How to Change a LinkedIn Header

Your LinkedIn header is one of the first things people see on your profile, and it does far more than just take up space at the top of the page. It’s a powerful billboard for your personal brand, a visual elevator pitch that can instantly communicate who you are and what you do. This guide will walk you through exactly how to change your LinkedIn header, offer design best practices, and provide some inspiration to make your profile stand out.

Why Your LinkedIn Header Matters (More Than You Think)

Think of your LinkedIn profile as your professional homepage. Your profile picture tells people who you are, but your header banner tells them what you're about. A default, gray header or a low-effort image signals a missed opportunity. A well-designed header, however, builds immediate credibility and brand consistency. It’s your chance to frame your entire profile with context before anyone reads a single word of your "About" section.

For entrepreneurs, it can showcase a product or service. For freelancers, it can highlight your key skills or a testimonial. For job seekers, it can reinforce your target industry or core competency. For a creative professional, it can be a mini-portfolio. In a crowded digital landscape, a compelling header helps you make a strong, professional first impression that sticks. It separates the casual LinkedIn user from the savvy professional who understands the power of personal branding and wants to improve their LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn Header Dimensions and Best Practices

Before you start designing, it’s important to know the technical requirements and follow a few design principles. Get this part right, and you'll avoid the common pitfalls of pixelated images or awkward cropping.

Technical Specs

• Recommended Dimensions: 1584 x 396 pixels.
• File Type: JPG, GIF, or PNG. Don't upload a PDF or other document type.
• File Size: Under 8MB. LinkedIn will reject files that are too large, so optimize your image before uploading.

Key Design Best Practices

Crafting a great header is part science, part art. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Design for the "Safe Zone": Your circular profile picture covers part of your header image. This overlap shifts depending on whether someone is viewing your profile on a desktop or a mobile device. On desktop, your profile picture sits lower-left. On mobile, it's often centered. A good rule of thumb is to keep any critical information, like text or logos, in the upper-right area of the header to ensure it's always visible. Avoid putting your company name right where your face will cover it.
• Prioritize High-Quality Images: Nothing cheapens a professional profile faster than a blurry, pixelated image. Use high-resolution photos and graphics. If you're designing something in a tool like Canva or Photoshop, make sure you export it at the highest possible quality while staying under the 8MB file size limit.
• Reflect Your Brand: Your header should be an extension of your professional identity. Use your brand colors, fonts, and logos if you have them. If your "brand" is just you, choose imagery that reflects your industry, personality, or professional goals. A lawyer might use a sophisticated, conservative design, while a graphic designer has the freedom to be much more creative.
• Keep It Simple and Uncluttered: Less is often more. A header crowded with too much text or multiple competing images is hard to read and looks chaotic. Focus on one core message or visual. You have about three seconds to make an impression, so make it a clear one.
• Use Text Strategically: A short, impactful tagline, your company’s motto, your website URL, or a list of your core services can work wonders. If you use text, make sure it’s large and legible enough to be read easily on both mobile and desktop screens.

How to Change Your LinkedIn Header: The Step-by-Step Guide

Updating your header is a quick and simple process, whether you're on a computer or your phone. Just follow these steps.

Changing Your Header on a Desktop Computer

1. Navigate to your LinkedIn profile by clicking the "Me" icon in the top navigation bar, then clicking "View Profile" from the dropdown menu.
2. On your profile page, your header image (or the gray placeholder) will be at the very top. Click the pencil icon located in the top right corner of that banner section.
3. A new window titled "Edit background" will pop up. In this window, click "Change photo".
4. Your file explorer will open. Navigate to where you saved your new header image and select it for upload.
5. Once uploaded, LinkedIn gives you a few simple editing tools. You can drag the image to reposition it, use the slider to zoom in or out, straighten it, or apply a basic filter. Adjust it until you're happy with how it looks in the preview. Pay close attention to how your profile photo cuts into the image.
6. When you’re finished, click the blue "Apply" button at the bottom of the window to save your changes. Your new header is now live!

