HeadshotDB · Photo spec registry
Profile photo and headshot requirements, quoted from each platform
One square photo between 512 px and 1,024 px, saved as a JPG or PNG under 1 MB, meets the official limits of all 13 platforms below that publish any (use PNG for Discord, whose help pages disagree about JPG). 9 of the 22 platforms we checked publish no size, file limit or format at all. (Checked October 18, 2026.)
The one file that works everywhere
2 platforms set the limits. Everyone else’s rules fall inside them:
- At least 512 px: the minimum set by Slack profile photo.
- No more than 1,024 px: the cap set by Slack profile photo.
- Under 1 MB: the file limit set by GitHub profile picture.
- JPG or PNG: the only formats every platform that lists formats accepts. Discord’s help pages disagree with each other about JPG, so use PNG there.
ERAS residency applications are the exception: they want a portrait (not square) file. See the ERAS photo requirements.
Every platform, side by side
Sorted by how many people search for each platform’s photo size every month (US). “Not published” means the platform’s own help pages don’t say. It doesn’t mean there’s no limit.
| Platform | Size | Max file | Formats | Searches/mo | Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn background (cover) photo | Size ·1584 × 396 recommended (4:1) | Max file ·under 8 MB | Formats ·JPG, PNG | Searches/mo ·8,360 | Spec ·Full spec |
| Facebook profile picture (Pages spec) | Size ·320 px recommended; 176 × 176 desktop, 196 × 196 phone (Pages) | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·2,900 | Spec ·Partial |
| Google Account / Gmail profile picture | Size ·Not published | Max file ·5 MB | Formats ·JPEG, PNG | Searches/mo ·2,420 | Spec ·Partial |
| Instagram profile picture | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·1,900 | Spec ·No spec |
| LinkedIn profile photo | Size ·400 px – 4,320 px | Max file ·8 MB | Formats ·JPG, PNG | Searches/mo ·1,630 | Spec ·Full spec |
| YouTube channel profile picture | Size ·Renders at 98 × 98 | Max file ·15 MB | Formats ·JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG | Searches/mo ·1,300 | Spec ·Full spec |
| Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo | Size ·Stored at sizes up to 648 × 648 | Max file ·4 MB | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·960 | Spec ·Partial |
| Zoom profile picture | Size ·Not published | Max file ·under 2 MB | Formats ·JPG, GIF, PNG | Searches/mo ·810 | Spec ·Partial |
| WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business profile photo | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·720 | Spec ·No spec |
| Slack profile photo | Size ·512 px – 1,024 px | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·JPEG, GIF, PNG | Searches/mo ·680 | Spec ·Partial |
| Discord avatar | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·PNG | Searches/mo ·480 | Spec ·Partial |
| X (Twitter) profile photo | Size ·400 px recommended | Max file ·2 MB | Formats ·JPEG, GIF, PNG | Searches/mo ·410 | Spec ·Full spec |
| Indeed job-seeker profile photo | Size ·Not published | Max file ·under 30 MB | Formats ·JPG, PNG, HEIC | Searches/mo ·170 | Spec ·Partial |
| Fiverr freelancer profile picture | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·70 | Spec ·No spec |
| Upwork freelancer profile photo | Size ·250 px – 4,000 px | Max file ·5 MB | Formats ·JPG, PNG | Searches/mo ·50 | Spec ·Full spec |
| GitHub profile picture | Size ·max 3,000 px; 500 px recommended | Max file ·under 1 MB | Formats ·PNG, JPG, GIF | Searches/mo ·40 | Spec ·Full spec |
| Apple Account / iCloud / Contacts photo | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·No spec |
| Calendly profile picture (avatar) | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·No spec |
| Gravatar avatar | Size ·Not published | Max file ·under 10 MB | Formats ·JPEG, PNG, HEIC | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·Partial |
| Medium profile image | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·No spec |
| Okta End-User profile | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·No spec |
| Substack profile photo | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·No spec |
| Workday worker profile photo | Size ·Not published | Max file ·Not published | Formats ·Not published | Searches/mo ·— | Spec ·No spec |
Passports, job applications, casting and licensing
Passports and US visas forbid edited photos, including ours.
