The quickest way to change your profile picture

Open Instagram and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Then tap the edit profile button (it looks like a person with a pencil). Tap your current profile picture, and Instagram will show you options to take a new photo with your camera or choose one from your phone's photo library. Select the image you want, crop it if you need to, and tap done. The change appears on your profile right away.

If you are using Instagram on a computer, go to your profile, click the edit profile button next to your username, and click your current picture to upload a new one from your device.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your profile picture from the edit profile section, which you reach by tapping your profile icon and then the edit button.
  • Instagram lets you take a new photo on the spot or pick one from photos you already have saved on your phone.
  • You can crop and adjust the image before confirming the change.
  • The new picture shows up on your profile immediately and replaces your old one across all your posts and comments.

Taking a photo directly in Instagram

When you tap your profile picture during the edit process, Instagram gives you the option to take a photo right then using your phone's camera. This is useful if you want to upload a fresh picture without hunting through your photo library first. Tap the camera icon, position yourself how you want, and take the shot. You can retake it as many times as you need before you move forward.

After you take the photo, Instagram shows you a preview. You can crop it by pinching and dragging to frame just the part you want to use. Once you are happy with how it looks, tap done to set it as your profile picture.

Choosing a photo from your phone

If you already have a photo saved on your phone that you want to use, tap the photo library option instead of the camera. Instagram will show you your recent photos first, but you can scroll through your entire library to find the one you want. Tap the photo to select it.

After you select the photo, you will see a crop screen. You can adjust the frame by dragging the corners or pinching to zoom in and out. The circular frame shows you how the image will look as your profile picture. Once the crop looks right to you, tap done to save the change.

Removing your profile picture

If you want to remove your profile picture entirely and go back to Instagram's default blank profile icon, tap your profile picture during the edit process and look for the remove photo option. This will clear your current picture and show the default Instagram silhouette instead.

You can add a new picture back at any time by following the same steps. There is no limit to how many times you can change your profile picture.

What happens when you change your picture

Your new profile picture appears on your profile page right away. It also shows up next to your name on any comments you have left, any posts you have made, and your direct messages. People who follow you will see the updated picture on their feed when they visit your profile.

If you change your picture again later, the old one disappears completely. Instagram does not keep a history of your past profile pictures that other people can see, though you can always change it back if you saved the original photo on your phone.

Troubleshooting picture upload problems

If your new picture will not upload, make sure you have a working internet connection and that Instagram has permission to access your phone's camera and photo library. On most phones, you can check these permissions in your settings under apps or privacy.

If the image is very large or in an unusual format, try cropping it smaller or converting it to a common format like JPG or PNG before you upload. If Instagram still will not accept the picture, try closing the app completely and opening it again, or update Instagram to the latest version from your app store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a photo that someone else took?

Yes. As long as you have the photo saved on your phone, you can use it as your profile picture. Instagram does not check who took the photo or whether you own the rights to it, but you should only use images you have permission to use.

What size should my profile picture be?

Instagram automatically crops your image into a circle, so the exact size does not matter much. A square photo works best because it crops evenly. Instagram recommends at least 110 by 110 pixels, but modern phone photos are much larger and will work fine.

Will my followers be notified when I change my picture?

No. Instagram does not send a notification to your followers when you change your profile picture. They will only see the new picture if they visit your profile or if they happen to notice it in their feed.

Can I change my profile picture on the Instagram app for my computer?

Yes. Go to your profile on the web version of Instagram, click edit profile, and click your current picture to upload a new one from your computer's files. The process is similar to the phone app.

What if I want to go back to my old profile picture?

If you saved the old photo on your phone, you can upload it again the same way you would upload any other picture. If you did not save it, you can ask a friend who screenshotted it or check if you have it backed up in cloud storage.