How to Restore a Missing Profile Picture in Windows 10 and 11

The settings panel in Windows 10 and 11 shows the current user profile with a picture, but sometimes it goes missing even if you've set one in the past. If the profile picture is missing from your user account, it could be due to issues with your Microsoft account sync settings or temporary glitches.

Here we show you a few troubleshooting steps to help you restore the missing profile picture in Windows Settings.

1. Check Your Microsoft Account

Windows displays the profile picture associated with your Microsoft account everywhere, including the Windows 11 settings panel. Make sure you are logged in with the correct Microsoft account before trying other troubleshooting steps.

To verify your Microsoft account:

1. Press the Win + I to open Settings.
2. Under your current profile, verify your Microsoft account email ID.
3. Click on the user profile to view additional information.

2. Enable Settings Sync in Windows 10 and 11

The Settings sync in Windows helps you sync all your settings across devices associated with the Microsoft account. If you don't have it already, you can enable it in the Account section. Additionally, you can exclude individual items from the sync settings.

To turn on the Settings sync:

1. Open the Settings panel using the Win + I shortcut.
2. Next, open the Accounts tab and then click on Sync your settings.
3. Toggle the switch for Sync settings to On.
4. Once enabled, you can configure individual sync settings as per your preference.

3. Remove Your Profile Picture Manually

One easy way to fix this problem is to delete the profile picture associated with yor user account. Once it's deleted, you can then re-add the picture to resolve the problem.

That said, before you proceed, try a quick reboot. Restarting your Windows computer can fix any temporary glitches. If that does not help, follow these steps.

1. Press Win + E to open File Explorer.
2. In the File Explorer address bar, type the following path and hit enter to navigate:

   C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPictures

3. In the above path, replace Yourname with your username.
4. Here, delete all the pictures and close File Explorer.

Now add a new profile picture in Settings to complete the process.

4. Add a New Profile Picture in Windows 11

If you don’t have a profile picture associated with your Microsoft account, you can add it from the settings panel.

To add a new profile picture in Windows 11:

1. Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
2. Open the Accounts tab from the left pane.
3. In the right pane, click on Your Info.
4. Under Adjust your photo, click on Browse files for Choose a file.
5. Select the image to set as a profile picture and click Choose picture.
6. You can also capture a live picture through the camera if you want.

That’s it. Windows will apply your new profile picture to your profile and sync with your Microsoft account instantly.

5. Install Windows Updates

Windows updates comprise critical security patches as well as bug fixes. Checking for and installing Windows updates can help you fix the problem.

Here’s how to update your Windows computer:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Open the Windows update tab in the left pane.
3. Click on Check for updates and continue to download and install pending updates.
4. Once the updates are installed, reboot your PC and check for any improvements.

6. Check the Update History and Uninstall Recent Windows Updates

If you feel the issue occurred after installing a Windows update, check your update history. Depending on the type of update (critical update, definition update, driver update, feature update), you can either uninstall individual updates or perform a rollback to the previous version.

First, view your Windows update history. This will give a brief idea of the new updates installed and what may have triggered the issue. Once you have an idea as to what might be causing it, follow our guide on how to uninstall Windows 11 updates.

7. Restore to an Earlier Point in Time

System Restore is useful to undo any unexpected changes that may have caused your PC to malfunction. You can use one of the recently created restore points to restore your PC to an earlier point in time where it was working without any issues.

Refer to our detailed guide on creating and using restore points on Windows 11 and older systems for more details.

8. Reset or Reinstall Windows OS

As a last resort, you can reset the Windows OS or perform an in-place upgrade to fix problems with your profile picture.

An in-place upgrade allows you to repair install Windows 11 without deleting your apps or personal files. With a reset, however, you can only choose to keep or delete personal files and reinstall Windows.

We would recommend you to try a repair reinstall first. If that does not help, you may have to reset or perform a clean install to fix the problem.

Restoring Your Profile Picture in Windows Settings

Your profile picture may not appear in the Settings panel due to sync issues or corrupted pictures. You can manually add the profile picture in the account section to fix this problem with ease. That said, in rare instances, you may need to repair or reinstall your Windows OS to fix the problem.