Adding a profile picture to your LinkedIn account can be a great way to personalize your profile and make a strong first impression on other users. Your profile picture shows up in various places across the LinkedIn platform, so having an appropriate, high-quality headshot can help you put your best foot forward. The process of adding or changing your profile picture is quick and easy to do right from the LinkedIn mobile app. In this article, we’ll walk through the step-by-step instructions for adding or changing your profile photo using the LinkedIn app on an iPhone or Android device. We’ll also provide some best practices and tips for choosing an effective LinkedIn profile picture.
Prerequisites
Before you can add or change your profile picture, there are a couple requirements:
– You must have the latest version of the LinkedIn app installed on your iPhone or Android device. Make sure you’ve downloaded the most up-to-date version from the App Store or Google Play Store.
– You need to have an existing LinkedIn account. If you don’t have a profile yet, you’ll have to sign up for LinkedIn and create an account before you can add a photo.
– The photo you want to use needs to already be saved on your mobile device. Make sure it is easily accessible from your device’s photo gallery or library.
As long as you meet these prerequisites, you’re ready to add or change your LinkedIn profile picture using the mobile app.
Step 1: Access your profile on the LinkedIn app
Open the LinkedIn app on your iPhone or Android. Once it’s launched, tap on the “Me” tab at the bottom of the app screen. This will bring up your profile page.
On your profile, tap on the default silhouette icon in the upper left corner. This will open up your photo gallery.
Step 2: Choose a new photo
From your photo gallery or library, select the photo you want to use as your new LinkedIn profile picture. Make sure to choose a high-quality, professional looking headshot of just you (no selfies or group photos). The recommended dimensions for your photo are 400 x 400 pixels.
Once you’ve selected the photo you want, tap “Choose” to proceed.
Step 3: Crop and adjust the photo
You may need to do some cropping or adjusting to get your photo looking its best. Use the editing tools to crop and frame your headshot appropriately.
Make sure your head and shoulders fit cleanly within the frame. Use the rotate button if needed to straighten the angle.
Tap “Apply” once you are happy with the cropping and edits.
Step 4: Save your new profile photo
After cropping and adjusting, tap “Save” to make your changes official.
Your new photo will now be visible as your profile picture across LinkedIn.
Here are some additional tips for choosing and optimizing your LinkedIn profile photo:
– Take a new photo specifically for your profile. Don’t just recycle an old photo. Invest time in taking a quality headshot.
– Dress professionally and look tidy. Wear business or business casual attire.
– Make sure you are the only person in the photo. Group shots are not ideal.
– Look directly into the camera with a friendly smile. Make eye contact.
– Use a plain, light-colored background if possible. You want the focus to be on you rather than distracting backgrounds.
– Double check your framing and cropping. Nose, mouth and chin should be clearly visible.
– Be mindful of resolution. Higher resolution photos look best.
Following these best practices can go a long way in presenting your best self on your LinkedIn profile. A professional headshot helps convey credibility and gives people confidence in connecting with you.
Troubleshooting Issues
In some cases, you may encounter issues while trying to add or change your LinkedIn profile picture from the mobile app. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Problem: Photo looks pixelated or blurry
Solution: This is likely an issue with the resolution or quality of the original photo you are uploading. Try selecting a different photo that was taken at a higher resolution. Use the newest smartphone camera available to you.
Problem: Cropping tools are not working
Solution: Make sure the app has access to your device’s photo library. Check app permissions settings. Reinstalling the app can also resolve issues with cropping/editing tools.
Problem: “Save” button is grayed out
Solution: The image file size or dimensions may be too large. Try compressing the photo or using an image editing app to resize before uploading to LinkedIn.
Problem: Photo does not update after selecting “Save”
Solution: Log out of LinkedIn completely and log back in. Then retry changing your profile photo. This will force a refresh.
Problem: Old photo keeps reappearing
Solution: LinkedIn may be having technical issues or delays processing new photos. Wait a while and try again. Make sure you have a strong internet connection.
If problems persist, you may want to change your profile picture initially via the LinkedIn website before trying again on mobile. Contact LinkedIn Customer Service if no solutions resolve your issue.
Uploading Photos via LinkedIn Website
While this article has focused on adding and changing your profile photo using the LinkedIn mobile app, you can also upload profile pictures by accessing your account on the LinkedIn website:
On a Computer:
1. Go to www.LinkedIn.com and log into your account.
2. Hover over your profile image in the top right. Click “View profile.”
3. Click the pencil icon to edit your profile.
4. Click the camera icon under your current profile image.
5. Upload and crop a new photo from your computer files.
6. Click “Save.”
On Mobile Web:
1. Go to www.LinkedIn.com in your mobile web browser.
2. Tap your profile image and click “View profile.”
3. Tap “Edit public profile & URL.”
4. Tap your profile image.
5. Upload a photo and adjust cropping.
6. Tap “Save.”
This will override your existing profile photo on both mobile and desktop. The website option also provides more control over advanced photo editing. However, the mobile app method is likely more convenient for quick profile picture updates on the go.
Conclusion
Keeping your LinkedIn profile picture updated with a professional, high-quality headshot is important for putting your best foot forward on the platform. Following the steps outlined in this article, you can seamlessly add or change your profile photo through the LinkedIn mobile app on your iPhone or Android device. Just access your profile, choose the new image, crop the photo, and save your changes.
With the right profile picture, you can make a great first impression and stand out on LinkedIn. Invest a few minutes into snapping and uploading an effective headshot photo using your smartphone. This simple step can go a long way in boosting your personal brand and connecting you with more opportunities through the world’s largest professional network.
