Top 4 Ways to Fix Zoom Profile Picture Not Showing in Meeting

Recently, we covered a guide on how to show a profile picture instead of a video in a Zoom meeting. Several users commented that despite following the steps, the profile picture didn’t show up at times. So we put our detective hat on and investigated what was causing the Zoom profile picture not showing in a meeting issue. We found several fixes and have compiled them in this post.

After a little digging around a few Reddit posts, we realized that some basic things that would go unnoticed were making the profile picture disappear in Zoom meetings. Also, a recent Zoom update of version 5 added a setting that was also responsible for the profile picture issue. So if you are wondering, ‘Why is my picture not showing in a Zoom meeting?’, we have found the answers.

Let’s check various fixes to know how to get a picture to show up in Zoom meetings.

1. Use Zoom App

Typically, when you click on a Zoom invitation link, you will receive two options – Open in the Zoom app (or Open Zoom Meetings) and Open in the browser (or Cancel). Sometimes, even though you might have clicked on the Zoom app, it doesn’t open the Zoom app. So you attend the Zoom meeting via a browser where you aren’t logged in. That’s why the profile picture doesn’t show up.

The fix is that you need to be careful and see whether you are using the Zoom app (on mobile or desktop) or a browser. What you can do is manually open the Zoom app first on your desktop or mobile and then join a meeting via the meeting code, instead of directly clicking on the invitation link.

Pro Tip: Know how to find a Zoom meeting and password on mobile and desktop.

2. Log in and Stay Signed In

The above problem mostly happens because you aren’t logged in to Zoom when you join a meeting. Sometimes, you are logged into your account from the browser and not from the app or vice versa. That’s why your profile picture isn’t showing up. The Zoom system takes you as a guest user if you aren’t signed in. Since a guest account doesn’t have a profile picture and your actual profile is connected to your Zoom account, you don’t see a photo for yourself in the meetings.

To fix it, you need to sign in to your Zoom account before joining a meeting. The trick is to keep your account logged in and enable Stay signed in for both the Zoom website and apps before you join a meeting. That way, Zoom knows who you are and will show up the correct picture.

Pro Tip: If you use multiple Zoom accounts (professional and personal) on the same device, make sure to switch accounts before joining a meeting. Using the wrong Zoom account will also result in a profile picture not showing up.

Here’s how to sign in and tell Zoom to remember you.

How to Log in to Zoom Website and Stay Signed In

Open the Zoom sign in page through a browser on your mobile or desktop. Enter your username and password. Check the box next to Stay signed in. Click on Sign in. Now join a Zoom meeting.

How to Log in to Zoom Desktop App and Stay Signed In

Open the Zoom Desktop app and click on Sign In instead of Join a Meeting.

After you click on Sign In, enter your login details. Then check the box next to Keep me signed in.

Once you log in, you should see your profile picture at the top-right corner. If it appears blank, make sure you have set up your profile picture, as shown below.

Pro Tip: To verify whether you are logged in or not in the Zoom desktop, click on the profile picture icon. If you see your email ID under your name, that means you are logged in. Verify whether it’s the correct account. Use Switch Account and Sign out options at the bottom to log out from the account.

In case you have already joined a Zoom meeting without logging in, hover over the Zoom icon, and you will see two Zoom windows. Click on the first window where you will see the option to Sign In. Log in with your Zoom details.

Pro Tip: Find out how to download and use Zoom backgrounds.

How to Log in to Zoom Mobile Apps and Stay Signed in

Similarly, you should be logged in on the Zoom mobile apps as well. To verify whether you are signed in or not, open the Zoom app and tap on the Settings tab. Here you should see your name, profile picture, and email address at the top. Tap on the section containing those three. In case you are logged in from a different account, tap on Sign out. Then sign in with the correct account.

Now, if you aren’t logged in, leave the meeting. Then sign in to your Zoom account first through the app. For that, relaunch the Zoom app. You will be asked to Sign in or Join a meeting. Tap on Sign in. Enter your credentials. After signing in, go to Settings and see if the profile picture is showing up. Now join a meeting.

Pro Tip: Refer our guide on how to mute and unmute people on the Zoom app.

3. Set a Profile Picture From Zoom Website

The best way to set a profile picture for Zoom is to use its website. The same picture will sync to all the connected devices where you are logged in to Zoom.

So open the Zoom website from https://zoom.us/ on your mobile or desktop and sign in with your account. Inside your Account settings, click on the Profile tab from the left side. Then change the profile picture. The picture set via the Zoom website takes priority over its apps.

Pro Tip: If you find it difficult to navigate the mobile version of the Zoom website on your phone, look for a setting called Desktop site. Enable it. Check browsers that support desktop sites on mobile.

4. Disable Hide Participant Profile Pictures

With version 5.0 and above, Zoom introduced the ‘Hide participants profile picture’ setting for the meeting host. The reason for the setting is that people forget to switch Zoom accounts. So when you click on an invitation link, you would join through the previously logged in account, which could be your kids. So a random cartoon picture would show up in company meetings. Heh!

Technically, it should only hide the profile picture for all participants when you are a host, but for some users, it also hides their profile picture when they are participants in a meeting hosted by someone else.

Disabling it seems to restore your profile picture in a meeting. To disable it, open the Zoom website via https://zoom.us/. Sign in with your account. Click on Settings from the left sidebar. Under the Meeting tab, click on In Meeting (basic).

Scroll down, and you will find ‘Hide participants profile pictures in a meeting’ option. Disable the toggle next to it. Relaunch Zoom, and you should be able to see your profile picture.

Be Safe With Zoom

Zoom has received quite a lot of heat for this privacy measure. Fortunately, Zoom was quick to introduce some amazing security settings. If you are apprehensive about Zoom meetings, check out our post that will guide you on how to use Zoom in the safest way possible.

Next up: Want to share a video along with its sound in Zoom? Find out how to do so from the next link.