View, Enlarge and Download an Instagram Profile Photo

Instagram is truly the social network where a picture is worth a thousand words. And the first image others can see is your Instagram profile picture. So it's important to use it well to boost your social media management strategy.

Images are paramount on the app, which is why you need to make sure you upload the best quality photos possible and pay attention to the good ratios for your posts.

And while you may spend hours wracking your brain to choose which posts to publish in your feed, many users forget to think about the first image people will see: your profile photo.

Although you should, it's easy to not pay as much attention to your Instagram profile photo, compared to the images that are actually uploaded to your profile. But since you're here, we can tell you want to make sure your photo is perfect.

In this article, we'll answer some key questions about Instagram profile photos and share tips you should use to make that all-important first impression.

What is an Instagram profile photo?

Even if it's small, your Instagram profile photo is a prominent feature of your account (whether personal or professional). It's the first image new visitors to your page will see, and it's the image your followers use to identify you on their Stories.

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As with your other Instagram content, a little time, care and attention must be devoted to shooting and selecting your profile photo - especially when it comes to image size. In this guide, we'll look at how to change your Instagram profile photo, the right dimensions to use, and some tips for taking the best IG profile photo.

How to change your Instagram profile photo?

Although there's no hard and fast rule about how often you should update your profile photo, it's wise not to change it too often. If you keep the same profile photo (and use it on your other social networks), your followers will be more likely to identify it with your content.

Changing your profile photo on Instagram is simple. Here's how to do it:

1. Open your Instagram app.
2. Tap the'icon of your current profile photo at the bottom right of the screen.
3. Tap the Edit Profile button below your bio.
4. Then tap Edit profile photo.
5. Select Choose from library.
6. Navigate to the photo you wish to use in your camera roll.
7. Press Done.

After selecting Change profile photo, you have several options. You can import a photo from Facebook, take a new profile photo with the app's camera, or delete your current photo, which will leave only a black circle on your Instagram profile.

Experiencing difficulties? Refer to our dedicated article: How to change your Instagram profile photo?

What's the ideal format for an Instagram profile photo?

It doesn't matter how good your profile photo is, if you don't upload it in the required size, it won't look good. Images that are too small or too large won't work or will look blurry and pixelated.

That said, you'll want to resize your profile photo to a square of 110 pixels by 110 pixels, or an aspect ratio of 1:1. The maximum file size of an Instagram profile photo is 10 MB.

Can I view an Instagram profile photo at full size?

No, you can't view an Instagram profile photo at full size in the app. If you click on someone's profile photo while on their page, it will either take you to their Stories or do nothing.

However, some third-party tools will let you see the full-size version of someone's profile photo. We'll come back to these tools at the end of the article.

5 tips for having a good Instagram profile photo

The same guidelines apply here as they do with all your Instagram content. You want to be intentional with your Instagram profile photo and use it as a way to communicate your message to new followers. The tips listed below will help you do just that.

Tip #1: Adapt to your aesthetic and brand

When choosing your Instagram profile photo, it's essential to consider the rest of your account. You want your profile photo to make sense on your page and match your personal brand aesthetic.

Digital creator @patheight's page, for example, features his dark and stormy photographs, usually taken on foggy, rainy days. It makes sense, then, that his profile photo is taken in a similar setting.

The use of custom Instagram bio fonts can help you tie your entire profile together.

Tip #2: make sure your profile photo is up to date.

Although your Christmas vacation in the Alps may have resulted in a charming photo, save it for your feed. You want your Instagram profile photo to be as timeless as possible. Simply because using a holiday-themed or seasonal photo can lead new followers to think that your account is inactive or that you don't update it regularly.

Tip #3: keep your background clean

Since profile photos are so small, it's essential to ensure that the photo's subject - which will most likely be you - is clear. If you avoid busy or cluttered backgrounds, your followers will see you more easily and identify your page.

The @thatsosofi and @girlwithnojob accounts are two excellent examples of how using neutral, yet colorful backgrounds can not only make your profile photo clearer, but also tease out the theme of your feed.

Tip #4: keep the subject front and center in your photo

Once again, you don't have a lot of space to fill with your profile photo. So, whatever subject you want to use, make sure it's close and in the center of the image. If the subject is too far away from the camera or to the side, users will have trouble recognizing you and your page.

Tip #5: use a prop on your Instagram profile photo

Beyond colors and backgrounds that match your brand, there's another fun way to use your profile photo to show new followers what your account is all about: props.

For example, wedding photographer @heathersmithphotos poses in her profile photo in bridal attire, and @thehonestvet poses in vet gear in her profile photo.

As you can see, there are many unique ways to use your Instagram profile photo to promote your page and accentuate your brand. We hope you've found these tips helpful in developing your Instagram presence.

FAQ: Instagram profile photo

Now that you've learned all the best tips and tricks for taking a great Instagram profile photo, it's time to answer the questions you've been asking.

My profile photo is blurry, what can I do?

If your profile photo is blurry and pixelated, there are several possible causes. The most common reason is that you're uploading a low-resolution photo, too small to use. Make sure you follow the size guidelines and upload images in JPEG format.

If you're not saving your photos in low resolution on purpose, you may want to check your iCloud settings. If the Optimize iPhone Storage setting is enabled, your iPhone automatically replaces full-resolution photos and videos with smaller versions to save space in your camera roll.

Here's how to check this setting:

1. Open your Settings.
2. Apple ID > iCloud > Photos
3. Select Upload and retain originals instead of Optimize photo storage'

By following these instructions, you should be able to avoid accidentally uploading low-resolution photos. If you want to keep the Optimize Photo Storage setting on the iPhone, you can always access full-resolution versions of your photos on iCloud.

How to see an Instagram profile photo larger?

It's possible that when using Instagram, at some point you may want to see an account's profile photo larger.

As said above, impossible to do so in the Instagram app. However, there are tools to remedy this.

Discover here how to make an Instagram profile picture larger.

Where to find Instagram styled profile photo ideas?

If the few tips given above don't work for you when choosing your profile photo, don't give up.

We've got plenty more best practices to help you find a profile photo that fits you perfectly.

Discover here a list of 100 Instagram profile photo ideas.

How to download an Instagram account profile photo?

Want to download an Instagram account profile photo? No worries, it's doable thanks to special tools.

Here are the steps to download an Instagram profile photo:

1. Open Instagram and go to the account from which you want to save the profile photo. Remember the exact Instagram username or copy a profile link. To copy the link, press three dots in the top right-hand corner.
2. Select Copy profile'URL.
3. Open your mobile browser.
4. Go to instagramdownloads.com. In the search bar, paste the link to the Instagram account from which you want to save the profile image.
5. Press Search.
6. Long press on the profile image you want to download.
7. Then you'll see an action menu. If you have an iPhone, choose Add to photos. If you're an Android user, select Download Image.
8. To view the saved Instagram image, go to Photos.
9. Saved photos are placed in Recent.