How to Change the Cover Image on LinkedIn

Your LinkedIn cover image is prime real estate for making a statement, and changing it is a simple way to instantly sharpen your professional brand. This isn't just about finding a pretty picture, it’s about using a powerful visual tool to tell your story, promote your work, or showcase your company culture. This guide breaks down the exact steps for updating your cover photo on both personal and company pages and gives you actionable ideas to turn that banner into one of your best marketing assets.

Why Your LinkedIn Cover Image Matters (More Than You Think)

Think of your LinkedIn profile as your professional storefront. Your headshot is the friendly face at the door, but your cover image is the big, welcoming sign in the window. A generic or empty banner is a missed opportunity. When used effectively, it:

• Makes a Strong First Impression: Before anyone reads a single word of your profile, they see your background photo. It immediately sets the tone, communicating professionalism, creativity, or approachability. It’s your chance to control the narrative from the very first glance.
• Acts as a Digital Billboard: This is a massive, attention-grabbing space at the top of your profile. You can use it to advertise your unique value proposition, announce an upcoming event, promote a new product, or share your company’s mission. It works for you 24/7.
• Differentiates You: The default LinkedIn background is generic and forgettable. A custom cover photo makes your profile memorable and shows that you pay attention to detail - a valuable professional trait. It helps you stand out in a sea of identical profiles.
• Builds Brand Cohesion: For companies, a consistent cover image across all employee profiles can create a powerful, unified brand front. It instantly presents your team as a cohesive and professional unit.

A well-chosen cover photo moves your profile from being a simple resume to being a dynamic landing page for your personal brand or business.

Getting the Basics Right: LinkedIn Cover Image Size and Specs

Before you start designing, it’s necessary to get the technical details correct to avoid frustrating cropping issues or blurry images. LinkedIn has specific dimensions that work best for its layout.

LinkedIn Cover Photo Dimensions for 2024:

• For Personal Profiles: The recommended size is 1584 x 396 pixels.
• For Company Pages: The recommended size is 1128 x 191 pixels.

Important Technical Considerations:

• File Type: You can upload a JPG, PNG, or GIF file. For images with solid colors and text (like logos or graphics), PNG usually gives you the crispest results. For photographs, JPG is often the best choice.
• File Size: Your image file must be under 8MB. If your file is too large, use a free online tool to compress it before uploading.
• The "Safe Zone" and Cropping: This is the most common trip-up! Your profile picture and the LinkedIn interface will cover parts of your cover image. On desktop, your circular profile photo overlaps the bottom-left portion. On mobile, the cover image is cropped more tightly, and your profile photo appears more centered. Keep any critical information - like text, logos, or faces - towards the center and top half of the image to avoid it being cut off on different devices. Always preview your profile on both desktop and a phone after you upload a new banner.

How to Change Your Cover Image on a Personal LinkedIn Profile

Updating your personal banner takes less than a minute. Here are the step-by-step instructions for both desktop and mobile.

On Your Desktop Browser

1. Go to Your Profile: Log into LinkedIn and click on your "Me" icon in the top right, then select "View Profile."
2. Locate the Edit Icon: Hover your mouse over the cover image area. A small blue pencil icon will appear in the top right corner. Click it.
3. Upload Your New Photo: A window will pop up. Click the "Change photo" button. This will open your computer's file explorer. Navigate to your new cover image and select it.
4. Reposition and Adjust: Once uploaded, LinkedIn gives you simple editing tools. You can drag the image to reposition it, use the slider to zoom in or out, straighten it, or apply basic filters. Adjust it until it looks perfect.
5. Save Your Changes: When you're happy with the placement, click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the window to save. Your new cover image will be live immediately.

On the LinkedIn Mobile App

1. Navigate to Your Profile: Open the LinkedIn app and tap your small profile picture in the top left corner of the home screen. Then tap "View Profile."
2. Tap the Pencil Icon: Just like on desktop, you'll see a pencil icon on the right side of your cover image. Tap it.
3. Select a New Image: From the editing screen, tap the pencil icon again in the top-right corner of the banner area. This will give you the option to "Upload from photos" or "Take photo" with your camera.
4. Edit and Position: Select your desired image from your phone’s gallery. You can pinch to zoom and drag to reposition the image within the frame.
5. Save It: Once you're finished, tap "Save" in the top right corner. Your profile is now updated!

