How to change your Xbox profile picture with a custom gamerpic

By Jez Corden
published

Custom "gamerpics" are here! And this is how you get them.

Xbox Custom Gamer Pic 2022 W 2022 03 17 14 25
Xbox Custom Gamer Pic 2022 W 2022 03 17 14 25 (Image credit: Windows Central)
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Available to users on smartphones, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles, and Windows PCs, anyone can take any picture and stick it up on their Xbox Live profile for all to see. Of course, standard community guidelines apply (and Microsoft's system approves pictures before they go live). Up until a short while ago, Xbox Live users were only able to express themselves without custom avatar poses or pre-set pictures. Thankfully, Microsoft finally added the ability to add your own avatar across the entire Xbox Live network.

Here's how you can set up your own Xbox gamerpic, across consoles, mobile devices, and Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. The easiest method without a doubt is via a smartphone, but there are other ways if you don't have access to one.

How to create a custom Xbox gamerpic on your Xbox console

For this to work, you'll need a USB stick or another USB external storage device to set the picture on your console. Simply insert the USB stick into the console with your picture saved somewhere on the stick. The picture needs to be formatted in 1080 x 1080 dimensions. You can learn how to do that below.

  1. Open the guide menu by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.
  2. Move the joystick right to the Profile & system section.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Use the "A" button to select your profile, and then once again hit "My profile" in the next pop-up.
  2. Use the joystick and the "A" button to select Customize profile.
  3. Select Change gamerpic.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select Upload a custom image.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Next, you will land on the Xbox File Picker app.
  2. Navigate to the USB stick icon using the hamburger menu in the top left.
  3. Navigate to the picture you would like to use with "A" button and joystick.
  4. When you are finished, select Upload. Microsoft will verify the picture, and in around two minutes, you will be good to go.

How to create a custom Xbox gamerpic using Windows 10 or 11

  1. Open the Xbox Console Companion app (this isn't the "Xbox" app you use for Xbox Game Pass) on your Windows 10 or 11 PC. (The fastest way is to simply type "Xbox console" into the Start menu, or find it in the Windows 10 Microsoft Store (opens in new tab).
  2. Select your Profile in the top left-hand corner. (It will be a circle with your current gamerpic.)

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Click on your gamerpic to edit it.Note: If your profile is set to use an avatar, click Switch to gamerpic underneath it.
  2. Select Choose a custom picture.Note: Any picture you use has to be at least 1080 x 1080 image size.
  3. Select Upload a custom image.
  4. Browse for your file, then select it.
  5. Crop the picture into the circle using the mouse, then hit upload.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Once Microsoft has verified the picture, it will appear on your profile across Windows and Xbox.

How to create a custom Xbox gamerpic using a mobile phone

  1. Download the Xbox app from either Google Play (opens in new tab) or the Apple App Store (opens in new tab).
  2. Sign into the app using your Microsoft Account attached to your Xbox.
  3. Select your profile icon in the bottom right corner of the app.Source: Windows Central

Xbox Gamerrpic Weird Mobile 2022 (Image credit: Windows Central)

Xbox Gamerrpic Weird Mobile 2022 (Image credit: Windows Central)
  1. Tap on your current default profile picture, as shown here.
  2. Select the custom image icon in the top left.
  3. From your Android or iOS file picker, you should be able to easily navigate from here and select an appropriate picture. Remember that it has to be 512 x 512, though. If you need to learn how to resize a picture, there's more info on that below.

Easily resize any picture for your Xbox profile

All gamerpics on Xbox One need to be HD cropped to a square, hitting at least 1080 x 1080 resolution, or 512 x 512 resolution via a mobile device. You can resize any picture easily using one of the best photo editing apps, like Polarr, a free app on PC and mobile devices. These steps might differ based on the platform you use, but they should be very similar.