The State Department says photos must not be altered with filters, editing software or apps. Use an unedited photo from a pharmacy, post office or your own camera. We don’t sell passport or visa photos for this reason.
Passports and visas
| Use | Size | Max file | Background | Recency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US passport photo (print) | Size ·2 x 2 in (51 x 51 mm) | Max file ·— | Background ·white or off-white, plain, no shadows/texture/objects/lines | Recency ·taken in the last 6 months | Notes ·No edits allowed. color photo; no eyeglasses/sunglasses/tinted glasses (doctor's signed statement if medically unremovable) source |
| US passport online renewal (digital upload) | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·10 MB | Background ·plain, no shadows, texture, lines or objects (per State Dept guidance) | Recency ·taken in the last 6 months | Notes ·No edits allowed. The State Department page gives no pixel size for online renewal uploads. source |
| US visa photo (DS-160 digital upload) | Size ·600x600 to 1200x1200 px, square | Max file ·240 KB | Background ·plain white or off-white | Recency ·taken within the last 6 months | Notes ·No edits allowed. 24-bit color, sRGB; compression ratio <= 20:1 source |
Job applications by country
| Use | Size | Max file | Background | Recency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany job-application photo (Bewerbungsfoto)DE | Size ·approx. 4 x 6 cm to 4 x 8 cm on CV; up to 9 x 13 cm on cover sheet (BA 2026 guide); another BA office: min 4 x 6, max 6.5 x 8.5 cm | Max file ·— | Background ·calm, neutral background | Recency ·replace if older than one year | Notes ·not mandatory ('keine Pflicht'); since the AGG, job ads may not explicitly demand a photo source |
| Japan rirekisho (resume) photoJP | Size ·usually 4 x 3 cm (H x W); MHLW template box 36-40 mm H x 24-30 mm W | Max file ·— | Background ·no background (無背景), front-facing upper body | Recency ·roughly within 3 months | Notes ·subject alone, chest up; no hat source |
| South Korea job-application photoKR | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·The law bars requiring job-unrelated physical details in screening materials; it sets no photo size. source |
| France CV photoFR | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·no legal requirement; requiring a photo should be exceptional; employers should not reject candidates for not providing a photo source |
| UK CV photo normGB | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·Local-government careers guidance (Birmingham City Council); there is no national rule. source |
| US resume/application photo norm | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·employers should not ask for a photograph of an applicant; if needed for ID, obtain after offer is made and accepted source |
Acting and casting
| Use | Size | Max file | Background | Recency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actor headshot (print, industry standard) | Size ·8 x 10 in | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·Industry convention per Backstage's editorial guidance; no union or platform publishes it as a rule. source |
| Actors Access headshot upload | Size ·500 x 700 px (optimal) | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·photo must be upright/portrait; rotate before uploading; free photo slots limited; remove older free photos to add new source |
| Casting Networks photo upload | Size ·minimum 360 x 360 px | Max file ·30 MB | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes · source |
| Backstage photo upload | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·100 MB | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·square thumbnail crop of primary photo shown in Talent Database and applications; media must be added to profile from the profile Media section source |
Licensing and bar exams
| Use | Size | Max file | Background | Recency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York real estate license pocket card | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·photo comes from NYS DMV (existing driver license/non-driver ID photo, or free DMV 'Image Capture Only' visit); applicant does not submit/upload a photo; pocket card must contain photo, name and business address; must be shown on demand source |
| Georgia real estate license (GREC) | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·Certification of Accuracy (COA) statement includes candidate's photograph (captured at test site, per sample form) and must be presented with valid photo ID to obtain license; no applicant-supplied photo specs stated source |
| Florida bar exam applicant photo | Size ·approx. 120 x 160 px | Max file ·100 KB | Background ·light-colored wall, very well-lit room | Recency ·— | Notes ·color; head and shoulders square to camera (no 3/4 or profile) source |
| Texas bar applicant photo | Size ·300 x 300 px after upload/crop | Max file ·— | Background ·plain white | Recency ·within past 6 months | Notes ·color; full face, neutral expression, eyes open source |
| Virginia bar exam applicant photos | Size ·passport-style (size not specified) | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·taken within the preceding twelve months | Notes ·two identical unmounted photographs; snapshots not accepted source |
| California attorney profile photo / bar exam ID | Size ·passport-type (no dimensions stated) | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·one photo per profile, optional; bar exam: physical, valid government-issued photo ID required each session; no photo upload requirement found source |
| NCBE (MPRE) test-day identification photo | Size ·Not specified | Max file ·— | Background ·— | Recency ·— | Notes ·no photo upload to NCBE Account found; primary ID must be government-issued with recent recognizable photo and signature source |
No applicant photo required: we found no photo requirement for Texas real estate license (TREC), Florida real estate license (DBPR/FREC), California real estate license (DRE), Florida Bar member profile photo. Their official application pages ask for fingerprints or photo ID, but you don’t submit a headshot.
