2 Easy Ways to Make Your Profile Picture Private on Gmail

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Learn how to hide your Gmail profile picture from other users

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: January 13, 2024 Fact Checked

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To make your Gmail profile picture private, you'll need to change the settings for your Google account. You can limit your visibility to only people you interact with. To make your picture completely private, you'll need to delete it entirely. Here's how to make your profile picture private on Gmail using your computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Things You Should Know

Go to "Manage your Google Account" → "Personal info" → "Go to About me" → "Profile picture".
Select the current visibility settings and click "People you interact with". Select "Save".
There's currently no way to make your profile picture completely private to yourself unless you delete it.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using Mobile

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Open the Gmail app. This looks like a multicolored M with a white background.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-2-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-2-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-2-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-2-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Tap your profile picture . You can find this in the top-right corner.

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This will be underneath your email address.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c0\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-4-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-4-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

This is the tab at the top, between Home and Data & privacy .
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-5-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-5-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-5-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-5-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

This will be in the Choose what others see tile.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/57\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-6-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-6-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/57\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-6-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-6-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6
Tap Profile picture . You can find this under the Basic info header.
- A new page will open.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-7-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-7-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-7-Version-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-7-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

7
Select a new visibility setting. Tap the current setting and select a new one.
- Anyone : Your profile picture is visible to anyone who has your contact information or access to your content in Google services
- People you interact with : Your profile picture is visible to anyone you interact with in Google services, such as Photos or Chat.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/36\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

8
Tap Save . This is the blue button. Your changes will be saved.
- If you don't want anyone to see your profile picture, you can tap Remove instead. This will replace your current photo with Google's default profile picture: colored initials of your name.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Desktop

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{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/eb\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Go to https://myaccount.google.com/ in a web browser. If you aren't already logged in, enter your email address and password to do so now. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you forgot your password, you can always recover and change it .
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This will be on the left panel, underneath Home .
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-11.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-11.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-11.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-11.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

This will be in the Choose what others see tile.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-12.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-12.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/85\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-12.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-12.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
Click Profile picture . You can find this under the Basic info header.
- A pop-up menu will open.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/52\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-13.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":545,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

5
Select a new visibility setting. Click the current setting and select a new one.
- Anyone : Your profile picture is visible to anyone who has your contact information or access to your content in Google services
- People you interact with : Your profile picture is visible to anyone you interact with in Google services, such as Photos or Chat.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-14.jpg\/v4-460px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-14.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ed\/Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-14.jpg\/v4-728px-Make-Your-Profile-Picture-Private-on-Gmail-Step-14.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6
Click Save . This is the blue button. Your changes will be saved.
- If you don't want anyone to see your profile picture, you can click Remove instead. This will replace your current photo with Google's default profile picture: colored initials of your name.

Community Q&A

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Question

Can my Gmail profile picture be downloaded by anyone?

Community Answer

Yes, it is very easy to do through the browser developer tools, which are open to everyone.

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This setting will stay the same even if you change your picture. You don't have to adjust it every time you select a new profile picture.

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2 Easy Ways to Make Your Profile Picture Private on Gmail

Things You Should Know

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Using Desktop

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Tips

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