Changing Your Header on the LinkedIn Mobile App

1. Open the LinkedIn app on your iOS or Android device.
2. Tap on your small profile picture in the top left corner of the home screen, then tap "View Profile".
3. Near the top of your profile, you will see your header image. Tap the pencil icon, which is usually located next to your name and headline info.
4. This will open the "Edit intro" screen. Now, look for the pencil icon on the header image itself, typically in the top right corner, and tap it.
5. You'll be given the option to "Upload a photo" from your phone's gallery or take a new one. Choose the image you prepared.
6. Just like on desktop, you can adjust the positioning and zoom of your image. Pinch to zoom and drag to move it around.
7. When it's perfectly placed, tap "Save" in the top right corner. Your updated header will be visible to everyone visiting your profile.

Creative LinkedIn Header Ideas to Inspire You

Stuck on what kind of image to use? Don't just grab a generic stock photo. Here are a few ideas tailored to different professions and goals:

1. The Informational Banner

Explicitly tell people what you do. This is great for consultants, coaches, and freelancers. Use simple text to display your value proposition, your core services, or your contact information/website. For example, "Empowering Startups with Growth Marketing | SEO | Content Strategy | [YourWebsite.com]".

2. The "In Action" Shot

Use a high-quality photo of you doing your job. This could be you speaking at a conference, leading a workshop, collaborating with your team, or even a candid shot of you working at your desk. It humanizes your profile and shows you're passionate and actively engaged in your field.

3. The Team or Company Banner

If your role is centered on leadership or you're proud of your company culture, a photo of your team can be very effective. It communicates collaboration and shared values and can be a great branding tool for the company as a whole.

4. The Product or Portfolio Showcase

For designers, developers, architects, or makers of any kind, your header is prime real estate for showing off your work. Create a collage of your best projects or use a high-quality image of your flagship product. Let your work speak for itself.

5. The Minimalist Brand Statement

You don't need a complex photo. A simple banner that uses your brand's colors and features your logo can look incredibly sleek and professional. It reinforces brand identity and shows a clear, confident approach.

6. The Aspirational or Industry-Focused Image

Select a photo that represents the industry you work in or the value you provide. A financial advisor might use an abstract graphic representing growth, while someone in renewable energy might use an image of windmills or solar panels. It connects your personal profile to the broader mission of your work.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

A great header can elevate your profile, but a bad one can bring it down. Watch out for these common errors:

• Forgetting About the Mobile Experience: The majority of LinkedIn users browse on their phones. Always check how your header looks on the mobile app after you've uploaded it. Text that was perfectly legible on your monitor might be unreadable on a small screen. Learning how to optimize your LinkedIn profile for both desktop and mobile is crucial for a consistent professional image.
• Using Low-Quality Imagery: A stretched, blurry, or pixelated header looks unprofessional. Start with a high-resolution image to avoid this.
• Creating a Cluttered Design: Don't try to cram your entire resume into your header. Too much text or too many images create visual noise that makes it hard for a visitor to know where to look. Focus on a single, clear message.
• Ignoring the Profile Picture Overlap: One of the most frequent mistakes is placing important visual elements (like a logo or your name) behind where the profile picture sits. You must design around that space.
• Being Too Generic: A stock photo of a laptop, a coffee cup, or an inspiring mountain range says very little about you specifically. Choose an image that's authentic to you and your professional brand.

Final Thoughts

Your LinkedIn header is a simple yet powerful tool for making a memorable first impression. By choosing a high-quality, on-brand image and optimizing it for both desktop and mobile, you can transform your profile from a simple online resume into a dynamic and professional personal brand landing page.

Once you’ve nailed your visual branding on LinkedIn, keeping that consistency across all your other social channels is the next step. At Postbase, we built our platform to make that process effortless. I use our visual calendar to plan out my content for the month, ensuring my branding - from my messaging to my header styles - is coherent everywhere. It helps me see everything at a glance and keep my professional identity strong, whether I'm on LinkedIn, X, or Instagram.

```