DS-160 photo rejected or upload failed – what to fix
Updated 17 October 2026
The DS-160 photo must be a square colour JPEG between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, no bigger than 240 KB, with your head taking up 50–69% of the height, on a plain white or off-white background, and without glasses. Most failed uploads break one of these rules: the file is too big, it isn’t square, or the head is too small or too large.
The DS-160 photo rules
From the State Department’s visa photo and digital image pages:
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Shape | Square (height equals width) |
| Pixels | 600 x 600 to 1200 x 1200 px |
| File | JPEG, 240 KB or less, compression no more than 20:1 |
| Colour | Colour (24-bit, sRGB) |
| Head | 50–69% of the image height (chin to top of hair) |
| Background | Plain white or off-white |
| Glasses | Not allowed, except for medical reasons |
| Age of photo | Taken in the last 6 months |
Why the upload fails
The DS-160 checks the file as you upload it. These are the usual reasons it refuses one:
- File too large. Phone photos are 2–5 MB. The limit is 240 KB, so the photo has to be resized and compressed.
- Not square. A 4:3 or 3:4 phone photo has to be cropped to a square first.
- Too small. Anything under 600 x 600 px is refused, even if it looks fine on screen.
- Head the wrong size. If the photo is a selfie at arm’s length, the face often fills too much of the frame. If it’s a full-body shot, the head is too small.
- Wrong format. iPhone photos are often HEIC, and screenshots are PNG. Only JPEG is accepted.
The State Department also rejects photos copied or scanned from a driver’s licence or another document, full-length photos, and low-quality vending machine or phone photos. Headphones, uniforms (except daily religious clothing) and hats that hide the hairline (except for religious reasons) are not allowed either.
If the confirmation page shows an “X”
The DS-160 FAQ says an “X” where your photo should be means the upload failed. You can still submit the form. Bring one printed photo that meets the requirements, together with the confirmation page, to the embassy or consulate. Check with that embassy for exactly how it wants the photo, because some ask all applicants to bring a printed photo anyway.
If the confirmation page shows your photo, the upload worked and you don’t need a print.
Getting a photo that uploads first time
- Stand about 50 cm in front of a plain white wall, facing a window in daylight.
- Take off your glasses, and anything on your head unless you wear it daily for religious reasons.
- Ask someone to take the photo from 1–2 m away at eye level, framed from the chest up.
- Upload it to the US visa photo tool. It crops it square around your face with the head at the required height and saves a 600 x 600 px JPEG under 240 KB.
To check a photo you already have, use the free photo checker. Acceptance is decided by the embassy or consulate where you apply.
Common questions
What size is the DS-160 photo?
A square colour JPEG between 600 x 600 and 1200 x 1200 pixels, 240 KB or less, with the head 50–69% of the image height, on a plain white or off-white background.
What happens if my DS-160 photo upload failed?
If the confirmation page shows an "X" instead of your photo, the upload failed. The State Department says to bring one printed photo that meets the requirements, with the confirmation page, to the embassy or consulate, and to check that embassy's own instructions.
Can I wear glasses in a US visa photo?
No. Glasses are no longer allowed in new visa photos, except when they cannot be removed for medical reasons, which needs a medical statement.
Can I use the same photo as my US passport?
The size is the same (2 x 2 inches, or 600 x 600 px), but the photo must have been taken in the last 6 months and must not be copied or scanned from another document.