LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform that allows users to connect with other professionals, search for jobs, post content, and more. One of the key features of LinkedIn is the ability to upload a profile photo that will be visible to your connections and visitors to your profile.
Having a professional photo can help personalize your profile and allow connections to put a face to your name. However, LinkedIn restricts access to your profile photo by default. You have to manually enable the setting to allow others to see your photo.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to enable photo access on LinkedIn so others can view your profile picture:
Enable Profile Photo Setting
The profile photo visibility setting on LinkedIn is turned off by default. To enable it:
- Log into your LinkedIn account
- Go to your profile page
- Click on the “Edit public profile & URL” button to edit your profile
- Scroll down and click on “Customize your public profile”
- Go to the “Profile photo” section
- Check the box next to “Yes, show my profile photo on my profile” to enable
- Click “Save” to apply the setting
Enabling this setting makes your profile photo visible to the public and all LinkedIn members.
Set Photo Permissions
In addition to making your profile photo public, you can also customize photo permissions to control who can see it.
To adjust photo permissions:
- Go back to the “Profile photo” section in “Customize your public profile”
- Click on “Change photo permissions”
- Adjust the permissions as desired:
- Your Connections: Only 1st degree connections can see your photo
- Your Network: 1st and 2nd degree connections can see your photo
- All LinkedIn members: Everyone, including non-connections, can see your photo
- Click “Save”
Setting more restrictive permissions lets you expose your photo only to people you know and trust on LinkedIn.
Profile Photo Guidelines
When choosing a profile photo for LinkedIn, make sure it adheres to their guidelines:
- Use a professional, high-quality headshot of yourself
- Avoid inappropriate, offensive, or copyrighted images
- Photo should clearly show your face
- No selfies, logos, cartoons, or distracting backgrounds
- Jpeg, PNG, BMP, or GIF format under 8MB in size
Having a polished, professional-looking headshot will make the best impression on your LinkedIn connections.
Upload New Profile Photo
Once your profile photo permissions are enabled, you can upload a new photo directly from your profile:
- Go to your profile page
- Hover over your current profile photo and click on the camera icon
- Choose to either upload a photo from your computer or take a webcam photo
- Crop and adjust the photo as needed
- Click “Save” to set your new profile photo
Your updated photo will now be visible based on the visibility settings you have configured.
Additional Photo Options
LinkedIn provides a few additional options to make your profile photo work best for you:
- Background photo: Add a customized background image behind your headshot
- Availability indicator: Show your online status with options like “Working remotely” or “Out of office”
- Photo tagline: Add customizable text under your name and photo
Experiment with these options to take your profile to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my profile photo not showing up?
If your photo doesn’t appear after uploading, try the following troubleshooting steps:
- Confirm the profile photo setting is enabled in your profile edit page
- Double check your photo permissions are broad enough
- Clear your browser cache and refresh the page
- Use a different web browser or device to view your profile
- Remove the photo and re-upload a fresh copy
Can I report inappropriate profile photos?
Yes, LinkedIn has a reporting feature to flag inappropriate profile photos that violate their policies. Just click the three dots “More” icon next to a photo and choose “Report/block”. Complete the form to submit a report.
Do profile photos have to be professional headshots?
LinkedIn recommends professional headshot photos. However, their photo requirements are flexible enough to allow some personalization. Just keep it tasteful and avoid inappropriate, distracting, or low-quality photos.
| Photo Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Professional headshot | Recommended – Shows your face clearly |
| Personal photo | Acceptable – As long as it’s high-quality and appropriate |
| Group photo | Not recommended – Can be confusing or distracting |
| Selfies | Avoid – Low quality and less professional |
| Logo or cartoon | Prohibited – LinkedIn requires a photo of you |
Conclusion
Displaying a professional profile photo is considered LinkedIn best practice. Follow the step-by-step instructions above to enable your photo visibility settings, upload an appropriate headshot, customize additional options, and optimize your profile.
An optimized LinkedIn profile with a photo allows you to present your best professional image, personalize your brand, and build deeper connections.
