LinkedIn Link Preview: How It Works, Required OG Tags, and How to Fix It (2026) | Share Preview
How LinkedIn link previews work: required OG tags, image dimensions (1200x627px), cache clearing with Post Inspector, and how to fix broken or wrong LinkedIn previews.
LinkedIn Link Preview: How It Works, Required OG Tags, and How to Fix It (2026)
When you paste a URL into a LinkedIn post or message, LinkedIn fetches the page and generates a preview card: a title, description, and image pulled from your page's Open Graph tags. This preview is often the first thing someone sees before deciding whether to click your link.
If your preview shows the wrong image, a blank title, or just a URL with no card at all, you are losing clicks. This guide explains exactly how LinkedIn previews work, which tags LinkedIn reads, what the image requirements are, and how to fix a broken preview step by step.
Quick answer: LinkedIn requires an og:image tag with an image of at least 1200x627px in JPG or PNG format. Missing this tag is the most common reason a LinkedIn preview has no image. Use the LinkedIn Post Inspector to clear the cache and force a re-scrape.
Check your LinkedIn preview free
See exactly how your link looks on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter before posting. Fix broken previews in minutes.
Test your link preview →What Is a LinkedIn Link Preview?
A LinkedIn link preview is the card that appears beneath a post or in a message when you share a URL. LinkedIn's scraper (called LinkedInBot) visits your page, reads the Open Graph meta tags in the HTML head, and uses them to build the card.
The card typically shows:
- A banner image from
og:image - The page title from
og:title(or the HTML<title>tag as a fallback) - A short description from
og:description - The domain name from the URL
If any of these are missing, LinkedIn either falls back to less ideal data or leaves that part of the card blank. The image is the most important element: posts with a preview image get significantly more engagement than text-only or image-less link posts.
The 3 LinkedIn Preview Formats
LinkedIn generates different card layouts depending on the page type and the tags present.
Standard Link Card
The most common format. A horizontal card with a thumbnail image on the left and title plus description on the right. This appears when you paste a regular web URL into a post. The image is pulled from og:image and displayed at roughly 1200x627px (cropped to fit the card). This is the format most pages should optimise for.
Article Preview (Large Image)
When LinkedIn detects that a page is an article (based on og:type = "article" or the LinkedIn article format), it may show a larger card with the image spanning the full width of the card. This format is more visually prominent and generates more clicks. Make sure your image is at least 1200x627px to avoid blurriness in this larger display.
Video Preview
If the shared URL points to a video page and includes proper video OG tags (og:video), LinkedIn may show a video preview card with a play button overlay. This requires both the video tags and a compatible video host. Standard web pages without video tags will get the standard link card regardless of whether the page contains embedded video.
Which OG Tags LinkedIn Reads
LinkedIn's scraper reads a specific set of meta tags. Here is what each tag does and what happens without it.
og:title
The title displayed in the preview card. LinkedIn uses this as the headline. Without it, LinkedIn falls back to the HTML <title> tag. If neither is present, the card shows just the URL as the title. Keep your og:title under 70 characters: LinkedIn truncates longer titles in the card view.
og:description
The description text shown below the title in the card. Without it, LinkedIn may use the first paragraph of body text, the HTML <meta name="description"> tag, or leave the description blank. Write a specific og:description that gives readers a reason to click. Keep it under 150 characters for full display.
og:image
The image shown in the preview card. This is the most important tag for LinkedIn performance. Without it, your card shows no image, which drastically reduces the visual footprint and click rate. LinkedIn requires a minimum image size of 1200x627px. Smaller images are either not displayed or shown blurry.
og:url
The canonical URL of the page. This tells LinkedIn which URL represents this page. Without it, LinkedIn uses the URL it accessed. Set it explicitly to avoid issues when the same page is accessible from multiple URLs (with and without www, with tracking parameters, etc.).
og:type
The type of content: "website", "article", "video.other", etc. For most pages, "website" is correct. For blog posts, use "article". This tag influences which preview format LinkedIn selects.
