How to View a LinkedIn Profile Picture in Full Size

LinkedIn shows profile pictures as small circles almost everywhere: in search results, comments, messages and connection requests. If you want a closer look at someone's photo, or you want to see your own the way others see it, you have a few options.

On desktop

1. Go to the person's LinkedIn profile.
2. Click their profile picture.
3. LinkedIn opens a larger version of the photo in a new window.

That larger view is as big as the photo gets. LinkedIn only stores the image at the size it was uploaded, so if someone uploaded a small or low-quality file, it won't look any sharper when enlarged.

On mobile

1. Open the LinkedIn app and go to the person's profile.
2. Tap their profile picture.
3. The photo opens in a full-screen view.

Why some LinkedIn profile pictures won't open

If you click a photo and nothing happens, or you only see a grey silhouette, one of these is usually the reason:

• They haven't uploaded a photo. The grey placeholder is LinkedIn's default.
• Their photo is limited to certain viewers. LinkedIn lets members choose who can see their profile picture, such as only their connections or their network. If you're outside that group, you'll see the placeholder instead. We explain these settings in Who Can See Your LinkedIn Profile Picture?
• You're not signed in. People who aren't logged in only see what someone has made visible on their public profile.

Should you use a third-party LinkedIn photo viewer?

You'll find browser extensions and websites that claim to pull full-resolution LinkedIn photos, including hidden ones. We'd steer clear. They often ask for access to your LinkedIn account or browser data, they can break LinkedIn's terms of use, and they can't show you anything bigger than what the person uploaded. If a photo is hidden, that was the person's choice.

Checking your own photo? Use a LinkedIn profile picture viewer instead

Most people searching for a way to view LinkedIn photos at full size are really trying to answer one question: how does my photo look to everyone else?

Opening your own photo on LinkedIn won't tell you much. The enlarged view hides the circle crop, and it doesn't show how small your photo appears next to a comment or in a message thread.

A LinkedIn profile picture viewer like Social Previewing shows your photo in every place LinkedIn uses it, before you upload. You can check:

• How the circle crop frames your face
• Whether you're still recognizable at thumbnail size
• How your photo sits against your banner
• How it looks on desktop and mobile

It takes about a minute, and it saves you from uploading, checking, deleting and uploading again.

Quick answers

Can I see a LinkedIn profile picture without them knowing? Viewing a photo is part of viewing a profile. If you visit their profile while signed in, they may see that you viewed it, depending on your profile viewing settings. LinkedIn lets you browse in private mode if you'd rather not show up.

Can I download someone's LinkedIn profile picture? LinkedIn doesn't offer a download button for other members' photos. Their photo belongs to them, so ask them directly if you need it for something like an event page or a press release.

What size should my own photo be? Upload a square image of at least 400 x 400 pixels. For all the details, see our LinkedIn profile picture size guide.

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