Make a Square Image for X (Twitter)

Q: Does a square image get cropped in the timeline?

A single square attachment is normally shown in full. Multi-image posts are laid out in a grid and each slot uses its own crop, so a square is still the safest shape for a set.

Q: What size should a profile photo be?

Export a square and let the circle mask handle the rest. Keep the face away from the corners, because the mask removes them.

Q: Can I keep transparency?

Choose PNG. JPEG has no alpha channel and fills transparent pixels with the background color.

Q: Are the photos uploaded anywhere?

No. The conversion runs in the browser with Canvas, and refreshing the page clears the session.

Short answer

Export a square image for X (Twitter) at 1200 x 1200 pixels; 600 x 600 is the practical floor before the timeline preview looks soft. A 1:1 image holds the same framing in the timeline, in the profile grid and inside a quote post, which a wide photo does not, because X crops whatever does not fit its preview box. The profile photo is masked to a circle, so keep faces and text out of the corners. Use the SquareImage.dev converter at the top of this page to reach 1:1 in the browser; the photo is processed on the device and not uploaded. X changes these specifications from time to time; check the current requirement before a large batch.

By SquareImage · Verified 2026-09-02

X shows most in-timeline photos inside a wide preview box and crops whatever does not fit. A 1:1 image keeps the same framing in the timeline, in the profile grid, and inside a quote post. The converter at the top of this page turns any photo into a square without sending it to a server.

What does a square post image on X need?

X does not publish one required size for photos. These are the values that work in practice for a square attachment:

Setting	Value	Why
Export size	1200 × 1200	Stays sharp on desktop and on a high-density phone screen.
Smallest usable	600 × 600	Below this the timeline preview starts to look soft.
Aspect ratio	1:1	Same framing whether the post is seen alone or quoted.
Format	JPEG for photos, PNG for text and logos	JPEG keeps the file small; PNG keeps edges crisp.

Profile photos are a separate case. Upload a square, because the circle mask crops from the center of the square you provide.

X states the formats and the file-size ceiling it accepts in its own developer documentation:

“Supported image media types: JPG, PNG, GIF, WEBP. Image size: <= 5 MB.”

— X Developer Platform, Media best practices

That 5 MB ceiling is the one worth planning around: a 1200 × 1200 JPEG is far below it, but a PNG of the same photo can reach it once the image is detailed.

What do I need before I start?

One photo your browser can open: JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, or BMP.
A source at least as wide as the export size, so nothing has to be enlarged.
An idea of what must survive the crop. Faces near an edge are the usual casualty.

How do I make a square image for X?

Load the photo. Drop it on the converter above or paste it from the clipboard.
Pick a method. Blur and color keep the whole frame. Resize and crop change what is visible.
Set the export. Leave the size on 1200px for a post image, or enter a custom value for a profile photo.
Choose a format. JPEG for photographs, PNG when the image contains text.
Download and attach. Post the file and check the preview before sending.

Which square method fits which post?

Square with blur: screenshots and landscape photos where cutting the sides would remove the point of the image.
Square with color: logos, charts, and quote cards. A flat background reads as deliberate rather than as filler.
Square by resizing: a source that is already close to square and only needs an exact pixel size.
Square crop: portraits and product shots where the subject sits near the middle.

When will this not look good?

A panorama forced into 1:1. The photo ends up as a thin strip inside a large blurred field.
A screenshot of dense text. Cropping cuts sentences and blur makes the leftover space look busy.
A small source enlarged to 1200 pixels. Upscaling adds pixels, not detail.
Two people at opposite edges of a wide frame. A center crop drops one of them, so use blur instead.

X changes its layout regularly. Check its current help pages when a post has to match an exact display size.

How is this different from the other two tools?

The converter above handles one image and offers four methods. Square Crop loads several files at once and gives a drag-and-zoom frame, which helps when a thread needs consistent framing across images. Blurred Frame exposes separate scale controls for the sharp photo and the blurred backdrop, which matters when the default blur leaves too much empty space.

Frequently asked questions

Does a square image get cropped in the timeline?