LinkedIn Image Requirements
The image is where most LinkedIn preview problems originate. Here are the exact requirements.
Dimensions: 1200x627px Minimum
LinkedIn recommends 1200x627px (approximately 1.91:1 aspect ratio). Images smaller than this will either not display or appear blurry in the card. The 627px height is often misremembered as 630px (which is the Facebook/OG standard). For LinkedIn specifically, 627px height is the documented minimum. Using 1200x628px or 1200x630px also works, but keep the ratio close to 1.91:1.
Format: JPG or PNG
LinkedIn accepts JPG and PNG. WebP is not reliably supported by LinkedIn's scraper. If your og:image points to a WebP file, LinkedIn may fail to display it. Always use JPG (for photos) or PNG (for graphics with text) as your OG image format. If your image pipeline outputs WebP, set the og:image tag to a JPG or PNG version.
File Size: Under 5MB
LinkedIn's scraper will not process images larger than 5MB. Keep your OG image under 5MB. For a 1200x627px image, this is easy to achieve: a well-compressed JPG at that size is typically 100 to 300KB. There is no benefit to using an uncompressed image for an OG tag.
Why Square Images Get Cropped
LinkedIn's link card is a landscape format. Square images (1:1 ratio) are cropped to fit the 1.91:1 card, meaning the top and bottom are cut off. If your square image has important content near the edges, it will be cut. Design your OG image specifically at 1200x627px rather than reusing a square social media image.
Summary of LinkedIn image requirements: 1200x627px minimum, JPG or PNG format, under 5MB, landscape orientation (1.91:1 ratio). The image URL must be publicly accessible (no login required).
Why LinkedIn Previews Fail or Show Wrong Info
LinkedIn preview problems fall into a small number of categories. Here are the most common causes.
Cached Old Data
LinkedIn caches preview data for a period after the first scrape. If you update your OG tags after the first scrape, LinkedIn will continue showing the old version until the cache expires or you force a re-scrape. Cache TTL varies but is typically 7 to 14 days. Use the LinkedIn Post Inspector to clear the cache immediately after making changes.
Missing og:image Tag
The single most common cause of a preview with no image. If your page does not have an og:image tag, LinkedIn shows a card with no image. This is often overlooked on pages that were built before OG tags were common, or on pages where the CMS is not configured to generate them.
Wrong Image Dimensions
Images smaller than the minimum dimensions may not display at all, or display at poor quality. The issue is often that a developer set og:image to a small thumbnail (200x200px) that already exists on the page rather than creating a dedicated OG image at the correct size.
robots.txt Blocking LinkedInBot
If your robots.txt file disallows all bots or explicitly blocks LinkedInBot, LinkedIn's scraper cannot access your page. The preview will show only the URL with no additional information. LinkedIn's scraper identifies itself as "LinkedInBot/1.0". Check your robots.txt to make sure you are not blocking it.
Page Behind Authentication
If the page requires login to access, LinkedIn's scraper cannot read the OG tags. The scraper does not authenticate. Make sure your OG-tagged pages are publicly accessible without login, even if the rest of your site is behind authentication.
HTTPS Certificate Issues
If your page has an invalid or expired SSL certificate, LinkedIn's scraper may refuse to process it. The preview either fails completely or falls back to basic URL display. This is less common but worth checking if other causes have been ruled out.
Test your LinkedIn preview before posting
Share Preview shows exactly how your link looks on LinkedIn, including which OG tags are missing or misconfigured.
Check your LinkedIn preview free →How to Fix a Broken LinkedIn Preview
Work through these steps in order. Most broken LinkedIn previews are fixed by step 2 or 3.
Step 1: Check your OG tags with a preview tool
Use Share Preview to check what OG tags your page currently has. The tool shows you exactly what LinkedIn will see: the og:title, og:description, og:image, and og:url values, plus a rendered preview of how the card will look. This tells you immediately whether tags are missing or have wrong values before you start editing anything.
