To set a temporary profile picture on Facebook, click your profile picture in the top right of the page, then click the camera icon on your profile picture and choose either Upload Photo or Add Frame. After that, click Make Temporary, select when to switch back to your previous picture, and click Save.
How to set a temporary profile picture on Facebook: Step-by-step desktop web instructions
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
- Click the camera icon on your profile picture.
- Choose Upload Photo or Add Frame.
- Click Make Temporary.
- Choose when to switch back to your previous profile picture.
- Click Save.
This flow is documented by Facebook for desktop web only. The steps follow the verified help path exactly.
Choosing between upload photo and add frame
Facebook offers two starting options after you click the camera icon on your profile picture. Upload Photo lets you select an image from your computer to use as your temporary picture, which works well when you want to share a personal photo or an image you created using photo editing and collage apps. Add Frame applies a themed overlay to your current or selected photo, ideal for supporting causes, celebrating events, or adding a decorative touch without changing the underlying image. Facebook frequently provides temporary profile picture frames for various causes, such as Pride Month, Breast Cancer Awareness, and more. Facebook also allows you to create your own custom temporary profile picture using Facebook's profile picture frame tool to upload your own image and apply it to your profile picture.
Setting the duration for your temporary picture
After clicking Make Temporary, Facebook prompts you to “select when to switch back to your previous profile picture.” The available predefined durations, such as 1 hour, 1 day, or 1 week, are not fully listed in the retrieved help documentation, but you can also choose a custom switch-back date. Once you confirm by clicking Save, your temporary picture displays for the chosen period. When the time expires, your profile picture automatically reverts to the previous one. Your temporary profile picture will be visible to your friends, as well as anyone who visits your profile during the designated duration.
Switching back to your previous picture early
You can manually change your profile picture again at any time by following the same steps to upload a new photo or select your previous picture. The verified pages do not expose exact removal steps, so the safest method is to simply update your profile picture normally. Removing a temporary profile picture will not have any impact on any posts, comments, or notifications you made while using the temporary picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a temporary profile picture documented for mobile?
If you need mobile guidance, the current official pages do not contain enough detail to state exact iPhone and Android steps without guessing.
What apps or carriers are supported?
What versions are required?
One Facebook help result advises making sure you are using the latest Facebook app version or restarting the app for profile picture changes, but it does not specify a version number.
Can I schedule when my temporary profile picture reverts?
Facebook does not provide an option to schedule the reversion beyond the duration you set when creating the temporary picture. The picture automatically reverts after the chosen time expires.
Are there restrictions on images I can use?
Yes, all profile pictures must follow Facebook’s Community Standards and should not contain explicit, offensive, or copyrighted content.
