Whether you’re new to Facebook or want to spruce up your profile, several features and privacy settings are available. You can set up your profile timeline from the web or from the Facebook app for iOS or Android. There may be some slight differences on Android. For example, while the main menu has the same options on both apps, on iOS, it’s at the bottom of the screen, and on Android, it’s at the top.
How to Add a Facebook Profile Picture
Follow these steps to add a profile image to your new account.
When signing up for a new Facebook account, provide a valid phone number or email address. Facebook will send a verification code to you, which you’ll enter into Facebook to complete the sign-up process.
- Navigate to your profile by selecting your name in the upper-right corner on the web or tapping the profile icon in the app menu.
- Click or tap the round profile picture to upload an image. On the web, in the window that appears, select Upload Profile Picture to choose an image file from your computer. On the app, in the menu that slides up, tap Select Profile Picture or Video to choose a photo from your device.
- In the app, you may need to select Allow Access to allow Facebook to access your device’s photos.
- Select the photo you want to use, move the slider to crop the image to your preferred size, and then choose Save.
- Select Make Temporary to make this photo your profile picture for one hour, one day, one week, or a custom timeframe.
How to Add a Facebook Cover Photo
Follow these steps to add a cover photo to your profile page.
Navigate to your profile by selecting your name in the upper-right corner on the web or tapping the profile icon in the app menu.
Click or tap the round profile picture to upload an image. On the web, in the window that appears, select Upload Profile Picture to choose an image file from your computer. On the app, in the menu that slides up, tap Select Profile Picture or Video to choose a photo from your device.
In the app, you may need to select Allow Access to allow Facebook to access your device’s photos.
Select the photo you want to use, move the slider to crop the image to your preferred size, and then choose Save.
Select Make Temporary to make this photo your profile picture for one hour, one day, one week, or a custom timeframe.
- On your profile on the web, select Edit Cover Photo.
- Choose Select Photo to choose an image from one of your Facebook photo albums. Choose Upload Photo to add a new image from your computer.
- In the app, tap the camera icon on the cover photo. Select Upload Photo to add an image from your mobile device. Choose Select Photo on Facebook to add an image that is already on Facebook.
- If you don’t have a photo for your cover photo, select Select Artwork to view Facebook’s cover photo library. You can also select Create Collage to combine several of your pictures into one.
- Use the cursor (on the web) or your finger (on the app) to drag the photo up or down in the cover photo area to position it the way you want. Then select Save Changes.
- The ideal Facebook cover photo should be 820 by 312 pixels for viewing on a desktop computer and 640 by 360 pixels for viewing on the mobile app.
How to Add Profile Info to a Facebook Account
Follow these steps to add information about yourself to your new profile.
On your profile on the web, select Edit Cover Photo.
Choose Select Photo to choose an image from one of your Facebook photo albums. Choose Upload Photo to add a new image from your computer.
In the app, tap the camera icon on the cover photo. Select Upload Photo to add an image from your mobile device. Choose Select Photo on Facebook to add an image that is already on Facebook.
If you don’t have a photo for your cover photo, select Select Artwork to view Facebook’s cover photo library. You can also select Create Collage to combine several of your pictures into one.
Use the cursor (on the web) or your finger (on the app) to drag the photo up or down in the cover photo area to position it the way you want. Then select Save Changes.
The ideal Facebook cover photo should be 820 by 312 pixels for viewing on a desktop computer and 640 by 360 pixels for viewing on the mobile app.
You can’t customize the visibility of cover photos because cover photos are always public. So either use a picture you don’t mind sharing with the world or delete it. On the web, go to Update Cover Photo > Remove > Confirm. On the app, tap Edit > three dots > Delete Photo.
- Go to your profile and select Edit Profile. On the app, select the three-dot icon, and then choose Edit Profile.
- Under the Bio field, select Add, then enter a short bio that will appear beneath your name on your profile.
- Your bio can only be a maximum of 101 characters.
- In the app, select Edit under the Details section to add information like where you live, your workplace, education, hometown, relationship status, and more. On the web, this information can be changed in the Customize Your Intro section of the Edit Profile page.
- On the web and app, scroll down to the Featured section and select Edit to create a thumbnail grid of up to nine photos.
- On the web and app, select Edit Your About Info to go to your About page and add information for each section. Once added, use the Edit button (web) or pencil icon (app) to customize its visibility.
Secure Your Facebook Account and Manage Privacy
Follow these steps to set or adjust your privacy settings.
Go to your profile and select Edit Profile. On the app, select the three-dot icon, and then choose Edit Profile.
Under the Bio field, select Add, then enter a short bio that will appear beneath your name on your profile.
Your bio can only be a maximum of 101 characters.
In the app, select Edit under the Details section to add information like where you live, your workplace, education, hometown, relationship status, and more. On the web, this information can be changed in the Customize Your Intro section of the Edit Profile page.
On the web and app, scroll down to the Featured section and select Edit to create a thumbnail grid of up to nine photos.
On the web and app, select Edit Your About Info to go to your About page and add information for each section. Once added, use the Edit button (web) or pencil icon (app) to customize its visibility.
- On the web, select the down arrow in the upper-right corner, then select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down list. On the app, select the menu icon from the main menu, scroll down the list and choose Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts.
- Under the Account Security section, select Use two-factor authentication to set up two-factor authentication. Under the Privacy section, review the available settings, including options to set the visibility for your activity and how people find or contact you. Select See more privacy settings to reveal the full list of settings and controls.
- In the app, select Settings and then tap any of the options under the Security section to secure your account. Do the same in the Privacy section to change the privacy or visibility of certain information.
On the web, select the down arrow in the upper-right corner, then select Settings & Privacy from the drop-down list. On the app, select the menu icon from the main menu, scroll down the list and choose Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts.
Under the Account Security section, select Use two-factor authentication to set up two-factor authentication. Under the Privacy section, review the available settings, including options to set the visibility for your activity and how people find or contact you. Select See more privacy settings to reveal the full list of settings and controls.
In the app, select Settings and then tap any of the options under the Security section to secure your account. Do the same in the Privacy section to change the privacy or visibility of certain information.
When you post a status update, select the drop-down menu beneath your name to select who can view the post. If you don’t want it to be public, select Friends, Friends except, Only Me, or a custom friend list.
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