  1. Install Polarr from the Microsoft Store (opens in new tab), or by searching the app stores of your respective mobile devices.
  2. Open Polarr, then select "Open Photos." (Note: If it's your first time using Polarr, you may be given a tutorial on the app's features first).
  3. Browse and open the photo you want to use.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Click the crop tool on the right side in the middle.
  2. Select Aspect, so we can crop it into a square shape.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select 1:1 then drag the square to the portion of the picture you want to use as an Xbox avatar.
  2. Select the blue tick on the right when you're finished.
  3. Select the save icon at the top right, which looks like an up arrow.
  4. Select presets as shown here, then choose Instagram post, which matches the 1080 x 1080 resolution needed for Xbox.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select Save a copy, then give your new picture a name. Save it where you can find it easily.
  2. Upload your picture to Xbox using one of the methods above.
Jez Corden
Jez Corden
Co-Managing Editor

Jez Corden a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by caffeine. Follow on Twitter @JezCorden and listen to his Xbox Two podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

43 Comments
  • Next Windows 10
  • Mine is gonna be the same as here. Which I use a few places actually.
  • I can't do that Dave...
  • Maybe your too young to remember but this isn't the first time in XBL history where you could upload a custom pic for your profile. You could do this on the 360 with the camera accessory.
  • Hardly the same.
  • Yes it's the same. I had a real picture for years!
  • ... Until all the dick pics started appearing. Lol
  • Didn't stop them in Uno. =P
  • Heh, this is what I was coming to say. ;P
  • The 1080 X 1080 requirement gave me a lil trouble. Most pics I wanted to use didn't meet up.
    Now, weird question, is there anyway to change our profile pic on windows central using this windowscentral app?
  • That's a good question..
  • You aren't kidding. I can't even use a screenshot from one of my games, since my desktop resolution is lower than that.
  • Just resize the image and try again.
  • They're trying to tell you politely to upload your own original photo, not something owned by someone else. They don't want you to use something like, say, my avatar here. His Bobness nor, even moreso, the person who took the photo in the first place, would not appreciate it! I couldn't resist, though. It's a cool photo, and I am a fan of Mr. Dylan. 
  • Not just restricted to Insider Alpha either, I'm on beta ring 3 and was able to upload my own personal avatar 👌
  • Mine is going to be a penis. Original, I know.
  • Won't last long.
  • It won't work.
  • How about a pic of Lo **** from Shadow Warrior???
  • Is there a way turn off just about everything on the app?  I don't care to see Featured or Recently Played and I don't care to see Activity.
  • Don't open the app.
  • Just tried it on my 650 (duh, Jez, you didn't mention it's also on mobile 😝😏), and it says that they can't upload my picture right now. It's just my face in front of a wall and door (the same I also use here), so I don't think it's violating anything... 😂
  • Not working for anyone on mobile just yet.
  • yeah it's not working there, so I didn't mention it :)
  • I would use the same as here, but this a crappy Gif file that wouldn't meet the requirement of resolution.
  • Something that's not in the article but should be mentioned is the images have to be at least 1080px x 1080px for gamer pics. Not a big deal if ur using an existing picture but if you're creating one then you should know that.
  • helps if you read the full article
  • I did when I commented the note wasn't there so they probably updated it.
  • nope, it was there from the beginning
  • I dont have the option to upload the picture once I choose customize gamer pic. That option you highlight isn't available. My Xbox one-S is up to date but I don't see anything. Any ideas?
  • one day i will change it but at the moment i dont have time
  • Marmite on a crepe ?
  • LOL yes
  • wrong'un
  • I dont have the option to upload the picture once I choose customize gamer pic. That option you highlight isn't available. My Xbox one-S is up to date but I don't see anything. Any ideas?
  • same here  
  • Yep. Don't have the option on X-Box One or Windows 10. LIES!
  • You have to download XBOX(BETA) from the store  
  • One time I uploaded some anime girl eating a pizza
    The next day it was removed and I got banned for like a week.
    Stupid safespace Xbox Live
  • this feature is like a year old or more? I remember putting up a custom image a while ago.
  • I've had a custom pic for quite some time.
  • You could actually do this by updating the profile Pic in your email for some time, now. I've had a customer gamer Pic for years. But, it's good to see other options.
  • There is an extra option: use your avatar as a "model" to take a picture. You can even personalize the background!