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How to add a profile picture in WhatsApp
Everyone likes to personalize their online presence, and this is especially true with user profiles. Putting a face to the name makes someone feel more real if you’ve never met them in real life before. Since WhatsApp is the most popular messaging platform in the world by far, let’s look at how to add, change, and remove a profile picture on WhatsApp.
Read more: How to use WhatsApp — a step-by-step beginner’s guide
QUICK ANSWER
To change your profile picture on WhatsApp, tap the existing image. On the mobile app, an edit button will appear, which will give you options on how to change your profile image. On the desktop, click the existing image, mouse over the larger image version, and options will appear to change the image to something else.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
How to change your profile picture on WhatsApp (Android and iOS)
On the mobile app, first, go to Settings. Now tap your image in the top left-hand corner.
You’ll see an Edit link underneath the image thumbnail. Tap on that.
Another Edit link will now appear in the top-right of the screen, which you should now select. This pops up a menu.
You can see from the options that you can take a photo with your phone camera or choose a photo from your camera roll. Alternatively, you can delete the existing photo to remove it from your WhatsApp profile and go anonymous.
How to change your profile picture on WhatsApp (desktop)
On the WhatsApp desktop version, first, click the profile image in the top left-hand corner.
The image will now open in full in your Profile section. Mouse over it, and CHANGE PROFILE PHOTO will show. Click on that, and the following menu appears.
You can now upload a new photo from your computer by selecting Upload photo or Take photo to make a new image with your webcam. Note you don’t need to choose Remove photo first to upload a new one. Remove photo is only if you wish to have no profile picture at all eventually.
How to add a profile picture to a WhatsApp group (Android and iOS)
For a WhatsApp group on mobile, first tap the group picture on the top left-hand side.
The Group Info section will now open up. In the bottom-right of the image is a small camera icon. Tap on that.
A menu will now appear, presenting you with options. As well as the usual options, you can also find an image via a web search or choose an emoji or sticker. To remove the group image entirely without replacing it, tap Reset Icon.
How to add a profile picture to a WhatsApp group (desktop)
The process of adding a profile picture to a WhatsApp group on the desktop is very similar. First, click the group logo at the top of the screen.
This opens a sidebar on the right called Group info. Mouse over the group logo, and a message will appear saying CHANGE GROUP ICON. Click on that to reveal a menu of options.
As well as the usual photo-taking by webcam and photo uploading from your computer, you also have a Web Search feature, where you can search for a suitable image online.
To remove the group profile picture from the WhatsApp group, select Remove photo.
Read more: What is WhatsApp? The ultimate guide to getting started
FAQs
No. If someone has blocked you on WhatsApp, you will no longer be able to see their picture. And if you block them, they can’t see your picture anymore, either.
No. You can either set your privacy settings to show your profile picture to all contacts or nobody at all. There’s no “middle ground” option.