How to Edit a LinkedIn Post and Add a Photo

We've all been there: you craft the perfect LinkedIn post, hit publish, and share it with your network, only to spot a glaring typo minutes later. Or perhaps you forgot to attach that compelling photo that ties your whole message together. This article provides a straightforward guide on how to edit a LinkedIn post and addresses the common question of how to add a photo after your thoughts are already out in the wild.

First, The Good News: Editing Text in Your LinkedIn Post is Simple

Unlike some social media platforms that give you a very short window - or none at all - to make changes, LinkedIn is quite forgiving when it comes to text-based edits. Whether you've noticed a spelling mistake, want to swap out a word, rephrase a sentence for clarity, or add a few more relevant hashtags, the process is quick and painless. Best of all, editing the text won’t reset your engagement, so all your existing likes and comments will remain right where they are.

How to Edit the Text of Your LinkedIn Post: A Step-by-Step Guide

Fixing that typo or refining your caption takes less than a minute. Here’s exactly how to do it on both desktop and mobile:

• Step 1: Locate your post. Head to your LinkedIn profile and scroll down to your Activity section. Find the post you want to edit.
• Step 2: Open the edit menu. In the top-right corner of your post, you’ll see three little dots (...). Click on this icon to open a dropdown menu.
• Step 3: Select "Edit post." From the menu options, choose Edit post. A pop-up window will appear, showing your original content.
• Step 4: Make your changes. Inside this window, you can correct spelling, add or remove text, tag people or companies using the @ symbol, and adjust your hashtags.
• Step 5: Save your work. Once you’re happy with the changes, simply click the Save button. Your post will update instantly on the platform.

And that’s it. Your post is now updated without disrupting its performance or notifying your network that an edit was made. It's a lifesaver for catching those small mistakes that inevitably slip through.

Now, The Catch: You Can't Directly Add a Photo to an *Already Published* LinkedIn Post

Here’s where things get a little tricky. While LinkedIn makes text edits a breeze, its functionality stops there. Once a post is live, you cannot add or change its media attachment. This means you can’t upload a photo to a text-only post, swap an existing photo for a different one, or add a document or video after the fact.

This limitation exists for technical reasons and to maintain the integrity of the original post's context. When people interact with your content, they’re engaging with it as it was first presented. Allowing media to be added or changed later could fundamentally alter the meaning of the post and the conversations happening around it.

While frustrating, this isn't a dead end. There is a universally accepted workaround that content creators and marketers use every day. It requires a couple of extra steps, but it effectively solves the problem.

The Definitive Workaround: How to “Add” a Photo to Your Post

If you're determined to add a visual to your existing message, the solution is the "copy, delete, and repost" method. It allows you to republish your content correctly - this time with the image included.

Step 1: Save Your Original Post Content

The last thing you want is to re-type your entire perfectly crafted post from scratch. To save time and preserve your message, your first step should be to copy the text.

1. Navigate to the post you want to fix.
2. Click the three-dot menu (...) and select Edit post.
3. Inside the edit window, highlight all of the text with your mouse or by using a keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac).
4. Copy the highlighted text (Ctrl+C on Windows, Cmd+C on Mac). You now have it saved to your clipboard.

Step 2: Delete the Original Post

To avoid confusing your network with a duplicate text-only version, you need to remove the original post. This is the most important part of the process, and it comes with a significant trade-off: deleting a post means you will lose all the likes, comments, and shares it has already accumulated.

To proceed, click the three-dot menu (...) again on the original post and select Delete post. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm your decision. Once you do, the post is gone for good.

Step 3: Create a New Post with Your Text and Photo

With the old post removed, you’re ready to publish the corrected version.

1. Click on the Start a post area at the top of your LinkedIn feed.
2. Paste the text you copied earlier into the text editor (Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac).
3. Look for the media icons at the bottom of the pop-up and click the Add a photo icon.
4. Select the image you want to upload from your computer.
5. Once your image is loaded, take a moment to add Alt Text by clicking on the Alt text option on the image thumbnail. This improves accessibility for screen readers and is great practice for inclusive content.
6. Give everything one final proofread, then click the Post button.

Your post is now live, complete with your intended message and the eye-catching visual you originally wanted.

When Should You Bother Editing vs. Deleting and Reposting?

Knowing this workaround is one thing, knowing when to use it is another. The decision often depends on timing and traction. Here’s a quick strategic guide to help you decide.

Scenario 1: You have a simple typo or a factual error in the text.

Verdict: Edit. This is precisely what the Edit post feature is built for. It’s a clean, fast fix that preserves all your hard-earned engagement. Don't think twice - just correct it and move on.

Scenario 2: You just published the post minutes ago and forgot a photo.

Verdict: Delete and repost. If the post has only been live for less than 15-30 minutes and has minimal engagement (maybe one or two likes), you’ve got nothing to lose. The algorithm hasn’t had much time to distribute your post widely, so deleting and immediately reposting with an image is your best move. A post with a relevant visual will almost always perform better in the long run.

Scenario 3: The post has been up for a few hours and has significant engagement.

Verdict: Leave it and move on (or use a comment). Deleting a post that’s already buzzing with conversation just to add a picture is usually a bad trade-off. You'd be sacrificing valuable social proof and momentum. Instead, consider this alternative strategy: write a comment on your own post, attaching the photo there. You can say something like, "For more context, here’s the image I was mentioning in the post above!" This adds the visual element without killing your post’s reach.

Pro-Tips for Nailing Your LinkedIn Posts from the Start

The best way to deal with post-publishing errors is to avoid them in the first place. A little preparation can go a long way in making sure your content goes out perfectly every time.

Always Preview and Proofread

Before you hit that final Post button, take 30 seconds to read through your text one last time. Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing. Double-check your spelling, ensure your @mentions are linked to the correct people or company pages, and verify your hashtags are relevant.

Organize Your Visuals Ahead of Time

Don't scramble for an image while you’re writing. Keep a folder on your computer or cloud storage dedicated to social media assets. Name your files clearly so you can grab the right one without hesitation. Knowing exactly where your photo, infographic, or chart is located makes the posting process much smoother.

Get Comfortable with Alt Text

Make adding Alt Text a non-negotiable step in your publishing workflow. It's a small action that makes your content accessible to users with visual impairments and gives LinkedIn’s algorithm more context about your post. It takes only a few seconds and shows your commitment to inclusivity.

Try Using a Scheduling Tool

Drafting content on the fly is where most mistakes happen. Using a scheduling tool allows you to plan, write, and prepare your posts in batches. This gives you the chance to step away and review your content later with fresh eyes, when you’re more likely to catch a typo or realize you forgot to attach the corresponding photo.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, fixing mistakes on your LinkedIn posts comes down to a simple framework. Editing text is quick and easy using the platform’s built-in feature, while adding visuals after publishing requires a "delete and repost" strategy that works best when you catch the mistake early before engagement takes off.

Building a solid content plan is the best way to prevent these little speed bumps. At Postbase, we designed our platform around an easy-to-use visual calendar that gives you a complete overview of your entire content strategy. Seeing all your scheduled posts - including their images and videos - laid out across your different platforms helps you spot a missing visual or a final typo long before it goes live, saving you the stress of fixing mistakes after the fact.