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AnswerUnited States visachecked November 10, 2026

DS-160 photo upload failed

For the DS-160 visa form, the photo must be a square JPEG in colour (sRGB), at least 600 × 600 and at most 1200 × 1200 pixels, and 240 kB or less. Most failed uploads are a file that is not square, too large, or not a JPEG.

Why it happens

  • The image is not square.
  • The file is over 240 kB.
  • The image is smaller than 600 × 600 or larger than 1200 × 1200 pixels.
  • The file is PNG, HEIC or PDF.
  • The photo quality check fails because of shadows, glasses or a busy background.

How to fix it

  1. Crop to a square

    The head should be 50 to 69 % of the image height.

  2. Export 600 × 600 JPEG

    Save in colour as JPEG under 240 kB. Our tool makes this file and checks the size.

  3. If the quality check fails

    Retake the photo on a white or off-white wall with even light and no glasses.

Check your photo now, free

2 in 2 in 22–35 mm

Checks

  1. Add a photo to see the crop and the checks.

Bought your photo here and it was still rejected? You get a free redo or a refund. See the guarantee

Questions

Can I upload a scanned photo?

Yes, if the print is 2 × 2 inches and scanned at 300 pixels per inch, then saved within the digital rules.

Do I also need a printed photo?

Some embassies ask you to bring one photo to the interview. Check the embassy's own instructions.