How to Add a Twitter Profile Picture

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 Tested

Twitter is a social networking tool in which users provide real-time information updates through 280-character messages, called "tweets." After creating an account, new users can set their profile picture. Here are the steps to add a Twitter profile picture.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Adding a Picture from Your Computer

1
Log on to your Twitter home page. You must be logged into your profile in order to change your profile picture. Head to Twitter.com and log in like normal.
2
Click on your current profile picture to get to your profile. You'll need to be on your profile to change the picture. You can get there by clicking on the picture, on your username, or by typing your Twitter handle (the part after the "@") after the slash in your URL, such as www.Twitter.com/USERNAME

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3
Click on "Edit Profile," found on the right side of your profile. This will open up the ability to change pictures, bio, and color scheme.
4
Click on Change Photo, usually found beside the photo of an egg. Your default profile picture is an egg. Once you click "Edit Profile," a camera icon will appear over your profile letting you change the image.
5
Choose either to upload or take a new photo. If you have a webcam, you can take a new shot right then and there. Otherwise, you'll need to find the picture file on your computer.
6
Navigate to the location of your photo and click open. Twitter profile pictures are always square, but the website lets you crop the photo later. Still, aim for a picture with an even, square space around your face, logo, or other image.
- The suggested size is a 400x400 pixel picture.
- Your picture cannot be bigger than 4MB.
7
Position and resize your photo and apply if finished. You can do some light
8
Finish editing your profile by clicking "Save." This is right where the "Edit Profile" used to be. To prevent the changes from taking place, hit cancel.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Adding a Picture From Your Phone

1
Download and the Twitter app on your phone. You cannot simply navigate to Twitter.com on your phone and expect it to work. The mobile site does not have nearly the same number of features as the app does, and one of these features is the ability to add a profile picture.
2
Open the Twitter app and log in to your account. Though it goes without saying, you can only add a profile picture while you're logged in.
3
Press the small "Me" button in the bottom right corner. The bottom of the app has five tabs to take you to different parts of Twitter. To change your profile picture, click the "Me" button to go to your profile.
- If this doesn't work immediately, double-tap the Me icon to bring it up.
4
Click on the "Edit Profile" Button to bring up the picture editor. This is usually near the top, often right next to your profile picture.
5
Click on the small, square "egg" profile picture to change it yourself. In the edit profile mode, your default profile picture (the egg) is covered with a gray camera icon. Click this to change your picture.
6
Choose whether or not to upload a new picture, or choose one from your phone's library. Both options will let you lightly edit, crop, and adjust the picture before it becomes your profile picture, so it doesn't have to be perfect immediately.
- Profile pictures must be 2MB or smaller. This isn't usually a problem for a small photo, but you can learn how to shrink your photos if this is an issue.
7
Aim for a square, clear picture. The actual profile box will appear, at its largest, as a 400 x 400 pixel square. Once you're picture is uploaded, use Twitter's cropping and photo editing tools to get a good, square shot as your profile picture.
- Profiles with clear, face-forward pictures are the best at attracting followers.^{[1]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I do this on a phone?

Community Answer

Click on "Edit Profile" and you'll see an icon with a camera over it. Click on that, and choose either "Take Photo" or "Photo Library." Follow the instructions from there. When you are done, press the "Save" button in the upper right hand corner.
Question

How do you upload a profile picture in Twitter from a laptop?

WF

Top Answerer

Go to Twitter.com and select your profile. Click on "Edit Profile".
Question

What should I do if someone else is using my profile picture?

Community Answer

Edit your picture using software or an app to make your picture look different and stand out.