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GuideJuly 25, 2026 · 6 min read

OG Image Tester & Validator

How to check whether your open graph and Twitter card tags are correct — and fix them fast when they're not.

You added an og:image tag and shared your link — but the preview looks wrong, or there's no image at all. Before you panic, you need to test your og:image. Here's exactly how to validate your social cards and what to check.

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What is an og:image tester?

An og:image tester (or validator) is a tool that fetches your web page, reads its open graph meta tags, and shows you exactly how your link preview will appear on social media. It checks that your og:image,og:title, and og:description tags are present, point to valid URLs, and that the image loads correctly.

Without testing, you're guessing. A broken og:image can silently tank your click-through rate for weeks before anyone notices.

The og:image checklist (8 things to verify)

Run through this list whenever you publish a new page. Every item matters.

og:title present

Your page must have an og:title meta tag.

og:description present

A compelling description improves click-through.

og:image URL is absolute

Must start with https:// — relative URLs fail.

Image is 1200x630px

The standard size that works everywhere.

Image loads (HTTP 200)

No 404s, no redirects to login pages.

twitter:card tag set

Use summary_large_image for big previews.

Image under 1MB

Large images load slowly and may be skipped.

Image is PNG or JPG

WebP and SVG are not universally supported.

The best free og:image validators

Each platform has its own crawler and cache. Here are the tools that actually matter.

OG Image Generator

Free

Best for: All-in-one testing + generation

Check your tags and generate a replacement image in one place.

Facebook Sharing Debugger

Free

Best for: Facebook & Instagram previews

Official Meta tool. Shows exactly how Facebook and Instagram render your card. Forces a re-scrape.

Twitter Card Validator

Free

Best for: Twitter/X previews

Official Twitter tool. Paste a URL to see your card and force a fresh crawl.

LinkedIn Post Inspector

Free

Best for: LinkedIn previews

Official LinkedIn tool. Shows how your link will look when shared on LinkedIn.

How to test your og:image (step by step)

1. Open a validator

Pick a tool above. The Facebook Sharing Debugger is the most thorough — it checks every open graph tag and shows warnings for missing or malformed properties.

2. Paste your URL

Use the full URL including https://. The tool fetches your page the same way a social platform would.

3. Check the preview

You'll see a rendered preview of your card. Does the image show? Is the title correct? Is the description readable? If anything looks wrong, note which tag is the problem.

4. Fix and re-scrape

Correct the tags in your HTML, redeploy, then click Scrape Again (Facebook) or re-submit (Twitter). This forces the platform to fetch your updated tags instead of serving a cached version.

Common og:image errors (and fixes)

No image at all

Your og:image tag is missing or empty. Add <meta property="og:image" content="https://..." /> to your <head>.

Image shows a broken icon

The URL returns a 404 or redirects. Make sure it's an absolute URL (starts with https://) and the file exists. Avoid URLs behind login walls.

Old image keeps showing

Social platforms cache aggressively. Use the Sharing Debugger's "Scrape Again" button or append ?v=2 to force a fresh fetch.

Image is cropped weirdly

Your image isn't 1200x630. Different platforms crop to different ratios. Use 1200x630 (1.91:1) to be safe everywhere.

Free OG Image Guide

Get our 5-minute guide to better social cards

Design patterns, exact sizes, and copy-paste meta tags. No spam.

Frequently asked questions

How do I test my og:image?

The fastest way is to paste your URL into an og:image tester or validator. The tool fetches your page, reads the og:image, og:title, and og:description meta tags, and shows you a live preview of how your card will appear on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also use the Facebook Sharing Debugger or Twitter Card Validator.

What is an og:image validator?

An og:image validator is a tool that checks whether your open graph meta tags are correctly implemented. It verifies that og:image, og:title, og:description, and twitter:card tags exist, point to valid absolute URLs, use the correct 1200x630 dimensions, and that the image actually loads.

Why is my og:image not showing?

The most common reasons are: the og:image tag is missing, the URL is relative instead of absolute, the image is under 300x157 pixels, the image returns a 404, or social platforms are serving a cached version. Use an og:image tester to diagnose which issue you have.

Is there a free og:image checker?

Yes. Our og:image tester is completely free with no signup required. Paste your URL and instantly see your open graph tags, image preview, and any errors. You can also use Facebook's Sharing Debugger and Twitter's Card Validator for free.

Generate a perfect og:image in seconds

Pick a template, type your headline, download a 1200x630 PNG. Free.