How to preview your X post
- Write your post. Type or paste it. The counter shows 280 characters, the limit for a standard account.
- Add pictures. Up to 4, or drop a PDF to use its pages. Drag them to change the order.
- Check it on a phone and a computer. Switch between the two, and between light and dark mode.
- Read the checks. They tell you if the text is cut, if a picture is too tall, and how several pictures are cropped.
- Download a screenshot of the preview to share it with your team or client before you post.
X image sizes
| Post | Best size |
|---|---|
| One picture | 1600 × 900 (16:9), shown whole |
| Square | 1200 × 1200 (1:1) |
| Portrait | 1080 × 1350 (4:5) |
| Two to four pictures | Side by side, each cropped to fit the row |
| File size | Up to 5 MB per picture (JPG, PNG, WebP) |
Character limits and “Show more”
A standard X account can post 280 characters. Premium accounts can post much longer texts, but the timeline still shows only the start, then “Show more”. Put the point of your post in the first lines: that’s what people decide on.
Tips for posts that get read
- Lead with the point. The first line is the hook. Don’t warm up.
- Use short lines and blank lines. They read better on a phone than one long paragraph.
- Keep the important part of a picture in the middle. With several pictures, X crops the edges.
- Use a carousel for a list. Four pictures side by side is X’s carousel: one idea per picture.
Free, and what the app adds
The X post preview is free, with no account. aiCarousels writes and designs carousels for X, LinkedIn and Instagram, at the right size for each, and shows you the post before you share it.
