The visual identity of a business is important for establishing brand recognition and customer trust on digital platforms. An up-to-date and consistent logo across all online properties, especially on Google Search and Maps, provides immediate identification for potential customers. Ensuring your logo is accurately displayed on your Google Business Profile (GBP) is a straightforward process that requires adherence to specific platform guidelines. This guide details the steps required to update your logo and maintain a professional online presence.
Preparing Your Google Business Profile and Logo
Before initiating the upload process, users must ensure they have full management access to the Google Business Profile (GBP) associated with the business location. This access confirms the necessary ownership rights to make changes to the profile’s visual assets. Without verification, uploaded changes may not be published or saved.
The logo file must meet several technical specifications to be accepted and displayed properly. Google recommends using a square aspect ratio (1:1) for the logo image to prevent awkward cropping in search results. The preferred resolution is 720 x 720 pixels, though the minimum acceptable size is 250 x 250 pixels.
File formatting is strictly limited to either JPG or PNG file types, with the file size restricted between 10 KB and 5 MB. Using a high-resolution image is standard practice, as blurry or overly filtered images may be rejected by Google’s quality assessment algorithms. The logo must also adhere to Google’s content policies, meaning it should not contain excessive text overlays or promotional content.
Accessing the Photo Management Section
The first step is navigating to the profile management interface, accessible directly through the Google Search results page. Users must be logged into the Google account designated as a manager or owner of the business profile.
By searching for the exact business name on Google, a management panel appears at the top of the search results for the logged-in user. This panel contains various options for editing the profile, including a prominent section for photos. Users can also access the GBP dashboard directly or use the Google Maps app to manage the profile.
Within the editing panel, the user finds the “Photos” or “Add Photo” button, which leads to visual content management. Clicking this option reveals a secondary menu that organizes images by type, such as Interior, Exterior, By Customer, and the “Logo” and “Cover Photo” categories.
Step-by-Step Guide to Uploading and Setting the Logo
Once inside the photo management area, select the “Add Photo” option from the main management menu to open the upload dialogue. From the resulting options, explicitly choose “Logo” to ensure the image is correctly categorized by Google’s system.
The next step involves selecting the prepared file from the local device, either by clicking “select photo” or dragging and dropping the file into the designated upload box. After the file uploads, the Google interface prompts the user to crop the image to fit the required 1:1 square aspect ratio. Ensure the logo is centered and legible within this square frame, as Google may later display it in a circular mask.
After confirming the crop, the user finalizes the process by selecting the option to save the change or set the image as the profile photo. The newly uploaded file appears in the photos section with a temporary “Pending” status. This status indicates that Google’s automated systems are reviewing the image for compliance before publishing it live.
Understanding Google’s Photo Selection and Hierarchy
The Google Business Profile uses a distinct hierarchy for images, which explains why the newly uploaded logo may not always be the largest image displayed. The “Logo” is specifically intended for the small, circular icon that appears next to the business name in search results and when replying to reviews. It serves as a consistent, small-format brand identifier.
The “Cover Photo,” conversely, is the large, dominant image that appears at the top of the business knowledge panel. While the user can select a preferred cover photo, Google’s algorithms ultimately determine which image is prominently displayed based on quality, relevance, and user interaction signals. A high-quality photo uploaded by a customer may sometimes override the selected cover photo.
The logo selection is generally respected and rarely overridden for its specific placement. For maximum visual impact, businesses should optimize both their square Logo and a separate, high-quality, landscape-oriented Cover Photo (e.g., 1024 x 576 pixels). Uploading a variety of high-quality business photos can also influence Google’s selection process for the main display image.
Troubleshooting: Why Your New Logo Isn’t Showing Up
A common concern after uploading a new logo is the delay in its appearance on the public profile. This delay is usually due to Google’s internal review and publishing queue, which can take anywhere from a few minutes up to 48 hours to fully process the change. The initial “Pending” status confirms the image is in the review process and requires time to be approved and indexed.
If the logo does not appear after 48 hours, technical issues like browser cache may be the cause; clearing the cache or checking the profile on a different device can resolve this. Rejection or removal is a more substantial issue, which typically occurs if the image violates Google’s content policies. Common reasons for rejection include the logo being blurry, low-resolution, or containing excessive text overlays that take up more than 10% of the image space.
The logo may also be rejected if it is deemed irrelevant, copyrighted, or if the profile has unverified information or a temporary suspension. If the logo is rejected, re-examine the image against the 720 x 720 pixel, JPG/PNG, and 5 MB file size requirements. After correcting quality or policy issues, simply re-upload the revised file, which initiates a new review period.