Step 2: Add or fix the og:image tag
If the preview has no image, add an og:image tag pointing to a 1200x627px JPG or PNG image. Make sure the image URL is absolute (starting with https://), publicly accessible without login, and under 5MB. Add the width and height tags alongside it so LinkedIn does not need to fetch the image to determine its dimensions:
Step 3: Check your robots.txt for LinkedInBot
Open your robots.txt file (typically at yourdomain.com/robots.txt). Look for Disallow: / under a User-agent: * block or a specific User-agent: LinkedInBot block. If LinkedInBot is blocked, add an explicit allow rule or remove the disallow that covers it:
Step 4: Clear LinkedIn's cache with Post Inspector
After updating your OG tags, go to post.linkedin.com/post-inspector. Paste your page URL into the inspector and click "Inspect". LinkedIn will re-scrape your page and update its cached preview data. This is the only way to force LinkedIn to pick up your changes before its cache naturally expires. You may need to do this once after any OG tag change.
Step 5: Verify with Share Preview after clearing cache
After running Post Inspector, paste your URL into Share Preview again and confirm the preview now shows the correct image, title, and description. If it still shows the old data, wait 5 minutes and re-run Post Inspector. LinkedIn sometimes requires two inspection requests to fully refresh the cache.
LinkedIn vs Facebook vs Twitter Preview Differences
Each platform reads OG tags slightly differently. Here are the key differences that affect how you configure your pages.
| Property | Twitter / X | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Required image size | 1200x627px minimum | 1200x630px minimum | 800x418px (summary_large_image) |
| Image aspect ratio | 1.91:1 | 1.91:1 | 1.91:1 (large) or 1:1 (small) |
| Accepted image formats | JPG, PNG | JPG, PNG, WebP | JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF |
| Max image file size | 5MB | 8MB | 5MB |
| Cache TTL (approx.) | 7-14 days | 30 days | 7 days |
| Cache clearing tool | Post Inspector | Sharing Debugger | Card Validator (limited) |
| Scraper user agent | LinkedInBot/1.0 | facebookexternalhit/1.1 | Twitterbot/1.0 |
| Custom card tags | og:* only | og:* only | twitter:* tags |
| og:description max length shown | ~150 characters | ~300 characters | ~125 characters |
LinkedIn and Facebook share the same basic OG tag standard and similar image requirements. Twitter uses its own twitter: meta tags for extended control, but will fall back to OG tags if Twitter tags are absent. See our WhatsApp link preview guide and Slack link preview guide for those platforms' specific requirements.
How to Test Your LinkedIn Link Preview Before Posting
Testing before posting saves you from sharing a broken card to your LinkedIn audience. There are two tools to use.
Share Preview (share-preview.com)
Share Preview shows you a rendered preview of how your link will look on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter without posting anything. Paste your URL, and the tool fetches your OG tags and renders the card exactly as each platform would display it. It also flags missing tags, wrong image dimensions, and other issues with specific fix recommendations.
Use Share Preview first: it tells you whether your tags are correct. If they are not, fix them before going near the LinkedIn Post Inspector.
LinkedIn Post Inspector
The LinkedIn Post Inspector (post.linkedin.com/post-inspector) shows LinkedIn's current cached view of your page and lets you force a re-scrape. Use it after you have fixed your OG tags to clear the cache and confirm LinkedIn picks up the changes.
Note: Post Inspector requires you to be logged into LinkedIn to use it.
OG Tag Code Examples for Different Page Types
Standard Blog Post or Article
Product or Landing Page
Home Page
Full Template with Twitter Cards as Well
Since Twitter/X uses its own tags and LinkedIn/Facebook use OG tags, add both sets to cover all platforms:
For a deeper look at the Open Graph protocol and all available tags, see our Open Graph protocol guide and OG image size guide.
