Changing your cover photo on Facebook without posting it to your timeline can be a bit tricky, but it’s definitely doable. By following a few straightforward steps, you can ensure that your new cover photo is updated without notifying everyone in your friend list. You’ll still get to enjoy a fresh cover image while keeping things low-key.
How to Change Cover Photo on Facebook Without Posting
This guide will walk you through the steps to change your cover photo without making a public post. By the end, you’ll know how to update your cover image discreetly and keep it off your friends’ news feeds.
Step 1: Go to Your Profile
First, open Facebook and navigate to your profile page.
On both desktop and mobile, you can access your profile by clicking on your name or profile picture at the top of the screen. This brings you to your timeline where you can see your current cover photo.
Step 2: Hover Over Cover Photo
Next, hover your mouse over your current cover photo until you see the “Update Cover Photo” button.
On mobile, tap on the cover photo. This will bring up options for updating your cover photo. You’ll see options like “Choose from Photos,” “Upload Photo,” and “Reposition.”
Step 3: Select ‘Choose from Photos’ or ‘Upload Photo’
Click “Choose from Photos” if you want to use an existing photo, or “Upload Photo” if you’re adding a new one.
If you pick “Choose from Photos,” a gallery of your photos will appear. For “Upload Photo,” you’ll be prompted to select a file from your computer or device.
Step 4: Set the Privacy Setting to ‘Only Me’
Before finalizing, change the privacy setting to “Only Me” to prevent it from appearing on your timeline.
To do this, click on the globe icon or the audience selector next to the post button and select “Only Me.” This ensures that only you can see the update.
Step 5: Save Changes
Finally, click “Save Changes” to set your new cover photo.
Your cover photo will update, but since you’ve set it to “Only Me,” it won’t be broadcasted to your friends. They’ll still see the new photo if they visit your profile, but it won’t show up in their news feed.
After you complete these steps, your cover photo will be changed without notifying all your friends. The new image will appear on your profile immediately, but the update will remain private.
Tips for Changing Cover Photo on Facebook Without Posting
- Prepare Ahead: Have your cover photo ready before starting the process to make it quick and seamless.
- Privacy Settings: Always double-check the privacy settings to make sure they’re set to “Only Me.”
- Reposition Carefully: Take your time to reposition the cover photo properly before saving changes.
- Preview Option: Use the preview feature to see how the cover photo looks before finalizing.
- Change Often: Feel free to change your cover photo as often as you like, using these steps to keep it low-key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my cover photo without anyone knowing?
Yes, by setting the privacy setting to “Only Me” before saving, you can change your cover photo without notifying your friends.
Will my friends still see the new cover photo?
Yes, they can see it if they visit your profile, but it won’t appear in their news feed.
Can I use the same steps on the mobile app?
Yes, these steps apply to both desktop and mobile versions of Facebook.
What if I forget to change the privacy setting?
If you forget, you can quickly delete the post from your timeline. Just go to your timeline, find the post, and click “Delete.”
Can I revert to my old cover photo?
Yes, you can choose your previous cover photo from your photo gallery and repeat the same steps to make it discreet.
Summary
- Go to your profile.
- Hover over cover photo.
- Select ‘Choose from Photos’ or ‘Upload Photo.’
- Set the privacy setting to ‘Only Me.’
- Save Changes.
Conclusion
Updating your Facebook cover photo without notifying your friends is easier than it seems. By following these simple steps, you can keep your profile fresh without broadcasting the change to everyone. This guide has provided you with a clear, comprehensive way to make your cover photo updates private and low-key. Whether you’re looking to refresh your profile for a new season, a special occasion, or just because, you now have the tools to do it discreetly. So go ahead, experiment with different images, and enjoy your updated profile without the extra attention. For further information on other Facebook tips and tricks, stay tuned to our future articles.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.