Overview
LinkedInBot is LinkedIn's web crawler that fetches page metadata when someone shares a link on the platform. It reads Open Graph tags to build link preview cards — the image, title, and description that appear in LinkedIn posts, comments, and messages.
LinkedIn is a professional network, so link previews carry extra weight. A well-optimized OG image on LinkedIn can significantly improve engagement on shared articles, blog posts, and company pages. The crawler focuses exclusively on OG tags — it does not support Twitter-specific meta tags.
LinkedInBot makes a single GET request to fetch the page HTML, parses the OG tags, and then fetches the og:image URL separately. It respects redirects but may time out on slow-responding servers.
User-Agent String
LinkedIn Bot identifies itself with the following user-agent string:
LinkedInBot/1.0 (compatible; Mozilla/5.0; Apache-HttpClient +https://www.linkedin.com)How LinkedIn Bot Handles OG Images
LinkedIn reads only standard OG tags — no proprietary extensions. It ignores twitter: tags entirely.
Meta Tags Read
og:imageog:titleog:descriptionog:urlog:typeog:site_name| Preferred Size | 1200 × 627 |
| Minimum Size | 200 × 200 |
| Max File Size | 5 MB |
| Cache Duration | ~7 days |
Caching Behavior
LinkedIn caches OG data for approximately 7 days. Use the LinkedIn Post Inspector tool to force a refresh by entering your URL and clicking "Inspect".
Fallback Behavior
If no og:image is found, LinkedIn will try to use the first large image on the page. If no suitable image exists, the preview appears as text-only with a gray placeholder.
Things to Know
- LinkedIn does not read twitter: tags — only standard OG tags are supported.
- Images are cropped to approximately 1.91:1 aspect ratio. Keep text and key visuals centered.
- The inspector tool can take 30+ seconds to refresh cached data for some URLs.
- LinkedIn recommends using HTTPS image URLs. HTTP image URLs may be blocked or show a security warning.
robots.txt
Respects robots.txt. Blocking LinkedInBot will prevent link preview cards from being generated when your URL is shared on LinkedIn.
User-agent: LinkedInBot
Allow: /How to Test
LinkedIn provides the Post Inspector tool. Enter any URL to see exactly how LinkedIn will render the link preview, including which OG tags were found and the resolved image.
- The Post Inspector also clears the cache for that URL — use it after updating your OG tags.
- Check that your image is served over HTTPS — LinkedIn may block HTTP image URLs.
- If your image isn't showing, verify it's at least 200 × 200 pixels and under 5 MB.
You can also use the MyOG OG Preview tool to check how your OG tags are configured before testing with LinkedIn Bot.
FAQ
What is LinkedInBot?
LinkedInBot is LinkedIn's web crawler that fetches Open Graph meta tags from web pages when URLs are shared on the platform. It generates link preview cards showing an image, title, and description in LinkedIn posts, comments, and messages.
Does LinkedIn support Twitter Card tags?
No. LinkedIn only reads standard Open Graph (og:) meta tags. It ignores all twitter: meta tags. If you only have Twitter Card tags and no OG equivalents, LinkedIn will not display an image or custom title in the preview.
How do I refresh LinkedIn's cached link preview?
Use the LinkedIn Post Inspector at linkedin.com/post-inspector/. Enter your URL and click "Inspect" — this forces LinkedIn to re-fetch your page's OG tags and update the cached preview. Changes typically take effect within a few minutes.
Related Bots
Test Your OG Images
Check how your Open Graph images appear to bots and crawlers. Preview your link cards before sharing.
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