WhatsApp Link Preview Requirements: The Complete Technical Guide
Master the exact specifications for stunning WhatsApp link previews. Get more clicks, shares, and engagement with properly optimized Open Graph tags.
Quick Requirements Summary
OG:Image
Required for preview display
Image File Size
Maximum 600KB
Minimum Dimensions
100×100 pixels (no preview below)
File Format
JPG, JPEG, PNG, or WebP
OG:Title
Recommended for display
OG:Description
Recommended for context
Single Image
Use one primary OG:Image
Large Preview
300px+ width for full-size display
4 types of link previews in WhatsApp
No Link Preview Image
No image preview is shown because the minimum requirements are not fulfilled. This occurs when:
- Image dimensions are below 100×100 pixels (width or height)
- Image file size exceeds 600KB
- Unsupported image format is used (GIF or SVG)
- The og:image meta tag is missing entirely
Key takeaway: When these requirements are not met, WhatsApp will only display the URL with no visual preview, which significantly reduces engagement and click-through rates.
Small Link Preview
A small thumbnail preview is shown when the image meets minimum requirements but has limited dimensions:
- Image width is between 100-299 pixels
- Image meets minimum 100×100 pixel requirement
- Image file size is under 600KB
- Image uses a supported format (JPG, PNG, or WebP)
Key takeaway: Small previews show as a thumbnail beside the link, providing less visual impact than large previews and potentially reducing engagement compared to full-width previews.
Large Rectangle Link Preview
A full-width preview is displayed when the image meets optimal requirements:
- Image width is 300 pixels or greater
- Image meets minimum 100×100 pixel requirement
- Image file size is under 600KB
- Image uses a supported format (JPG, PNG, or WebP)
- Recommended size: 1200 × 630 pixels for optimal display
Key takeaway: Large previews show as a full-width preview with image, title, and description, providing maximum engagement potential and the best visual impact for your links.
Large Square Link Preview
Unlike Facebook, WhatsApp supports different image aspect ratios. Square images (1:1) also display as full-width previews when they meet optimal requirements:
- Image width is 300 pixels or greater
- Image meets minimum 100×100 pixel requirement
- Image file size is under 600KB
- Image uses a supported format (JPG, PNG, or WebP)
- Square images (1:1 aspect ratio) like 1200×1200 pixels work well
Key takeaway: Unlike Facebook, WhatsApp accepts various aspect ratios including square images, offering flexibility while maintaining maximum engagement potential with full-width previews.
Test Your Link Preview Now
Use our free link checker tool to verify if your website meets all WhatsApp link preview requirements.
Required Meta Tags
og:title
Recommended
The title displayed in the link preview. WhatsApp uses og:title over the regular <title> tag.
og:description
Recommended
A brief description shown below the title. WhatsApp prioritizes og:description over the meta description.
og:image
Required
The preview image URL. This is the most critical element for WhatsApp link previews. Without it, no preview image will be shown.
Image Requirements
OG:Image Specifications
The preview image is the most important element for engagement
Maximum File Size
600 KB
Images larger than 600KB will not display
Minimum Width
100 pixels
Images under 100px width will not display at all
Minimum Height
100 pixels
Images under 100px height will not display at all
Recommended Size
1200 × 630 px
Optimal for large preview display (300px+ width)
Supported Image Formats
Note: GIF and SVG formats are not supported for WhatsApp link previews.
Preview Size Behavior
No Preview
Image under 100px, oversized, or wrong format
Only URL is shown with no visual preview. Significantly reduces engagement.
Small Preview
Image 100-299px width
Shows as a small thumbnail beside the link. Less visual impact than large previews.
Large Preview
Image 300px+ width, all requirements met
Full-width preview with image, title, and description. Maximum engagement potential.
Technical Checklist
Has OG:Image tag
CriticalAdd an og:image meta tag with a valid image URL. This is essential for any preview to display.
Image file size under 600KB
CriticalCompress your image using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh. Aim for 100-300KB for optimal loading.
Valid image format (JPG, PNG, WebP)
CriticalConvert GIF, SVG, or other formats to JPG or PNG. WebP is supported but JPG has widest compatibility.
Image minimum 100px width
CriticalUse images at least 100 pixels wide. Images below 100px will not display at all.
Image minimum 100px height
CriticalUse images at least 100 pixels tall. Images below 100px will not display at all.
Has OG:Title
WarningAdd an og:title meta tag. WhatsApp will fall back to <title> if not present, but og:title is preferred.
Has OG:Description
WarningAdd an og:description meta tag for context. Falls back to meta description if not present.
Single OG:Image
WarningUse only one og:image tag. Multiple images may cause unpredictable behavior.
Complete Code Example
<!-- WhatsApp Link Preview Meta Tags -->
<!-- Required: Title -->
<meta property="og:title" content="Your Page Title" />
<!-- Required: Description -->
<meta property="og:description" content="A compelling description of your page" />
<!-- Required: Image (most important!) -->
<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/image.jpg" />
<!-- Recommended: Image dimensions -->
<meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" />
<meta property="og:image:height" content="630" />
<!-- Recommended: URL and Type -->
<meta property="og:url" content="https://yoursite.com/page" />
<meta property="og:type" content="website" />Frequently Asked Questions
Test Your WhatsApp Link Previews
Use our free link checker tool to analyze if your website meets all WhatsApp link preview requirements and get actionable recommendations.
Check Your Link Previews