PROMPT GUIDE

How to make an X (formerly Twitter) header image with AI

The header image is the large wide picture people see first when they open a profile. The visible area differs a little between phones and computers, and the profile icon overlaps the lower left. This guide covers framing for X headers, how to prompt the AI and how to check where the image gets cut.

Last updated: 2026-10-22 approx. 3 min read

日本語版

The short answer

When making an X (formerly Twitter) header image with AI, use a very wide ratio, put important things in the center, and keep the top and bottom edges and the lower left (where the icon overlaps) empty. Making scenery or a pattern the star, with any person small and to the right, holds up even when cropped. Recommended sizes can change, so check X's official help.

How do you make an X header image with AI?

Make it as wide as you can, place the main subject slightly right of center, and keep the top and bottom edges and the lower left empty.

X headers are shown at a ratio even wider than a normal wide 16:9 image. Recommended sizes can change, so check X's official help before you start. Image generators can struggle with very wide ratios, so a safer method is to generate around 16:9 first and trim the top and bottom. Ask the AI not to put anything important in the strips that will be trimmed.

Words that suit headers

Tag	Meaning	Note
`wide panoramic view`	A wide panorama	Fits the wide header shape
`scenery`	Scenery as the subject	Still works as a picture when cropped
`small figure on the right`	A small person on the right	Avoids the icon in the lower left
`horizon in the middle`	Horizon in the middle	Sky and ground remain when the edges are cut
`soft gradient sky`	A soft gradient sky	Calm, with little text or pattern
`pattern`	Pattern	For a simple header without a character

Wide sunset sky and calm sea scenery for an X header image — 空が主役の横長

Wide flower field with a small girl on the right, a header layout that avoids the icon area — 空が主役の横長

Illustration usage rules

What are the steps to make a header image?

Steps to make an X header image with AI

Check the current recommended size in X's official help
Choose a theme (seasonal scenery, a favorite color, your character small in the frame and so on)
Generate around 16:9, with the subject from the center to the right and the top, bottom and lower left empty
Trim the top and bottom to the recommended ratio (check how it crops with a crop simulator)
Make sure nothing important is hidden when the icon overlaps the lower left
View it on both a phone and a computer to confirm the edges can be cut safely before setting it

scenery, no humans, wide panoramic view, soft gradient sky at sunset, gentle clouds, calm sea, horizon in the middle, warm pastel colors, peaceful mood

a wide panoramic anime landscape of a flower field under a blue sky, a small girl with long hair standing on the right side of the frame, lots of open sky, the lower left corner is plain grass with nothing important

Where does a header get cut?

The top and bottom edges and the lower left, where the icon overlaps, are the areas most likely to be hidden. The exact view varies a little by device and display.

Area	What happens	What you can put there
Center	The most visible	The subject, what you most want to show
Top and bottom edges	May be cut on some devices	Only sky, ground or pattern
Lower left	The icon overlaps it	Nothing (background only)
Right side	Fairly visible	A small person, a character's face

Rinka's tips

A large person easily gets their face cut when the ratio changes; small and to the right is safer
Matching the colors of your icon and header makes the whole profile look unified
Changing only the colors of the same composition each season makes the update easy to notice

What are the common header mistakes and fixes?

Problem	Cause	Fix
A face or key object gets cut	Placed at the top, bottom or lower left	Put the subject center to right and specify margins top and bottom
The icon hides the character	The person is in the lower left	Write small figure on the right
It blurs when stretched wide	A small image was enlarged	Generate larger, or upscale before using it
Too detailed and noisy	A busy background	Add soft gradient sky or simple
Colors changed or the file is heavy after saving	Format and compression settings	Use JPEG or WebP at fairly high quality and compress

What should you watch when setting a header image?

Check size and display rules in X's official help, and do not use images that imitate other people's works or real people.

Recommended sizes and file size limits can change, so read the latest official guidance
Check the generation service's terms for rules on social media use and credits
If you promote your work in the header, do not make the text too small

Prompts for scenery-first wallpapers without people: Wallpaper and Scenery Prompts: Landscapes With No Humans →

To make a social media icon that matches the header: Icon Prompts: Making Square Close-Up Avatars for Social Media →

To extend an image sideways (outpainting): How to Outpaint (Extend the Edges of an Image or Make It Wider) →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is an X header image?

Recommended sizes can change, so check X's official help. It is wider than a normal 16:9, so generating around 16:9 with AI and trimming the top and bottom is the safer method.

Can I put a person in the header?

Yes, but small and to the right is recommended. The icon overlaps the lower left, and the top and bottom may be cut on some devices.

I cannot get a very wide image to come out well.

Image generators can struggle with extreme widths. Generate at 16:9 and trim, or extend the image sideways with outpainting.

My header image is too heavy to upload.

Convert it to JPEG or WebP, lower the quality slightly and shrink it to the recommended size if needed. Check the official guidance for the file size limit.