Applying for residency? The ERAS photo guide covers AAMC’s 2027 rules, dates and prices.
Who actually publishes a spec
Full spec (5): LinkedIn profile photo, GitHub profile picture, Upwork freelancer profile photo, X (Twitter) profile photo, YouTube channel profile picture.
Partial (8): Google Account / Gmail profile picture, Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo, Zoom profile picture, Slack profile photo, Indeed job-seeker profile photo, Facebook profile picture (Pages spec), Discord avatar, Gravatar avatar.
Nothing (9): Calendly profile picture (avatar), Okta End-User profile, Workday worker profile photo, Fiverr freelancer profile picture, Instagram profile picture, Substack profile photo, Medium profile image, WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business profile photo, Apple Account / iCloud / Contacts photo. Their help pages explain how to upload a photo but give no size, file limit or format.
Sizes you'll see quoted that the platforms don't publish
Size guides repeat these numbers, but we couldn’t find any of them in the platform’s own documentation. They may still work. They just aren’t official.
| Platform | Claim | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| LinkedIn profile photo | Claim ·400x400 is the 'ideal'/recommended size (LinkedIn help gives it only as the lower bound of an accepted range) | Where it comes from ·linkedin.com |
| LinkedIn profile photo | Claim ·Profile photo displays as a circle (not stated in the LinkedIn help articles reviewed) | Where it comes from ·Repeated widely, no single source |
| LinkedIn background (cover) photo | Claim ·Older 4MB file-size limit for background photo | Where it comes from ·linkedin.com |
| Google Account / Gmail profile picture | Claim ·Minimum 250x250 px and 10 KB floor | Where it comes from ·support.google.com |
| Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo | Claim ·Photo must be smaller than 4 MB and be .png, .jpg or .gif (older text of Microsoft support article, repeated by university KBs; not present in current page) | Where it comes from ·service.purdue.edu |
| Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo | Claim ·Recommended 648x648 px | Where it comes from ·itssc.rpi.edu |
| Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo | Claim ·Displayed as a circle / 1:1 square recommended | Where it comes from ·learn.microsoft.com |
| Zoom profile picture | Claim ·Minimum 400x400, square 1:1 | Where it comes from ·community.zoom.com |
| Calendly profile picture (avatar) | Claim ·Avatars must be at least 90x90 px and under 5 MB; square works best | Where it comes from ·community.calendly.com |
| Okta End-User profile | Claim ·Okta does not support uploading profile pictures (community answer) | Where it comes from ·support.okta.com |
| Upwork freelancer profile photo | Claim ·GIF accepted (community staff reply) - contradicts help center which bans GIF photos | Where it comes from ·community.upwork.com |
| Fiverr freelancer profile picture | Claim ·250x250 px or 400x600 px sizes | Where it comes from ·community.fiverr.com |
| Instagram profile picture | Claim ·320x320 px profile picture | Where it comes from ·facebook.com |
| YouTube channel profile picture | Claim ·800x800 px recommended upload (widely repeated by third-party size guides; no specific source verified) | Where it comes from ·Repeated widely, no single source |
| YouTube channel profile picture | Claim ·4MB max (YouTube Community video, conflicts with help center 15 MB) | Where it comes from ·support.google.com |
| Substack profile photo | Claim ·Square, at least 256x256 px | Where it comes from ·adriennecoach.substack.com |
| Discord avatar | Claim ·Recommended 512x512, any size with 1:1 ratio (community post quoting support) | Where it comes from ·support.discord.com |
| Discord avatar | Claim ·128x128 avatar | Where it comes from ·support.discord.com |
| Gravatar avatar | Claim ·Max upload 512x512 px (WordPress.com support) | Where it comes from ·wordpress.com |
Platform details and exact wording
LinkedIn profile photo Full spec
Must reflect your likeness; logos, landscapes, celebrities and childhood photos can be removed.
