Changing Your Windows 8 Account Picture

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 16, 2017)

Not only does Windows try to know who you are, but it also gives you the ability to aid its knowledge-gathering quest by providing a picture to go along with your account. Your picture doesn't have to be of you, however. You might want to use a picture that expresses your personality in some way or something that features a favorite object, place, or event.

In short, any picture can be associated with your account. In order to change your account picture, simply click your account name (typically your e-mail address) in the upper-right corner of the Start screen. Windows displays a few options; you should choose Change Account Picture. In short order you are faced with the Personalize area of the PC Settings screen. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Changing your account picture.

There are three ways you can set the picture:

  • Browse. Click this button to browser your system for an existing picture you want to use.
  • Camera. Click this button to view any pictures available through a camera. (This is most often used on tablets or phones, even though the option is also available on desktop systems.)
  • People. Click this button to look through pictures associated with your contacts and other people accessible through your connections.

Once you've located a picture you want to use, just select it and click the appropriate button. (For instance, the button my be labeled "Use Image" or "Insert" or "Choose.") Windows associates the picture with your account and displays it whenever your account information is visible.

 This tip (13151) applies to Windows 8.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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