How to make a LinkedIn profile picture
Quick answer: To make a LinkedIn profile picture, pick a good photo, drop it in, check the round preview, choose a background and download and upload to LinkedIn.
- Pick a good photo. Chest up, facing the camera, in daylight or soft light, with your face sharp. A phone photo taken by someone else at arm's length or more works better than a close selfie.
- Drop it in. The tool finds your face and frames it: your face in the middle, your head filling about 60% of the height, shoulders at the bottom.
- Check the round preview. LinkedIn shows profile pictures in a circle. If something's off, zoom or move the photo with the arrows. Auto-frame puts it back.
- Choose a background. Keep yours, blur it, or swap it for white, grey, blue or a soft gradient. It takes a second, on your device.
- Download and upload to LinkedIn. JPG is smallest. On LinkedIn, open your profile, select your photo, then Edit or Add photo, and upload the file.
What size is a LinkedIn profile picture?
LinkedIn's Help Centre says a profile photo must be at least 400 × 400 pixels (and at most 7680 × 4320), a JPG or PNG, and no bigger than 8 MB. GIFs aren't accepted. This tool makes a square 400 × 400 file by default, or 800 × 800 if your photo is big enough and you want it sharper. Either is well under 8 MB.
Why is my LinkedIn photo cut off?
LinkedIn crops profile pictures to a circle, so anything in the corners of a square photo disappears, and a full-body or group photo ends up as a tiny face. Framing head and shoulders with the face in the middle, as this tool does, keeps your face large and nothing important in the corners.
Tips for a professional profile photo
Look at the camera, smile a little, and wear what you'd wear to work in your field. Plain or softly blurred backgrounds keep the attention on you. Use a recent photo so people recognise you at an interview or meeting. The same photo works for a CV or resume in countries where photos are common, such as Germany.
Frequently asked questions
Is my photo uploaded?
No. Face detection, cropping and background changes all run in your browser, using a face model served from this site. The photo isn't sent to our server or anyone else's.
What size should a LinkedIn profile picture be?
At least 400 × 400 pixels, JPG or PNG, under 8 MB, according to LinkedIn Help. A square photo with your face in the middle works best because LinkedIn shows it in a circle.
Can I change the background of my LinkedIn photo?
Yes. Pick blur, white, light or warm grey, blue, navy or a soft gradient. The tool separates you from the background with an on-device model. Hair edges can look a little soft; if they do, a blurred background usually looks the most natural.
Why didn't it find my face?
Faces turned far to the side, very small in the picture, very dark or covered (sunglasses, mask) can be missed. You can still zoom and move the crop by hand, or try a clearer, closer photo.
Does it work for a LinkedIn banner too?
Not yet. The background (banner) photo LinkedIn recommends is 1584 × 396 pixels; you can make one with the Resize Image tool.
Can I use the photo on my CV or resume?
Yes, the square file works anywhere. UK and US employers generally don't expect a photo on a CV or resume, while in parts of Europe it's common.