How to View Private Facebook Profile Photo?

If a Facebook profile is private or locked, you can only view the profile picture or cover image through some other common methods. Usually, the best options are becoming friends, using mutual friends, asking directly, or viewing the public version through a DP viewer tool.

1. Facebook Private DP Viewer

TechniqueHow’s Facebook Private DP Viewer is an online tool designed to help users quickly view a Facebook profile picture and cover photo, even when the profile is private.

Instead of requesting access or opening multiple pages, users simply need to enter the Facebook username or paste the complete profile URL into the search box. After submitting the profile link, the tool instantly fetches the available information and displays the person’s name, profile picture, cover image, and short introduction from the account.

It works for both personal profiles and public pages, making it useful when you want to identify a profile before sending a request or message. Another useful feature is that the displayed profile picture and cover photo can be downloaded directly in full size.

i.e. Entered the profile URL in a format like: https://www.facebook.com/usa, and the DP (the USA flag) is visible as seen on the profile in real-time.

This means you can save the DP or cover image to your device without taking screenshots or losing quality. The tool is simple, fast, and requires no login, installation, or technical knowledge to use.

Step 1: Open TechniqueHow’s Facebook Private DP Viewer and paste the Facebook username or complete profile URL into the search box provided.

Step 2: Then, click the Check button to instantly display the profile picture, cover photo, name, and introduction from the selected Facebook account.

Step 3: Press the ‘Download’ option below the displayed DP or cover photo to save it on your device instantly without screenshots.

2. Add the Person as a Friend

The easiest and most common way to see a private Facebook display picture or cover photo is to send a friend request. When the person accepts your request, you become part of their friend list and can normally see their photos, posts, cover image, and profile picture in a larger size.

Many people keep their accounts locked for privacy reasons. They may only want friends or known people to see their personal photos. If you know the person in real life, work with them, study with them, or have talked before, then sending a friend request is the simplest option.

Once the request is accepted, open their profile and click on the display picture. Facebook will then show the image in a larger size. In most cases, you can also open the cover image and scroll through their uploaded profile photos. If the person has changed their DP several times, you may even see older profile photos.

If you do not know the person, you can still send a polite message with the request. For example, you can introduce yourself and explain why you want to connect. A simple and honest message usually works better than sending a blank request.

Step 1: Open Facebook and search for the person’s name or username using the search bar.

Step 2: Open the profile and click the “Add Friend” button below their profile picture.

Step 3: If needed, send a short message explaining who you are and why connecting helps.

Step 4: Wait until the person accepts your friend request on Facebook. Now, open the profile again and click the DP or cover image in full size.

3. Use mSpy App

mSpy is mainly designed for parental monitoring and device management. It can be used by parents to supervise a child’s phone, or by employers to manage company-owned devices, only when they have permission and legal authority.

When installed on a device you own or manage, mSpy can monitor activity on applications such as Facebook. If the user of that device opens a Facebook profile, photo, display picture, or cover image, that activity may appear inside the mSpy dashboard. This means parents can review what their child has viewed or shared on Facebook. In some cases, screenshots, browsing history, or app usage records may help show the profile picture or cover image that was already visible on the monitored device.

The main purpose of mSpy is not to “unlock” private Facebook photos. Instead, it shows what is already accessible from the monitored phone. If the Facebook account on that device has permission to view a locked profile because they are friends, then the viewed DP or cover image may also appear in the monitoring dashboard.

To use mSpy properly, you first create an account, install the app on the child’s or company device with permission, and then connect the phone to your dashboard. After that, you can open the Facebook activity section and review available screenshots or activity logs.

Step 1: First, create an mSpy account and choose a subscription plan suitable for your child’s monitored phone.

Step 2: Now, install the application only on a phone you legally own or manage with permission.

Step 3: Complete setup and allow required permissions for screenshots, app activity, and browser monitoring.

Step 4: Open your mSpy dashboard and select the Facebook monitoring or screenshots section available.

Step 5: Now you can see visible Facebook profile photos, cover images, and activity already accessible on the monitored device.

4. Use a Mutual Friend’s Account

Another common method is to ask a mutual friend to show you the profile picture or cover photo. If one of your friends is already connected with that person, they may be able to open the profile and view the DP or cover image for you.

This is useful when you are unable to send a friend request or when the person does not accept unknown requests. Since the mutual friend already has permission to see the profile, they can open the picture and either show it to you directly or send you a screenshot.

For example, suppose you want to see the cover photo of someone from your school or office. If one of your friends already knows that person on Facebook, they can simply open the profile and click the DP or cover image. This works because Facebook allows friends to see content based on the privacy settings chosen by the account owner.

This method is commonly used because it does not require any additional tools or a website. It only depends on whether you have a common friend who is already on the person’s friend list. In many cases, this is faster than waiting for a friend request to be accepted.

Step 1: First, open the person’s Facebook profile and check whether you share mutual friends.

Step 2: Then, contact the mutual friend using Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or another messaging app.

Step 3: Just politely ask them whether they can view the DP or cover image.

Step 4: Ask them to send a screenshot or show the profile from their account.

Step 5: Now you can view the image and use it only for any respectful reasons.