Having issues setting or seeing your TikTok cover photo? You’re not alone. Many users report problems getting their desired cover image to properly display on their TikTok profiles.
The good news is that in most cases, you can resolve TikTok cover photo problems on your own fairly easily.
This guide will walk you through the most common reasons your TikTok cover isn’t working correctly and show you step-by-step instructions to fix it.
Why Your TikTok Cover Photo Isn’t Working
Before we dive into solutions, let’s look at some of the common causes behind TikTok cover photo issues:
Using an Unsupported Image File Format
TikTok only supports JPG, PNG, and BMP file formats for cover images. If you try uploading a cover photo in a format like GIF or TIFF, TikTok will fail to process it correctly.
Image Size or Aspect Ratio Issues
TikTok has strict size and aspect ratio requirements for cover photos. The image must be 1080×1920 pixels with a 9:16 vertical aspect ratio. If your photo is sized incorrectly, TikTok will likely crop or distort it.
Poor Internet Connection When Uploading
Uploading large image files requires a stable, high-speed internet connection. If you have a poor connection when uploading your cover, errors can interrupt the upload process.
TikTok Server Issues
Like all apps, TikTok’s servers occasionally have temporary glitches. Server problems, while you upload and save your new cover, can prevent it from displaying properly.
Outdated App Version
Make sure you have installed the latest version of TikTok. Using an outdated version of the app sometimes creates compatibility issues.
As you can see, most TikTok cover problems stem from simple, fixable mistakes. With the right troubleshooting, you can get your cover image looking just the way you want it.
How to Fix TikTok Cover Photo Not Working or Showing
Follow these step-by-step instructions to diagnose and resolve any cover photo issues:
1. Fix Your TikTok Cover Photo: Check Your Connection
If you’re facing troubles with your TikTok cover photo not working or showing, the first and easiest thing to check is your internet connection.
A weak or unstable connection can often lead to problems loading images and other content on the app. One of the most overlooked causes is a weak or unstable internet connection. Before you try anything else, let’s check your internet speed:
Measure Your Internet Speed:
Head over to fast.com and run a speed test. This will give you a clear idea of your download and upload speeds.
For optimal TikTok performance, aim for:
- Download speed: At least 10 Mbps
- Upload speed: At least 5 Mbps
If your speed falls below these recommendations, that’s likely the reason your TikTok cover photo isn’t showing.
Troubleshoot Your Connection:
On Wi-Fi:
- Restart your router: This can clear temporary glitches and refresh your connection.
- Move closer to your router: Signal strength weakens with distance.
- Connect to a different Wi-Fi network: This helps pinpoint the issue.
- Contact your internet service provider: If the problem persists, they might need to investigate.
On Mobile Data:
- Toggle Mobile Data off and on: This can refresh the connection.
- Move to an area with better signal: Look for the strongest signal bars.
- Enable Data Saver mode: This reduces background data usage.
- Try a VPN: Sometimes, this can bypass internet restrictions and improve stability.
2. Restart the TikTok App
If your TikTok cover photo isn’t working or showing properly, one of the simplest solutions is to restart the app. This can often clear up temporary glitches and refresh the app’s data, potentially resolving your issue.
Here’s how to restart the TikTok app on different devices:
On Android:
- Open the Recent Apps menu. This can be done by swiping up from the bottom of the screen or tapping the Recent Apps button (depending on your phone model).
- Find the TikTok app in the list of recent apps.
- Swipe the app card upwards to close it completely.
- Relaunch the TikTok app from your home screen or app drawer.
On iOS:
- Double-press the Home button to bring up the App Switcher.
- Find the TikTok app preview card.
- Swipe the app card upwards to close it.
- Relaunch the TikTok app from your home screen.
When you restart the app, it helps in the following ways:
- Clears cached data: Temporary data stored by the app can sometimes lead to problems like image loading issues. Restarting the app clears this data and allows it to refresh.
- Resets any glitches: Minor bugs or glitches in the app can also cause problems with your cover photo. Restarting the app can help to resolve these issues.
- Refreshes data: Restarting the app ensures it retrieves the latest data from the TikTok servers, which might include updates to your profile information like your cover photo.
3. Make Sure Your Image Meets Requirements
Next, check that your desired cover photo meets TikTok’s size, aspect ratio, and file type requirements:
- Size = 1080×1920 pixels
- Aspect ratio = 9:16 (height must be double the width)
- File type = .JPG, .PNG, or .BMP only
If your image doesn’t meet the standards above, use photo editing software like Pixlr or GIMP to adjust the size, crop, and save it in the right file format. Then try uploading the optimized cover photo again.
