Crop any image for X (Twitter).
X crops every image attached to a post into a 16:9 preview in the timeline. Submitting at 1600×900 (or any 16:9 size) means the preview shows what you intended — not what X cropped to.
How X handles attached images
X displays attached images differently depending on context, but the in-feed preview is consistent: 16:9 aspect ratio, cropped from the center if your source isn't already 16:9.
Common sizes that all map to 16:9:
- 1600×900 — recommended sweet spot for sharp display on desktop and mobile.
- 1200×675 — minimum for crisp display on retina screens.
- 800×450 — bare minimum; visibly soft on high-DPI devices.
X re-encodes uploads above ~5 MB and converts everything to JPEG (transparency in PNG uploads is replaced with black). Submitting at exactly 1600×900 JPG at 85% quality typically lands at 250-400 KB and skips re-encode.
Source: X Help — Photos on X.
Common mistakes
Square images get cropped to 16:9. A 1080×1080 Instagram-shaped image loses 30%+ of its height in the X timeline preview. Pre-cropping to 16:9 keeps the subject visible.
Subject in the corner. X expands to a higher aspect (closer to 5:4) when the user taps the image, but the timeline preview is always 16:9. If your subject was framed for the expanded view, it disappears in the preview.
PNG with transparency. X converts PNG to JPEG and replaces transparent pixels with black. If your design assumed a transparent background sitting on the X feed background, the result is a black box on every device.
Multiple images, mixed aspects. X shows a 4-image grid for the first four attached images. If they're mixed aspects, each gets cropped to a different shape inside the grid — looks chaotic. Standardize all four at 16:9 (or 1:1 for square grid mode).
Best practices
16:9 if it's a photo or screenshot. Photos crop cleanly to 16:9 since most cameras and phones shoot in similar aspect ratios. Screenshots fit fine if they have horizontal slack.
Center-safe. Critical content stays in the middle 1200×675 region. Outside that band, expect cropping in some viewer contexts.
Text big enough for the preview. The timeline preview is ~500-600 pixels wide on desktop, ~360 on mobile. Text under 60-70 pixels of headline height in the source becomes illegible at preview size.
JPG at 85%. Comes in around 200-350 KB for a typical 1600×900 image. Well below X's effective re-encode threshold and fast on a slow connection.
Walkthrough: cropping a screenshot for an X post
- Drop the screenshot in. Screenshots are usually wide-aspect already, so the crop won't lose much.
- Pick the X preset (1600×900). Crop auto-centers; drag to reposition.
- Pick JPG, 85% quality. Comes out around 250 KB.
- Download. Drag straight into the X composer.
- Compose your post. The preview shows exactly the 16:9 frame you cropped — no surprise re-cropping.
Frequently asked
What size should an X post image be?
1600×900 pixels (16:9) is the recommended size. Anything in 16:9 between 800×450 and 4096×2304 works; 1600×900 is the sweet spot for sharpness without wasted bytes.
Does X crop my image in the timeline?
Yes — every attached image gets cropped to 16:9 for the in-feed preview, expanding only when the user taps. Submitting at 16:9 means the preview shows exactly what you cropped.
Can I post a portrait image to X?
You can attach it, but the timeline preview will center-crop to 16:9. Most of your portrait image will be hidden until someone taps to expand. Cropping to 16:9 in advance gives you control over what shows in the feed.
Should I use Twitter Card meta tags?
For links, yes — twitter:card, twitter:image, etc. control what shows when your link gets shared. For directly-attached post images, the meta tags do not apply; the upload itself is what shows.