Change my Profile Picture On Youtube

Do you feel stuck with an old YouTube photo that doesn’t match who you are now? Maybe you changed your style, started a new channel, or just want a clean, fresh look. Your profile picture is the first thing people see on YouTube, so updating it is one of the easiest ways to make your channel feel more you.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to change your profile picture on YouTube, step by step, in simple English. You’ll see how it works on both computer and phone, and what to do if the new picture doesn’t show up right away.​​

Before You Change the Picture

YouTube is part of your Google account, but now your YouTube channel picture can be managed directly from YouTube Studio or your channel page.​​

A few things to know first:

  • You need to be signed in with the Google account that owns the YouTube channel.​

  • Your profile picture shows:

    • Next to your comments

    • On your channel home page

    • In YouTube search and recommendations

  • The file should be:

    • JPEG, PNG, GIF, or BMP

    • A square image works best

    • Recommended size is around 800 x 800 pixels so it looks sharp everywhere.​​

If you are also using the same Google account for Gmail and other Google services, remember your old picture might still appear there even after you change your YouTube photo, because now YouTube can use its own channel branding.​

How to Change Your YouTube Profile Picture on Computer

Let’s start with desktop or laptop. This is the easiest way if you like a bigger screen and more control.​​

Step 1: Sign in and open your channel

  • Go to YouTube.com in your browser.

  • Click your current profile picture in the top right corner.

  • Click Your Channel to open your channel page.​​

Step 2: Go to customization

You have two common paths here:

  • On some layouts:

    • Click Customize Channel on your channel page.​​

  • Or from YouTube Studio:

    • Click your profile picture (top right) → YouTube Studio

    • In the left menu, click Customization

    • Then click the Branding tab.​​

Both options take you to the same place where you can change your profile picture.

Step 3: Upload the new picture

Once you’re in Branding or channel customization:

  • Look for the Picture or Channel icon section.​​

  • Click Upload or Change next to your current picture.​​

  • Choose an image from your computer.

  • Adjust or crop the image if YouTube asks you to.​​

Step 4: Save and publish

  • After you are happy with the crop, click Done.​​

  • Then click Publish in the top right to save your changes.​​

Your new profile picture is now set for your channel. It may take a few minutes to show everywhere on YouTube.​​

How to Change Your YouTube Profile Picture on Phone

If you mostly use YouTube on your phone, you can change the picture directly in the app. This works on both Android and iPhone.​

Step 1: Open the YouTube app

  • Open the YouTube app and make sure you are logged in to the right account.​

  • Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.​

Step 2: Go to your channel

  • Tap Your Channel from the menu.​

You’ll now see your channel page with your current picture in the middle or near the top.

Step 3: Edit your profile

  • Tap the pencil icon (Edit Channel).​

  • Then tap your profile picture again in the middle of the screen.​

Step 4: Choose your new photo

You’ll see options like:

  • Take photo – use your camera right now.

  • Choose from gallery / Photos / Files – pick an image already on your phone.​

Select your picture, adjust the crop if needed, and then tap Save or Done.​

Again, it may take a little time before it updates everywhere in the app.​

Changing Only the YouTube Picture (Not Google Account)

In older versions, changing your channel icon also changed your Google profile picture. Now, YouTube lets you update your channel name and profile picture separately, without affecting the Google account profile photo in many cases.​

Here’s the key idea:

  • Changes made in YouTube Studio → Customization → Branding usually apply only to your YouTube channel.​​

  • Your Google account picture (for Gmail, Drive, etc.) can stay the same.​

If you want everything to match, you can still change your Google account picture from your Google Account settings, and that image may sync to some YouTube areas over time.​

What to Do if the New Picture Doesn’t Show

Sometimes you upload a new photo, hit publish, and YouTube still shows the old one. This is normal and usually easy to fix.​​

Here are simple checks you can try:

  • Wait a bit

    • Updates can take a few minutes, and in some cases a few hours, to appear everywhere.​​

  • Refresh or restart

    • Refresh the YouTube page on your computer.

    • Close and reopen the YouTube app on your phone.​​

  • Clear cache

    • On mobile, you can clear the app cache (Android) or just close and reopen the app.

    • On desktop, clear your browser cache or try in incognito mode.​

  • Check you’re on the right account

    • Make sure you did not switch between multiple Google accounts in the same browser or app.​

If nothing changes after a while, go back to YouTube Studio → Customization → Branding and check whether the picture saved properly.​​

Profile Picture Tips That Help Your Channel

Your profile picture is more than just a photo. It’s a small branding element that people see again and again.​​

Some simple tips:

  • Use a clean, clear image

    • Avoid busy backgrounds.

    • Make sure your face or logo is easy to see even at small sizes.​

  • Stick to your brand style

    • Use the same colors you use in your thumbnails or banner.

    • If you use a logo, keep the same version across social media.​

  • Check how it looks on different devices

    • On desktop, it appears near your channel banner.

    • On mobile, it shows as a small circle next to your videos and comments.​

A good profile picture makes your channel easier to remember and helps people recognize your content at a glance.​

Enjoy Your New YouTube Look

Changing your YouTube profile picture is a small task, but it has a big impact on how your channel feels. You just:

  • Sign in and open your channel

  • Go to Customize Channel or YouTube Studio → Customization → Branding

  • Upload your new image

  • Save and publish your changes.​​

Once the new image appears, your comments, channel page, and videos will all show your updated photo. If you use YouTube a lot, it’s worth taking a few minutes to pick a picture that truly fits who you are today.​​