4. Adjust the Original Photo Without Cropping
Does your photo meet TikTok’s size and ratio requirements, but part of the image still gets cropped out when uploaded? In this case, try adjusting your photo slightly without cropping:
- Open the original cover photo in editing software
- Increase the canvas size to fit TikTok’s exact 1080×1920 pixel dimensions
- Place your photo in the new, larger canvas without cropping it
- Save and upload this adjusted version to TikTok as your cover
This preserves your whole photo by resizing the full canvas instead of cropping. Toggle between adjusting canvas size, positioning, and image zoom until your entire cover image displays properly.
5. Check Image Uploading Settings
Uploading the correct image file doesn’t always guarantee TikTok displays it properly in your settings. After uploading a corrected photo that meets requirements, triple check your profile’s upload settings:
- Go to your TikTok profile
- Tap the three dot menu button
- Select “Manage account”
- Tap “Profile photo”
- Select your cover photo, then tap “Save”
Ensure TikTok properly saves your newly uploaded cover here. If not, there may be deeper technical issues needing resolution.
6. Clear App Data/Cache
Persistent cover upload problems that aren’t resolved indicate potential bugs or glitches in local app data. Clearing your cache and app data forces TikTok to build a fresh data set:
On iOS/Apple:
- Access your iPhone settings
- Select the TikTok app
- Choose Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data options
- Restart the TikTok app
On Android:
- Open device app settings
- Select Apps > TikTok > Storage
- Choose Clear Cache and Clear Data
- Restart TikTok
Then attempt uploading your cover image again. Clearing corrupt data often resolves stubborn media display issues.
7. Update Your TikTok App
Still no luck getting your TikTok cover to properly upload? Be sure you have installed the latest version of TikTok. Older app versions contain bugs that sometimes disrupt cover photos.
Updating is easy on both iPhone and Android devices:
iPhone/iOS:
- Open the App Store
- Tap your profile icon
- Select “Updates”
- Manually update the TikTok app
Android Devices:
- Open Google Play Store
- Tap the menu icon
- Choose “My apps & games” > “Updates”
- Update TikTok
Installing fresh updates eliminates obsolete code and other hiccups causing problems displaying your cover correctly.
8. Use Plain Backgrounds
Sometimes cover photos don’t work if they have complicated backgrounds. Try editing your picture to have a simple white or solid color background before uploading.
The simpler the image, the better chance TikTok can display it without errors.
9. Resize on Your Phone
Opening photo editors on a desktop computer then moving the file to your phone can cause unexpected technical issues.
For best results, resize, crop, and optimize cover photos directly on the mobile device where you’ll upload them from. Apps like Snapseed or Adobe Lightroom Mobile work great for quick mobile image editing.
10. Quickly Retake Photo
If you’re using a photo you just took on your phone, glitches can sneak into the image file during processing. As a test, delete the old file and quickly retake the same photo.
Upload the fresh file and see if TikTok cooperates better with it.
11. Switch Accounts
Sign fully out of your TikTok account that’s having cover issues. Temporarily switch to an alternate account or create a brand new dummy account.
Attempt uploading the stubborn cover photo there as a test case. If it works fine on a different account, your original profile likely has deeper technical conflicts.
12. Uninstall and Reinstall App
Sometimes clearing cache and data isn’t enough. As a last resort, completely uninstall and delete the TikTok app from your phone.
Restart your device then freshly download and install TikTok again. Wiping the slate totally clean erases any lingering corrupted data.
Stay positive and patient! With consistent testing and tweaking using both basic and advanced mobile troubleshooting techniques, you’ll get your TikTok profile looking flawless in no time.
13. Get Help from TikTok Support
If you still have no luck getting your TikTok cover photo to display properly after trying all troubleshooting steps, it’s time to reach out directly to the TikTok Support team via the @TikTokSupport account.
Send them a brief, polite Direct Message explaining your problem and what troubleshooting steps you’ve tried already.
Include screenshots if helpful. The support team has additional technical tools to remedy issues and will respond with specialized troubleshooting advice.
With commitment and some creative problem-solving, you can resolve even the trickiest TikTok cover display issues. Stay persistent and keep trying every solution.
Before long, your customized cover image will proudly display as the crown jewel atop your public TikTok profile!
