How to Change Microsoft Teams Profile Photo
Change your Microsoft Teams profile photo on desktop, iOS, Android, and Teams Free, with troubleshooting for blurry, missing, restricted, or slow-syncing photos.
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By | Founder ExecHeadshots·
Your Microsoft Teams profile photo appears across meetings, chats, calls, and parts of Microsoft 365. A clear, current photo helps coworkers recognize you quickly, but changing it is mostly a settings task: upload the image, save it, then allow time for Microsoft services and local apps to sync.
The exact menu labels can vary slightly by app version and whether you use work/school Teams or Teams Free. The steps below follow Microsoft Support guidance and include what to check when the photo does not update right away.
Quick Steps: Change Your Teams Profile Photo on Desktop
Microsoft Support says to select your profile picture at the top right of Teams, select the profile picture again in the account manager, choose Upload image or Remove image, then select Save. Source: Microsoft Support, “Change your profile picture in Microsoft Teams”.
- Open Microsoft Teams on desktop.
- Select your profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
- Select your profile picture again in the account manager.
- Choose Upload image to add a new picture or Remove image to delete the current one.
- Select Save.
- If the photo does not update immediately, wait and try clearing the Teams cache if needed.
Change Your Teams Profile Photo on iPhone or iPad
Microsoft’s Teams guidance says that on mobile, you tap your current picture or initials at the top left, tap your name to open the profile, then tap Update photo to take or access a photo. Source: Microsoft Support.
- Open Teams on iOS.
- Tap your current photo or initials.
- Tap your name to open your profile.
- Tap Update photo.
- Take a new photo or choose one from your photo library.
- Save and wait for the confirmation notification.
Change Your Teams Profile Photo on Android
On Android, the path may appear through your profile area or edit-image controls depending on Teams version. If your app matches Microsoft Teams Free guidance, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, tap Profile, then choose Edit image. Source: Microsoft Support, “Update your profile in Microsoft Teams Free”.
- Open Teams.
- Tap your profile picture or initials.
- Open Settings or Profile, depending on your app version.
- Choose Edit image or Update photo.
- Take a photo, open your photo library, view the current photo, or remove the photo.
- Save the change.
Change Your Picture in Microsoft Teams Free
Microsoft Teams Free has separate profile instructions. Microsoft says users can update their account name and add, change, or remove their profile picture inside the app. It also notes that changing the account name there updates the Microsoft account name. Source: Microsoft Support, Teams Free profile update.
- Mobile: tap your profile picture, open Settings, tap Profile, then Edit image.
- Desktop: select your profile picture, select it again, then upload or remove a picture.
- Microsoft account: select My Microsoft account under your name to update account-level details.
- LinkedIn tab: Microsoft says LinkedIn can be added only on desktop in Teams Free.
What Photo Should You Use?
For work Teams, choose a photo that still looks like you at small avatar size. It does not need to be formal studio photography, but it should be recognizable, current, and appropriate for your company context.
- Use a square image or crop that works inside a circle.
- Keep your face centered with space around the head and shoulders.
- Use even lighting and avoid heavy shadows.
- Choose a simple background so the photo reads clearly in small meetings and chat icons.
- Avoid group photos, sunglasses, filters, logos, and images where your face is too small.
Related internal guides: how to take professional headshots at home and best headshot backgrounds.
Why Your New Teams Photo Is Not Updating
Profile photos can take time to appear everywhere. Microsoft Support says Teams profile picture settings may take time to update across channels and that clearing the Teams cache may help the update appear quicker. Source: Microsoft Teams profile picture support.
Microsoft’s Microsoft 365 profile-picture synchronization article says SharePoint Online photo updates may take up to 24 hours to become visible and that picture sync is only attempted if the last sync attempt is over 24 hours old. Source: Microsoft Support, “Information about profile picture synchronization in Microsoft 365”.
- Wait: the image may need time to replicate across Microsoft 365.
- Restart Teams and sign out/sign back in.
- Check Teams on the web to see whether the upload itself worked.
- Clear the Teams cache if the desktop app still shows the old image.
- Ask your IT admin whether profile photo changes are restricted by policy.
Why You Cannot Change the Photo
If the upload or edit option is missing, the issue may be permissions rather than the image file. In some work or school tenants, administrators control whether users can edit profile photos. Microsoft’s sync article also notes that the profile Picture property must be editable for picture synchronization. Source: Microsoft 365 profile picture sync.
- You may be using a work or school account with admin-managed profile settings.
- Your organization may require profile photos to be changed through Microsoft 365, Entra ID, HR, or IT.
- You may be signed into the wrong Teams account or organization.
- Guest user profile photos may not sync the same way across Microsoft 365.
How to Fix a Blurry Teams Profile Photo
Teams displays profile photos as small avatars, so the file needs to survive cropping and compression. Uploading a tiny or heavily compressed image can make it look blurry.
- Start with a sharp, high-resolution original.
- Crop square before uploading so Teams does not choose an awkward crop.
- Keep your face centered and large enough in the frame.
- Avoid screenshots, social-media downloads, or images copied from messaging apps.
- Use JPG or PNG unless your organization specifies another format.
How to Change a Team Picture Instead
A personal Teams profile photo is different from a team picture. If you want to change the image for a specific team, you usually need to be a team owner and change the team settings rather than your personal profile.
- Open the team list.
- Select More options beside the team name.
- Choose team settings or edit team, depending on your Teams version and permissions.
- Upload or choose the team picture if your role allows it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put a profile pic on Microsoft Teams?
On desktop, select your profile picture at the top right, select it again, choose Upload image, select the file, and save. On mobile, tap your current picture or initials, tap your name or profile, then update the photo.
Why can’t I change my Teams profile picture?
Your organization may restrict profile photo changes, you may be in the wrong account, or the relevant profile-picture property may not be editable. Ask your Microsoft 365 or Teams administrator if the option is missing.
Why is my Teams profile photo not updating for coworkers?
Microsoft profile photos can take time to sync across Microsoft 365 and local Teams clients. Wait, restart Teams, check Teams on the web, and clear cache if the desktop app is still stale.
What size should my Microsoft Teams profile photo be?
Microsoft’s Teams profile-photo article does not publish a single recommended avatar size on that page. For the cleanest result, upload a sharp square image with your face centered and enough margin for a circular crop.
Can I connect LinkedIn to my Teams profile?
In Microsoft Teams Free, Microsoft says you can add a LinkedIn profile from desktop only. The LinkedIn tab can show your LinkedIn profile picture, name, job title, location, and number of connections.
Bottom Line
To change your Microsoft Teams profile photo, use the profile-picture menu on desktop or the profile/update-photo path on mobile, then save and allow time for Microsoft 365 sync. If the photo is missing, blurry, or stale, check permissions, use a sharper square image, try Teams on the web, restart the app, and clear cache if needed.
Article by
Ben is a pioneering AI engineer and the founder of ExecHeadshots, Europe’s premier AI-powered professional portrait platform. With a deep technical pedigree - having served as a lead AI engineer at Snapchat and Zenly - Ben launched ExecHeadshots in Paris in 2022 to bridge the gap between high-end studio photography and generative technology. Under his leadership, ExecHeadshots has helped over 80,000 professionals and executives globally redefine their digital identity. By leveraging cutting-edge machine learning and rigorous European privacy standards, Ben has engineered a platform that delivers ultra-realistic, studio-quality headshots in under 30 minutes. His mission is to provide every leader with an authoritative executive presence, combining his expertise in computer vision with a commitment to professional-grade aesthetics.