Common LinkedIn Preview Mistakes
Using a Small Image (Under 1200x627px)
The most common image mistake. Developers often set og:image to a 400x300px thumbnail that already exists on the page rather than creating a dedicated OG image. LinkedIn either does not display this image at all, or shows it blurry. Create a specific 1200x627px image for each important page. It does not need to be elaborate: a branded background with the page title as text is sufficient and outperforms no image entirely.
Missing og:image Tag Entirely
Pages that were built without OG tags, or CMSes that were not configured to output them, often have no og:image at all. The fix is straightforward: add the tag. If your CMS (WordPress, Webflow, Squarespace, etc.) has an SEO settings section, it almost certainly has an OG image field. Fill it in for your key pages.
Blocking LinkedIn's Scraper in robots.txt
Some security-oriented robots.txt templates block all bots except Googlebot. LinkedInBot is blocked along with everything else. The symptom is a preview that shows only the URL with no title, description, or image. Fix: add an explicit Allow: / rule for LinkedInBot as shown in the robots.txt example above.
Using WebP Images Without a JPG Fallback
WebP is a modern image format that offers excellent compression but is not reliably processed by LinkedIn's scraper. If your og:image URL ends in .webp, LinkedIn may skip the image and show a no-image card. Always set your og:image to a JPG or PNG URL. You can still serve WebP to browsers via <picture> elements; just point the OG tag specifically to the JPG version.
Not Clearing the Cache After Making Changes
Updating your OG tags does not instantly change what LinkedIn shows. LinkedIn's cache may hold the old version for up to two weeks. After any OG tag change, run the LinkedIn Post Inspector to force an immediate re-scrape. If you skip this step, you may test your changes and see them working in Share Preview but still see the old version when you post on LinkedIn.
Setting og:url to a Different Domain
If your og:url points to a different domain than the page's actual URL, LinkedIn may show confusing or incorrect attribution in the preview card. Always set og:url to the canonical URL of the page you are tagging. For duplicate pages or URL variants, use the same canonical URL throughout.
Fix your LinkedIn preview now
Share Preview shows you exactly what LinkedIn will display and flags every missing tag. Free to use, no account required.
Check your LinkedIn preview free →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does LinkedIn cache link previews?
LinkedIn typically caches preview data for 7 to 14 days. The exact duration is not publicly documented and can vary. After updating your OG tags, use the LinkedIn Post Inspector at post.linkedin.com/post-inspector to force an immediate cache refresh rather than waiting for natural expiry.
Why does my LinkedIn preview show an old image after I updated it?
LinkedIn is showing a cached version of your page from before the update. Visit post.linkedin.com/post-inspector, paste your URL, and click "Inspect" to force LinkedIn to re-scrape your page. After inspection, try posting the link again to confirm the updated preview appears. You may need to run the inspector twice if the cache is slow to clear.
Can I use the same OG image for LinkedIn and Facebook?
Yes. Both platforms use the same og:image tag. LinkedIn requires 1200x627px minimum and Facebook requires 1200x630px minimum. Using a 1200x630px image works for both platforms: the 3px difference in height is not noticeable. For Twitter/X, the same image also works for the summary_large_image card type.
Does LinkedIn show previews in messages as well as posts?
Yes. LinkedIn generates link preview cards in direct messages as well as in posts and comments. The same OG tags control both. If your preview is broken in messages, fix your OG tags and clear the cache using Post Inspector: the fix applies to both messages and posts.
Can I remove the link preview from a LinkedIn post?
Yes. When composing a post on LinkedIn, after pasting a URL, the preview card appears below the text editor. There is an X button on the preview card that lets you remove it before posting. This is a per-post setting in the composer: removing it from one post does not affect future posts with the same URL, and it does not change your OG tags.
Related Guides
Related Articles
See How Your Page Looks When Shared
Test your OG tags across Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Slack, and WhatsApp instantly.
Test Share Preview Free →