iMessage image sizes for link previews

Last updated: September 20, 2026.

Size figures on this page are placeholders. They are not marked verified because we have not re-checked iMessage’s current documentation.

iMessage (Apple Messages) builds a rich link preview from public Open Graph tags when someone sends a URL. There is no separate Apple “share image” format for websites. This page covers that preview on iPhone, iPad and macOS Messages — not stickers or photo attachments. Pixel figures are unverified placeholders aligned with generic Open Graph. Design at 1200×630 with large type; the bubble is small. Private iCloud links and login walls will not preview for other people.

Recommended iMessage size

iMessage recommended image sizes
PlatformImage typeRecommended sizeAspect ratioMax file size
iMessageLink preview1200 × 630 px1.91:18 MB

Official page to re-check:https://ogp.me/

How iMessage crops your image

The rich link bubble is compact. Apple may show a landscape thumbnail with title and domain. Fine print on a full OG canvas will not survive. Use a short headline and strong contrast.

Portrait og:image files get cropped. Prefer a landscape 1.91:1 file for URLs you expect people to text.

Previews are cached on device and by Apple’s fetchers. Changing artwork without changing the URL often leaves the old bubble until the link is sent again later.

Three common iMessage mistakes

  • Localhost or staging URLs

    Recipients cannot fetch your laptop. Only public https pages preview. Test with a production URL.

  • Relative og:image paths

    Messages needs an absolute https image URL that returns 200 without cookies.

  • Relying on the Messages composer preview alone

    Your phone may show a cached card. Confirm the live HTML and image URL independently, then send to a second device.

Debugging without an Apple debugger

Apple does not offer a public Sharing Debugger for Messages. Confirm tags in View Source, open the image URL in Safari private mode, then send the link to another Apple ID. Facebook Sharing Debugger can still catch fetch failures that also affect iMessage.

The [link preview checker](/link-preview-checker/) reads the first HTML response the same way other crawlers do.

Create an iMessage-friendly OG image

Opens the generator with the iMessage size preset selected. Nothing is uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers about iMessage preview images.

What size should an iMessage link preview image be?

Use a landscape Open Graph file around 1200×630 pixels. Apple does not publish a separate required size for website link previews. Keep the on-image title short and high-contrast.

Why does iMessage show a link with no image?

Usually a missing or relative og:image, a blocked fetch, or a URL that is not publicly reachable. Fix the tags and image host, then send the link in a new conversation.

Does iMessage use Twitter Card tags?

Prefer Open Graph. Set og:image, og:title and og:description on the public page. Twitter tags alone are not a reliable contract for Messages.

Can I reuse my Facebook OG image?

Yes. One 1200×630 PNG typically serves iMessage, Slack, Discord and Facebook. Use a new path when you change the design so caches refresh.