picture.
- Don’t pick a low-quality or blurry photograph.
- Don’t select a photo with someone else cut out of it.
Using profile pictures that are clear, high-quality, and follow these do’s and don’ts will ensure you put your best face forward on Facebook.
Choosing the Right Facebook Profile Picture
With over a billion Facebook users, your profile picture is often the first impression people will have of you. Follow these tips to choose the right photo:
- Pick a photo that looks like your current appearance – use a recent selfie if needed.
- Avoid using old pictures where you look significantly different.
- Face the camera directly and smile naturally.
- Wear clothing that matches your personal or professional brand.
- Make sure the image quality is high enough for a small picture.
- For a professional profile, opt for a clean neutral background.
- Crop closely around your face and shoulders.
Choosing a picture tailored to your audience and goals will give viewers the right first impression when they see your Facebook profile.
Tips for Taking a Good Profile Picture
If you decide to take a brand new selfie to use for your updated Facebook profile picture, keep these photography tips in mind:
- Use the rear/main camera on your smartphone, not the lower-resolution selfie camera.
- Make sure you’re in a spot with bright, natural lighting on your face.
- Angle your camera slightly higher and face the lens directly.
- Keep a neutral facial expression instead of smiling or frowning.
- Take photos from multiple angles to choose the most flattering.
- Hold your phone camera steady when pressing the shutter.
- Take lots of pictures and pick the best shots.
Using these selfie tips will help you take great new pictures to choose from for your Facebook profile.
How Often Should You Change Your Profile Picture?
There’s no rule for how often you need to change your Facebook profile photo, but here are some best practices:
- When your appearance changes significantly – after a new haircut or style, for example.
- Every few months to one year to keep it fresh.
- When your old profile picture no longer represents you well.
- If you want a photo that better reflects your interests or life activities.
Some additional times to consider changing your profile picture include major life events like getting married or graduating college.
Overall, aim to change your profile picture on Facebook whenever you feel like an image update. Just don’t change it too frequently or people may have a hard time recognizing your profile.
Conclusion
Changing your Facebook profile picture to a photo you love is a fun way to express yourself on social media. Just follow the steps to easily upload a new profile photo through Facebook’s website or mobile app.
When selecting a new Facebook profile picture, be sure to:
- Choose a clear, high-quality picture of your face
- Pick a photo that represents your personality
- Preview how it will look before confirming the change
- Stay within Facebook’s size and dimension requirements
With the right profile picture that captures you at your best, you’ll put your best face forward on the world’s largest social network.