Account Picture confusion

Your question isn't clear.

What "account picture" are you referring to? Do you mean the one that is on the Windows 7 "Welcome" screen, i.e., one of these:

Are you asking for directions on how to upload images?  Or how to email images?  Or how to share images (with what or who)?

Sorry about that!

I still primarily use Windows 7, so I didn't think to check the file type when I looked at the contents of the folder that I told you about.

It turns out that "accountpicture-ms" is a proprietary file type (of course it is!!) and the usual image viewers can't deal with it.  Fortunately, however, you're not the first person who wanted to use this sort of file for a purpose other than an account picture.  See the following:  https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-do-i-extract-the-image-contained-in-a/23ede957-25ed-4231-ac5b-f47215849914

I uploaded this small program to VirusTotal and I'm reasonably confident that it does not contain anything malicious.  See https://www.virustotal.com/#/file/30a0055ff89c1badba0a252b8d689eb33358ddf8465b31dc72b703ec7991473f/detection

Use it by dragging and dropping your account picture onto the downloaded exe file.  Two *.bmp files should then be created in the same folder where your accountpicture-ms file is located.

You're right, it is Windows 10. I read incorrectly when putting up the OP, my apologies.

I would like to point out that I did not take the picture, then choose the picture from my photos to use as my account picture. I navigated to my account settings where when changing the account picture I was prompted to either select a preexisting image or take a new one with the onboard camera to be used specifically as the account picture. I'm accessing that photo at the same location you wrote above:

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

In File Explorer, if I try to open the picture it brings up a small window that says:

"Confirm change to account picture

This will change your account picture."

and provides two buttons "Change" or "Cancel"

If I try to open the image in paint it puts up this error message:

"C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\AccountPicture\5202de7489c72d8c.accountpicture-ms

Paint cannot read this file.

This is not a valid bitmap file, or its format is not currently supported."

When I've attached the photo to an email and sent it to myself I've tried opening it with my PC and my phone. My phone says the file format is not supported and PC says the file cannot be opened.

I don't know what other information I'm capable of giving you without instruction from someone who knows more. It doesn't seem like it should be this difficult or complicated.

Sorry for the delay in responding.

Although you asked your question in the Windows 7 section of Microsoft Community, you seem to have Windows 10 (among other clues, that's the version where you see a picture in a circle at the login screen).  For most questions relating to Windows 10, you'll be more likely to get an response if you ask in the Windows 10 section.

That all being said, exactly how are you trying to access and preview the photo?  Please explain in detail.

The picture you took with the camera and then selected to use as your account picture is saved at

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

where "username" is whatever your user account name is.  If you go there using File Explorer you should be able to send it, upload it, share it, preview it, or do anything else in the same way you would for any file saved in your computer. 

What is the complete text of the error message that you get when you try to do one of those things (and please mention what it is that you are trying to do that causes the error to appear)?

The picture that appears in a circle at the login screen as well as in Your Info in Settings. I set my account picture using the camera instead of using one provided by Microsoft. I know how to access the photo, but anytime I try to send it, upload it, share it, or anything at all either an error message comes up or it does nothing at all. If I try to open the picture to preview it I am prompted to change my account picture, which I do not want to do. I just want access to it so that I can do other things with it.