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LinkedIn Post Inspector is a free debugging tool that lets you preview how shared links will appear on LinkedIn and refresh cached content. Access it at LinkedIn's Marketing Developer Platform—no login required—to fix broken previews before you post.

Key Takeaways

What it does: Previews how URLs display on LinkedIn and clears cached link data
Access URL: linkedin.com/post-inspector (through LinkedIn Marketing Solutions)
Cache duration: LinkedIn caches link previews for approximately 7 days
Image requirements: Link preview images should be 1200 x 627 pixels (1.91:1 ratio)
No login needed: The tool works without signing into LinkedIn

What Is LinkedIn Post Inspector?

According to LinkedIn's official help documentation, LinkedIn Post Inspector is a debugging tool that simulates how LinkedIn processes your URLs. It shows exactly how your post's preview cards will appear—including images, titles, and descriptions—before you publish.

What the Tool Shows You

When you enter a URL, Post Inspector displays:

Preview image: The image LinkedIn will show
Title: The headline from your page's meta tags
Description: The excerpt shown below the title
Domain URL: The website source
Error messages: Any issues with your metadata

How to Use LinkedIn Post Inspector

Step 1: Access the Tool

Navigate to LinkedIn's Post Inspector through the Marketing Developer Platform. The tool is completely free and doesn't require a LinkedIn login.

Direct access: Search "LinkedIn Post Inspector" or access it through LinkedIn's developer tools.

Step 2: Enter Your URL

Copy the full URL you want to share on LinkedIn
Paste it into the Post Inspector input field
Click "Inspect"

Step 3: Review the Preview

The tool will display how your link will appear when shared. Check that:

The correct image is showing
Your title is complete and not truncated
The description accurately represents your content

Step 4: Refresh Cache (If Needed)

If your preview shows outdated content:

Enter the URL in Post Inspector
Click "Inspect"
LinkedIn automatically fetches the latest version

According to Kinsta's debugging guide, simply running the inspection refreshes LinkedIn's cached version of your page.

When to Use LinkedIn Post Inspector

Before Sharing New Content

Always inspect URLs before sharing to ensure:

Your featured image displays correctly
Title and description aren't truncated
No metadata errors appear

After Updating Existing Pages

LinkedIn caches link previews for approximately 7 days. If you've updated:

Your page's featured image
The meta title or description
Open Graph tags

Use Post Inspector to force LinkedIn to fetch the new version.

When Previews Look Wrong

If shared links display incorrectly:

Wrong or missing image
Old title or description
Generic placeholder instead of your content

Post Inspector will identify the problem and refresh the cache.

Link Preview Image Requirements

According to SalesRobot's analysis, LinkedIn has specific requirements for link preview images:

Optimal Image Specifications

Specification	Requirement
Dimensions	1200 x 627 pixels
Aspect Ratio	1.91:1
Minimum Width	1200 pixels
Format	JPG or PNG
File Size	Under 5 MB recommended

Common Image Issues

Problem: Image appears cropped or zoomed Solution: Ensure your image matches the 1.91:1 aspect ratio

Problem: Image looks blurry Solution: Use images at least 1200 pixels wide

Problem: Wrong image displays Solution: Check your Open Graph (og:image) meta tag

Understanding Open Graph Tags

LinkedIn Post Inspector reads Open Graph meta tags from your webpage to generate previews. These are the essential tags:

Required Tags

<meta property="og:title" content="Your Page Title" />
<meta property="og:description" content="Your page description" />
<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/image.jpg" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://yoursite.com/page" />

Recommended Tags

<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Your Site Name" />

LinkedIn-Specific Tag

<meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" />
<meta property="og:image:height" content="627" />

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Old Image Still Showing

Cause: LinkedIn's cache hasn't updated Solution:

Run the URL through Post Inspector
Wait 24 hours if the issue persists
Ensure your og:image URL is unique (add a query parameter like ?v=2)

Issue: No Image Displaying

Cause: Missing or incorrect og:image tag Solution:

Verify og:image tag exists in your page's HTML
Ensure the image URL is absolute (full URL, not relative path)
Check that the image is publicly accessible

Issue: Title Truncated

Cause: Title exceeds LinkedIn's character limit Solution: Keep og:title under 150 characters for full display

Issue: Generic "LinkedIn.com" Preview

Cause: LinkedIn can't access your page's metadata Solution:

Check if your site blocks LinkedIn's crawler
Verify there are no robots.txt restrictions
Ensure pages aren't behind authentication

Post Inspector Limitations

According to Expandi's guide, Post Inspector has some limitations:

LinkedIn only: Doesn't work for other social platforms
Public content only: Can't inspect private or restricted pages
No historical data: Shows current state only, not past versions
Cache timing: Immediate refresh not always guaranteed

Alternatives to Post Inspector

Facebook Sharing Debugger

For cross-platform content, use Facebook's debugger alongside LinkedIn's tool to ensure consistent previews.

Testing Approach

For important content, follow this workflow:

Check Open Graph tags in your HTML
Test with LinkedIn Post Inspector
Test with Facebook Sharing Debugger
Preview the actual LinkedIn post before publishing

Best Practices for Link Previews

Create Compelling Preview Images

Use images with clear, readable text (if any)
Include your brand colors for recognition
Design for the 1.91:1 aspect ratio from the start

Write Click-Worthy Titles

Front-load important keywords
Keep under 60 characters for full mobile display
Include your value proposition

Craft Engaging Descriptions

Summarize the key benefit in 2 sentences
Include a call-to-action when appropriate
Stay under 155 characters

How This Supports Your LinkedIn Strategy

Optimized link previews are essential for content that attracts inbound leads. Professional, correctly formatted previews:

Increase click-through rates on shared content
Build credibility with your network
Ensure your brand appears consistently
Support your authority-building strategy

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clear LinkedIn's cache for my URL?

Enter your URL into LinkedIn Post Inspector and click "Inspect." This automatically refreshes LinkedIn's cached version of your page. If the issue persists, wait 24 hours as LinkedIn's cache may take time to fully update.

What size image works best for LinkedIn link previews?

The optimal image size for LinkedIn link previews is 1200 x 627 pixels with a 1.91:1 aspect ratio. Images smaller than 1200 pixels wide may appear blurry, and different ratios will be cropped.

Why isn't my LinkedIn preview updating after I changed my page?

LinkedIn caches link previews for approximately 7 days. Use Post Inspector to force a refresh. If the old preview persists, try adding a query parameter to your image URL (like ?v=2) to make it appear as a new image.

Does LinkedIn Post Inspector require a login?

No. LinkedIn Post Inspector is free and works without signing into LinkedIn. Simply access the tool through LinkedIn's Marketing Developer Platform and enter your URL.

Can Post Inspector fix previews for posts already published?

No. Post Inspector only affects how future posts will display. Previously shared links will continue showing their cached preview. To update an existing post, you'd need to delete and repost the link.

What Open Graph tags does LinkedIn require?

LinkedIn requires og:title, og:description, and og:image tags at minimum. For best results, also include og:url, og:type, and image dimension tags (og:image:width, og:image:height).

Want to ensure your LinkedIn content always makes an impact? Try ConnectSafely.ai free and build the visibility that attracts qualified leads.