Having the right profile photo on LinkedIn is important for making a good first impression and looking professional. However, if your photo is the wrong size or resolution, it can get distorted, pixelated, or cropped awkwardly on your profile. Follow these steps to resize your photo correctly before uploading it to LinkedIn.
LinkedIn’s Photo Requirements
LinkedIn has specific photo dimension requirements for profile pictures:
- Minimum size: 400 x 400 pixels
- Ideal size: 600 x 600 pixels
- Maximum size: 20,000 x 20,000 pixels
- Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square)
- Image file size: 8 MB maximum
- File types allowed: JPG, GIF, or PNG
Keeping your photo within these parameters ensures it will display properly across LinkedIn on all devices and screen sizes. The ideal photo size is 600 x 600 pixels, as this displays in high resolution but keeps file size reasonable.
How to Resize a Photo with Desktop Software
Most computers come with basic photo editing software that allows resizing images. Here’s how to resize in some common programs:
Preview (Mac)
- Open the image in Preview
- Click Tools > Adjust Size
- For Fit Into, enter 600 pixels for both the height and width
- Click OK to resize
Paint (Windows)
- Open the image in Paint
- Click Resize in the Home tab
- Under Pixel dimensions, enter 600 for both Width and Height
- Click OK to resize
GIMP
- Open the image in GIMP
- Click Image > Scale Image
- For Width and Height, enter 600 pixels
- Click Scale to resize
Other Software
Most photo editors like Photoshop, Pixelmator, Pixlr, Canva, etc. also allow resizing images by pixel dimensions or percentage. Look for options like “Image Size”, “Resize Image”, “Adjust Size”, or similar.
How to Resize Images on Your Phone
You can easily resize photos on your iPhone, Android, or other smartphone camera apps. Here are some options:
iPhone Camera App
- Open the photo in the Photos app
- Tap Edit > Crop
- Select Square and adjust the photo size to 600 x 600 pixels
- Tap Done to apply the resize
Android Camera App
- Open the photo in Google Photos
- Tap the Crop icon
- Select 1:1 aspect ratio and adjust size to 600 x 600 pixels
- Tap Apply to resize
Instagram App
- Upload the photo to Instagram
- On the editing screen, tap Crop
- Select 1:1 and adjust the image to 600 x 600 pixels
- Tap Next and save the resized photo
Other Apps
There are also dedicated photo editing apps like Snapseed, Pixelmator, and Pixlr that make it easy to resize on mobile. Just look for crop, scale, or resize options.
How to Resize Web Images
If your chosen photo is hosted online, you can resize it before downloading:
Resize Images
Use online resizing tools like ResizeImage or PicResize to scale the image to 600 x 600 pixels.
Take Screenshots
On a web page, right click the image and select “Take Screenshot” or use keyboard shortcuts. Crop the screenshot square at 600 x 600 pixels.
Use Snippet Tools
Chrome extensions like Awesome Screenshot let you capture, edit and resize web images instantly.
Tips for Optimizing Your LinkedIn Photo
Follow these best practices for a great LinkedIn profile picture:
- Use a close-up headshot of just you (no group photos)
- Pick a picture with good lighting, ideally facing the camera
- Wear professional or business casual attire
- Smile and look approachable
- Ensure your face is centered and fills most of the frame
- Stick to solid color backgrounds if possible
- Double check the resized image still looks sharp and clear
Troubleshooting Photo Upload Issues
If your resized photo still appears distorted or pixelated on LinkedIn, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Confirm the image is exactly 600 x 600 pixels. Other sizes may get scaled unpredictably.
- Crop the image as square instead of just scaling the width and height. This prevents distortion.
- Use JPG instead of PNG if file size seems too large. JPG compresses better for web.
- Re-export the resized image as high quality. File compression can degrade the image.
- Resize from the original source photo instead of a previously compressed version.
- Use a higher resolution photo if available. Low resolution images pixelate when enlarged.
Conclusion
Resizing your LinkedIn profile picture properly is an important but easy step. With the right tools, you can crop any photo into the ideal 600 x 600 pixel size supported by LinkedIn. Pay attention to image quality, color, and framing as well for a professional look. With these simple tips, you’ll have a polished LinkedIn photo that makes a great first impression.
