Tech Reference

How to change your profile picture on the Signal messaging app, or blur your photo on an Android for added privacy

Signal Messaging App
Thomas Trutschel/Getty Images
Read in app

Signal, the secure open-source messaging with end-to-end encryption, allows you to set a profile picture for your account. If you set up a picture when you first created your Signal account and want to change it – or you never set a picture to begin with – it's easy to choose a new photo.  

How to change your profile picture on Signal

1. Open the Signal app on your mobile device.

2. Tap your account icon at the top left of the screen to open the Settings menu (which will either be an image or just your initials).

3. Tap your account avatar again at the top of the Settings menu.

4. On your Profile page, tap your current profile avatar. 

How_to_change_your_picture_on_Signal 1
Tap your profile picture to replace it.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

5. In the pop-up, choose the option to set your new picture. You can snap a photo using the camera or choose a photo from your camera roll. 

How to blur your face on the Android version of Signal

If you are using the Android version of Signal, you can blur your photo. After you take a picture with the camera, tap the "Blur" icon at the top of the screen – it's the circle with white and black squares.

How_to_change_your_picture_on_Signal 2
The "Blur" icon is found at the top of the screen after you take a photo with your phone's camera.  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

There are two ways to blur your photo:

  • Using your finger, "paint" the picture with a blur effect wherever you want the image to be blurred.
  • Turn on "Blur faces" by swiping the button to the right. Signal will automatically add a blur square to the middle of your face.
How_to_change_your_picture_on_Signal 3
You can blur your image using your finger or by tapping "Blur faces."  Dave Johnson/Business Insider

When you're done, tap the check mark at the top right.

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Read next

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.