How to Change Your Profile Picture in Outlook

Your profile picture is one of the first things people notice when interacting with you on Outlook. Whether it’s in email conversations or using apps like Teams and Skype, your profile photo represents you. That’s why it’s important to know how to change your profile picture in Outlook when you want to update it.

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you several ways to change your profile picture depending on which Outlook app or service you use. We’ll cover:

• How to change your profile picture on Outlook on the web
• How to change your profile picture in the Outlook desktop app
• How to change your profile picture in Outlook mobile apps
• How to change your profile picture in Skype
• How to change your profile picture in Teams

Plus plenty of tips for uploading a new photo, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring your new profile picture syncs across Outlook. Let’s get started!

How to Change Your Profile Picture on Outlook on the Web

It’s that easy! This will change your profile picture on Outlook on the web as well as across your other Outlook apps and services. The new photo may take up to 15 minutes to sync everywhere.

How to Change Profile Picture Outlook Desktop App

To update your profile photo in the Outlook desktop app for Windows or Mac, use these steps:

1. Open the Outlook desktop app and go to the File menu.
2. Click on Account Settings then select Account Settings again.
3. Navigate to the My Account tab.
4. Click Change underneath your profile picture.
5. Browse your computer and select a new photo from your files.
6. Click Apply then Ok to save the changes.

Similar to Outlook on the web, your new profile picture can take 15 minutes to sync across Outlook apps. Also make sure your image size is under 4MB.

How to Change Your Profile Picture in Outlook Mobile Apps

Changing your profile photo using Outlook mobile apps for iOS and Android devices is very similar to the steps for Outlook on the web:

1. Open the Outlook mobile app and tap your account profile icon in the top left.
2. Tap View profile.
3. Tap the camera icon to pick a new photo from your phone’s image library or take a new photo with your camera.
4. Choose the photo you want, then tap Save.

That’s all there is to it! Just sit back and let your new profile picture sync across Outlook on all your devices.

How to Change Your Profile Picture in Skype

Since Skype integrates with Outlook, changing your profile photo in Skype also updates it everywhere else. Here’s how to do it:

1. Sign in to the Skype app on your desktop or mobile device.
2. Click or tap your current profile picture.
3. Choose Edit profile or Change picture, depending on your Skype version.
4. Select a new photo from your computer or mobile device.
5. Click Save to set your new Skype profile picture.

It will then change across Outlook after synchronizing. Note that it may take up to 15 minutes to update fully.

How to Change Your Profile Picture in Teams

Microsoft Teams uses your Outlook profile picture by default in your Teams profile. Here’s how to change it within Teams:

1. Open Teams and click your profile icon in the top right.
2. Choose Edit profile.
3. Click the camera icon to upload a new profile photo.
4. Select a new picture from your device and click Save.

This will change your profile photo in Teams and sync it to your Outlook profile as well. Give it up to 15 minutes to fully sync the new picture everywhere.

Pro Tip: You can also right-click your profile picture in a Teams chat and choose Change picture to update it.

Uploading a New Profile Picture

When selecting a new photo using any of the above methods, make sure it meets these criteria:

• File format: JPEG, PNG or GIF
• File size: Less than 4MB
• Dimensions: At least 200×200 pixels

For best results, use a square photo sized around 400×400 pixels. Having a high quality and properly sized picture ensures it renders crisply across Outlook.

It’s also a good idea to choose a professional headshot or friendly photo of your face. This helps put a name to face when you communicate with colleagues or customers in Outlook.

Troubleshooting Profile Picture Syncing Issues

In most cases your new profile photo will automatically sync across Outlook apps and services within 15 minutes. But sometimes it fails to update properly everywhere.

Here are a few things to try if your new picture doesn’t sync:

• Sign out then back into all your Outlook apps and web services. This gives it a fresh chance to pull your latest picture.
• Clear the cache and cookies in your web browser, then reload Outlook on the web.
• Delete the old Outlook picture cache stored locally on your computer or mobile device. This forces Outlook to freshly download your new profile picture.
• As a last resort, uninstall and reinstall Outlook to do a clean setup. Then add your Microsoft account back.

Following these troubleshooting steps usually resolves any lingering issues with your new profile picture failing to sync everywhere.

Why You Should Keep Your Profile Picture Updated

It only takes a minute to change your profile picture in Outlook, but doing so has many benefits:

• Shows your current look – Keeping your photo recent helps avoid awkward “you look different than your picture” moments.
• Displays your style – Your picture can reflect your personal or professional brand.
• Makes you recognizable – Using a consistent photo of your face helps colleagues recognize you.
• Adds context in communications – Putting a face to your name creates stronger connections.
• Represents you professionally – For work comms, use a friendly headshot or corporate logo.

So try updating your Outlook profile picture periodically. Having a current, professional photo makes conversing across Outlook a little more personal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Profile Pictures

Here are answers to some common questions about changing your Outlook profile picture:

How often should I change my Outlook profile picture?

It’s a good idea to change your profile picture every 6-12 months. Update it whenever you get a new work headshot or want to modify your look.

Does my profile picture update automatically?

Outlook apps usually detect and sync new profile pictures automatically within 15 minutes. But sometimes manual troubleshooting is required if it fails to update everywhere.

Can I revert to an old profile picture?

Yes, just select the old photo again using any of the methods in this guide. The previous picture will sync across Outlook after you revert to it.

Do I have to crop my photos to be square?

No, Outlook will automatically crop and frame non-square pictures into a square aspect when applying them. But having an original square photo avoids unwanted cropping.

Can I use a group picture for my profile?

It’s best to use a picture with just you in it for your profile. Group shots can cause confusion over which person you are.

Conclusion

Having an up-to-date profile picture is an important part of representing yourself professionally across Outlook’s apps and services. Following this guide, you now know how to easily change your profile photo in Outlook on the web, desktop and mobile, as well as in Skype and Teams.

Syncing your new picture only takes a few minutes in most cases. But if it fails to update, use the troubleshooting steps to fix any issues. Keeping your Outlook profile picture current helps put a name and face to your communications for stronger connections.