Pixel size is between 400 (w) x 400 (h) pixels and 7680 (w) x 4320 (h) pixels.
sourceMaximum file size is 8MB.
sourceFile type must be PNG or JPG.
sourceWe don't support GIFs.
sourceyour profile photo must reflect your likeness.
sourceInstead, aim to have your face filling about 60% of the space.
source
LinkedIn background (cover) photo Full spec
Google Account / Gmail profile picture Partial
Up to 20 megapixels; doesn't have to be square.
The file format is JPEG or PNG only.
sourceThe maximum file size is 5 MB.
sourceThe maximum pixel count is 20 million.
sourcePhotos don't have to be square; they are scaled automatically.
sourceYour profile picture is used across all Google services.
sourceWhatever the size of the photo being uploaded, the API downsizes it to 96x96 pixels.
source
Microsoft 365 / Teams / Outlook profile photo Partial
Zoom profile picture Partial
Supported file types include JPG/JPEG, GIF, or PNG files smaller than 2MB
source
Slack profile photo Partial
GitHub profile picture Full spec
Calendly profile picture (avatar) No spec
Profile image: Go to Profile and select Update next to the profile picture.
source
Okta End-User profile No spec
No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.
Workday worker profile photo No spec
No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.
Upwork freelancer profile photo Full spec
Close-up of head and shoulders, face clearly visible; no AI-generated photos.
Photo should be at least 250 x 250 pixels and no more than 4,000 x 4,000 pixels
sourceAccepted file types include .jpg and .png
sourceMaximum file size is 5 MB
sourceNo fake or AI-generated photos
sourceYour profile picture must be a close-up image of your head and shoulders, clearly showing your face.
source
Fiverr freelancer profile picture No spec
Show yourself clearly, facing the front; no GIFs, celebrities or other people.
Indeed job-seeker profile photo Partial
Focused on your face; employers don't see it.
X (Twitter) profile photo Full spec
Instagram profile picture No spec
No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.
Facebook profile picture (Pages spec) Partial
Displays at 176x176 pixels on your Page on computers, 196x196 pixels on smartphones and 36x36 pixels on most feature phones.
sourceIs cropped to a circle.
sourceShould be 320 pixels wide and 320 pixels tall for best quality.
sourceFor profile pictures and cover photos with your logo or text, you may get a better result by using a PNG file.
source
YouTube channel profile picture Full spec
Substack profile photo No spec
Click the current profile image and select a new image from your device.
source
Medium profile image No spec
Change your profile image by clicking the Update button and uploading an image from your device.
source
Discord avatar Partial
Help pages conflict on JPG; PNG is accepted by both.
WhatsApp / WhatsApp Business profile photo No spec
No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.
Apple Account / iCloud / Contacts photo No spec
No official photo requirements found in this platform’s help pages.
Gravatar avatar Partial
Gravatar allows most common image formats: JPEG PNG HEIC
sourceYour image should be smaller than 10MB.
sourceYou may request images anywhere from 1px up to 2048px
sourceBy default, images are presented at 80px by 80px if no size parameter is supplied.
sourcepassing a single pixel dimension (since the images are square)
source
Download the data
The whole registry, including every source quote, is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Please link back to this page. It also covers the 1,460 monthly searches for generic queries like “headshot size” that don’t name a platform.
photo-specs.jsonphoto-specs.csv
How we collect this: methodology. Search volumes are US Google Ads estimates via DataForSEO.