You paste a link into a new LinkedIn post, expecting a beautiful, clickable image to appear. Instead, you get a gray box, the wrong title, or no preview at all.
Broken LinkedIn link previews are frustrating, but they are easy to fix once you understand how LinkedIn scrapes your website's data.
In this guide, we will explain exactly how to check your link previews, how to force LinkedIn to update them using the official Post Inspector tool, and how to format the text above your links for maximum engagement.
What is a LinkedIn Link Preview?
A LinkedIn link preview is the clickable card that automatically generates when you paste a URL into a LinkedIn post or message.
It typically consists of three elements:
- An image (usually 1200x630 pixels)
- A title (the headline of the page)
- A domain name (where the link points to)
LinkedIn generates these previews by reading the Open Graph (OG) tags hidden in your website's HTML. If those tags are missing, outdated, or blocked, your preview will fail to render correctly.
Why is My LinkedIn Link Preview Broken?
If your link preview looks wrong or doesn't appear at all, it's usually due to one of these three reasons:
1. Missing Open Graph Tags
If your website doesn't have og:image, og:title, and og:description tags in its header, LinkedIn won't know what to display.
2. The Cache is Outdated
LinkedIn remembers link data for about 7 days. If you recently updated your article's featured image or title, LinkedIn might still be serving the old, cached version.
3. The Image is the Wrong Size
LinkedIn prefers images that are 1200 x 630 pixels. If your image is too small (under 200 pixels wide) or too large (over 5MB), the scraper might ignore it.
How to Fix and Update Your Link Preview
You don't need to guess if your link will work. LinkedIn provides a free, official tool to test and reset your URLs.
Here is how to use the LinkedIn Post Inspector:
- Go to the LinkedIn Post Inspector (LinkedIn's official link checker).
- Paste your URL into the search box.
- Click Inspect.
The Post Inspector will immediately force LinkedIn to scrape your website again, clearing the old cache. It will show you exactly what your preview will look like when shared.
If it still looks wrong, the Inspector will tell you which Open Graph tags are missing or returning errors. You will need to fix those tags on your website (via WordPress, Webflow, or your developer) and inspect the URL again.
Link Previews vs. Post Text Previews
There is a big difference between a link preview and a post preview.
- Link Preview Checkers (like LinkedIn Post Inspector) only show you the image and title that generate from the URL itself.
- Post Text Previews (like LinkedinPreview.com) show you how your actual written content (the bold text, lists, and line breaks) will look above that link.
Once your URL is generating the correct image, your job is only half done. You still need to write compelling copy to convince people to click it.
How to Format the Text Above Your Link
Dropping a naked link into a post is a guaranteed way to kill your reach. LinkedIn wants to keep users on its platform, so posts containing external links often see lower distribution unless the accompanying text is highly engaging.
Here is how to format your text to drive clicks:
1. Hook the Reader First
Don't just say "Check out my new blog post." Tell them why it matters. Use the first two lines to present a problem or an interesting statistic.
2. Format with Bold and Lists
Break up your text so it's easy to read on mobile. Use bold text to highlight key takeaways and bullet points to summarize what they will learn by clicking.
3. Preview Before Publishing
LinkedIn's native composer doesn't show you exactly where the "see more" cutoff will happen on mobile. Use a dedicated formatting tool to preview your text.
Best Practices for Sharing Links on LinkedIn
To maximize your visibility when sharing links, keep these strategies in mind:
- Add the link later (The "Edit" Trick): Some creators publish their post without a link, wait 5 minutes, and then edit the post to add the link. This can sometimes bypass LinkedIn's anti-link algorithm penalty.
- Link in the comments: You can mention "Link in the comments below!" to keep the main post link-free. (Note: This is becoming less effective in 2026 as LinkedIn adjusts its algorithm).
- Write a mini-blog: Give away 80% of the value in the text of your LinkedIn post. Use the link only for those who want the final 20% or the deep dive.
Summary
Fixing a broken LinkedIn link preview is simple: run your URL through the official LinkedIn Post Inspector to clear the cache.
But a great image isn't enough to get clicks. You need to combine that working link with perfectly formatted, engaging text. Always draft, format, and preview your written content before hitting publish.
Next Steps
Ready to write the perfect introduction for your link? Head over to the LinkedIn Post Preview Tool to format your text with bolding, lists, and real-time mobile previews.
