I realized that while I’ve now switched over to Microsoft Windows 8 and have learned some of the customization tricks (thanks to you!) I haven’t figured out the fast way to change my Win8 account picture. Got a solution?
Great to hear that my site’s been helping you learn how to get the most out of Windows 8. I’ve been running early releases and writing about Win8, and now Win8.1 early release, for quite a while now and I admit that it’s growing on me the more I use it. I still miss the simplicity of the start menu — and the ‘start button’ in Windows 8.1 isn’t yet a useful replacement in my opinion — but the Metro UI turns out to be pretty cool and certainly a leap ahead in the appearance and experience of using a Windows system.
If you’re just starting down the road with Windows 8, I encourage you to check out the category “Windows Help” for tons of tips and tutorials.
Got a question about something I haven’t covered? That’s what the “Ask” link on the menubar is for. 🙂
Now back to your question. I think that by default when you log in to your Windows Live account that your Windows 8 install automatically downloads the photo you’re using as your profile pic, but that’s often ridiculously out of date (I have profile photos on some sites that are almost 10 years old now!). In any case, it’s quite easy to change your account picture in Win8.
Start by looking at the top right when you’re on the Start screen:
D’ya like the fish? I do. 🙂
Click on the existing account photograph or picture and a menu shows up:
As you can imagine, click on “Change account picture”.
Now you’ll get to a pretty big window with a surprising number of different choices:
If you already have a great photo you want to use, click on “Browse” and it’ll let you select it.
Don’t have one handy? No worries. Click on “Camera” and it’ll use your webcam so you can take a pic live!
Scintillating. This is why real cameras and real photographers are still in business, right?
Still, looks good. So I click on the “Okay” button (below the portion shown in the screen capture) and I’m done.
You can see it on the Start Screen:
But it’s much more obvious if you log off / sign out of your Windows 8 account:
Hmmm… I’m thinking maybe I should try again with that photo.
This one makes me look so darn serious. 🙂
Anyway, that’s the scoop. Hope that helps you out!