How to Add a Picture to Your Gmail Profile

You can have people recognize you with a picture in Gmail and Hangouts.

Do You Prefer Email Addresses or Faces?

Look: we should face it. People recognize (and like) faces earlier than email addresses. They possibly like the faces better, too.

Gmail knows this, and it can display images when you hover over somebody's name or email address. You can add pictures to all your friends and colleagues manually, of course, but you can also have Gmail use what they have set up to be their default image.

Now, if they can set a default picture, so can you. If you add an image to your Gmail profile, it will automatically be shown when another Gmail user gets an email from you, looks you up in their address book, or chats with you.

Add a Picture to Your Google Profile in Inbox by Gmail

To equip your Google profile with a headshot using Inbox by Gmail:

1. Click the initial, avatar or current picture in your Inbox by Gmail's top right corner.
2. Now click Change under the current picture or initial.
3. To use an image from your computer:
   1. Make sure Upload photos is selected.
   2. Find the photo you want to use, drag it over the Inbox by Gmail window and drop it on Drag a profile photo here.
      • You can also click Select a photo from your computer and use the upload dialog.
4. To use a photo from your or even other's online albums:
   1. Make sure Your photos or Photos of you is selected.
   2. Select the picture you want to use.
5. Use the cropping tool to select the part of the picture you want to use for your Gmail and Google profile.

1. Click Set as profile photo.

Add a Picture to Your Gmail Profile (Newer Gmail Version)

To upload an image for your Gmail account:

1. Click the Settings gear icon (⚙️) in the top Gmail navigation bar.
2. Select Settings from the menu that has appeared.
3. Make sure you're on the General tab.
4. Click Select a picture under My picture:.
   • To select a different picture, choose Change picture instead.

1. To use an image from your computer:
   1. Make sure My Computer is selected on the left.
   2. Use the Browse... or Choose file... button to select the desired image.
2. To pick an image from one of your Picasa web albums:
   1. Click Picasa Web Albums.
   2. Pick the desired album and then the image you want.
3. To use an image stored on a publicly accessible website:
   1. Choose Web Address (URL) on the left.
   2. Enter the image's address under Image URL.
   3. Click Select Image.
4. To remove the picture from your Gmail (and Google) account:
   1. Click No picture.
5. Decide on the ideal size and part of the image you want to use.
6. Click Apply Changes.

Add a Picture to Your Gmail Profile (Older Gmail Version)

To set up your Gmail image:

• ›› Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

1. Follow the Settings link in the top Gmail navigation bar.
2. Click Select a picture under My picture:.
3. Use the Browse... button to select the desired image.
4. Click Upload picture ».
5. Decide on the ideal size and part of the image you want to use.
6. Click Crop picture ».
7. Now click Save Changes at the bottom of the screen.

(Updated October 2016, tested with Gmail in a desktop browser)