How to Change the Cover Image on a LinkedIn Company Page

If you're an admin of a company page, the process is just as straightforward. This is a great way to align your company’s public profile with current marketing campaigns, hiring drives, or seasonal branding.

1. You Must Be an Admin: First, ensure you have admin access to the page you want to update.
2. Go to Your Company Page: Navigate to your company page. You can find it under the "Me" dropdown by selecting it from your "My Pages" list or by searching for it. Make sure you are in the "Super admin view" or "Content admin view".
3. Click the Edit Icon: Hover over the company cover image, and a pencil icon will appear in the top right corner. Click "Edit cover image."
4. Upload and Position: Click "Upload cover image" to choose a file from your computer. Drag the image to position it correctly within the frame.
5. Save Changes: Click "Save" in the top right. The new banner will go live for all your page followers to see.

Beyond the Basics: Creative Ideas for Your LinkedIn Banner

Now that you know the how, let's talk about the what. A great banner communicates value instantly. Here are some ideas to get you started.

For Personal Profiles (Job Seekers, Freelancers, & Professionals)

• Show Your Value Proposition: This is a fan favorite for consultants and freelancers. Use simple text to clearly state what you do and for whom. For example: "Helping B2B Tech Startups Build Authority with SEO-Driven Content."
• Picture Yourself in Action: A high-quality photo of you speaking at a conference, leading a workshop, or collaborating with a team adds credibility and makes you look like an expert in your field.
• Showcase Your Work: Are you a designer? Show a montage of your best work. A writer? Use a branded photo featuring a quote from a published article. A photographer? Use your favorite shot.
• Promote Your Most Important Project: Use the banner to drive traffic to your latest blog post, announce your new book, or promote an upcoming webinar you’re hosting. Add a short link or simple call-to-action like "My new book out now!"
• Add Human Connection: Use a background that reflects your city's skyline, your office workspace, or something that shows off a bit of your personality. It makes you more relatable and memorable.

For Company Pages (Brand Building & Lead Generation)

• Showcase Your Team and Culture: A happy, candid photo of your team working together, celebrating a win, or during a company retreat can say more about your culture than a long paragraph ever could. It’s perfect for attracting new talent.
• Promote Current Events or Campaigns: Launching a new product? Hosting a big annual event? Create a banner theme around it. This is a space you can - and should - update regularly to keep it feeling fresh and timely.
• Spotlight Your Product or Service: Use a clean, compelling graphic that shows your product in action or highlights a key benefit. Avoid clutter, focus on one main message.
• Share Your Slogan or Mission: Reinforce your brand identity by putting your company tagline or mission statement front and center.
• Feature User-Generated Content or Customer Testimonials: Show your solution in the hands of happy customers or use a powerful customer quote (with their permission, of course) as impactful social proof.

Tools and Tips for Creating the Perfect LinkedIn Banner

You don't need to be a professional designer to create an effective LinkedIn cover image. There are plenty of user-friendly tools available to help you out.

Easy-to-Use Design Tools

Tools like Canva or Adobe Express are fantastic for this. They offer hundreds of professionally designed LinkedIn banner templates that are already sized correctly. You can simply pick a template, customize the colors, swap out the text and images, and download your file in minutes.

Design Best Practices

• Keep it Simple: Less is almost always more. A cluttered banner is confusing and unprofessional. Focus on one core message.
• Stay On-Brand: Use your brand’s official colors, fonts, and logo to maintain a consistent look across all of your marketing channels.
• High-Resolution is Non-Negotiable: A blurry or pixelated image reflects poorly on your attention to detail. Always use high-quality photos and export your final design at the highest quality setting.
• Design Around Your Profile Picture: Remember to leave that space in the bottom-left (on desktop) relatively clear so your headshot doesn’t obscure important text or graphics.

Final Thoughts

Changing your LinkedIn cover image is one of the quickest, highest-impact updates you can make to your professional profile. It transforms your page from a static resume into a dynamic branding tool that actively works to communicate your skills, your company's mission, and your unique value to the world.

Maintaining a strong, consistent brand across every social platform is a huge part of standing out. At Postbase, we built our platform to make that simple. We believe in getting a bird’s-eye view, which is why our visual calendar lets you plan and see all your content–including your visuals for LinkedIn, Instagram Stories, and TikTok videos–in one clean layout. It helps you spot gaps and maintain a cohesive brand story without jumping between a dozen open tabs.