StreamLive ProMy podcast cover image was rejected
Podcast cover image rejected on upload or by an app: what NOT_SQUARE, TOO_SMALL, TOO_LARGE, FORMAT and COLOR_SPACE mean and how to export a cover that passes.
A podcast cover is almost always rejected for its size or shape: it is not an exact square, or one side is under 1400 or over 3000 pixels. The upload check in StreamLive Pro uses the rules Apple publishes for show covers, so the message tells you which rule failed, in a short code such as NOT_SQUARE or TOO_SMALL, followed by the size of the image you sent. Export the cover again at 3000 x 3000 pixels as an RGB JPG or PNG and upload it again.
Apple's own rules for a show cover: square, 1400 x 1400 to 3000 x 3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, RGB colour, no transparency (Apple: Show Cover specs, checked 5 November 2026).
What the message means
The red line under Upload cover art reads "Cover art problem:" followed by one or more codes.
| Code in the message | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| NOT_SQUARE | Width and height are different, even by one pixel | Crop to an exact square, for example 3000 x 3000 |
| TOO_SMALL | A side is under 1400 pixels | Export again at 3000 x 3000 from the original design. Do not stretch a small image |
| TOO_LARGE | A side is over 3000 pixels, for example 4000 x 4000 | Export at 3000 x 3000 |
| FORMAT | The file is not JPEG or PNG (WebP, HEIC, GIF, SVG, PDF) | Save as JPG or PNG |
| COLOR_SPACE | CMYK or another colour mode that is not RGB | Export in RGB (sRGB) |
| NOT_IMAGE | The file could not be read as a picture | Open it on your computer; if it opens, save it again as JPG |
Two suggestions can appear after a successful upload. They do not block anything: a cover under 3000 pixels is accepted but 3000 is recommended, and a file over 1 MB is accepted but loads more slowly in apps.
Symptom, cause and fix
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The file picker does not show your image | It is HEIC (an iPhone photo) or WebP | Export or convert to JPG first |
| The upload fails with no code | The file is very large, over about 12 MB | Export a JPG at 3000 x 3000 with normal quality; it is usually well under 1 MB |
| A 3000 x 3000 PNG is still refused with COLOR_SPACE | It was saved from print software in CMYK | Export again as RGB |
| The cover was accepted but an app shows the old one | The app has not read the feed again yet | Wait; apps read the feed on their own schedule |
| Apple rejects the show for its artwork | The cover went in before you replaced it, or text is unreadable at small size | Upload the corrected cover, then ask Apple to review again |
| The feed check says the artwork is missing | No cover was uploaded for this show | Upload one in Show settings |
Steps
- Read the codes. Note every code after "Cover art problem:" and the size in brackets. Often there are two, for example NOT_SQUARE and TOO_SMALL.
- Go back to the design file. Use the original, not a downloaded copy of an old cover. Set the canvas to 3000 x 3000 pixels.
- Export correctly. JPG or PNG, RGB colour, no transparent background. For JPG, a normal quality setting is enough.
- Check the file before uploading. On Windows, right-click, Properties, Details shows the pixel size; on a Mac, Get Info shows it.
- Upload again. In Connections open the podcast card (Podcast hosting), choose your show, Show settings, and click Upload cover art. A green line says the cover meets Apple and Spotify rules.
- Check the feed. Click Check feed. It should show no artwork error.
- Give the apps time. The feed shows the new cover at once; each app picks it up the next time it reads the feed.
Design tips that avoid the next rejection
- Design at 3000 x 3000 from the start; shrinking works, enlarging does not.
- A few large words. The cover is often seen at the size of a fingertip.
- No transparency, no thin borders that look like a frame, nothing important in the corners.
- Use only images and fonts you have the right to use.
The full show settings, with title, description and category, are in Podcast cover art and show details: what each app needs. When the cover passes, submit the show: Publish your podcast to Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and to the other apps with Submit your podcast to Amazon Music and other podcast apps. If an app cannot open the feed at all, the cover is not the problem: see My podcast RSS feed is not public.
When to contact support
If an RGB JPG of exactly 3000 x 3000 pixels is still refused, write to [email protected]. Send the exact message under Upload cover art, the file itself as an attachment, the show name, and the browser you used.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a podcast cover be?
A square of 3000 x 3000 pixels, JPG or PNG, in RGB. Anything from 1400 to 3000 pixels square is accepted.
Why does it say NOT_SQUARE when the image looks square?
Width and height must be exactly equal. An image of 3000 x 2999 is refused. Crop it to an exact square.
Can I upload an iPhone photo as the cover?
Not as HEIC. Export it as JPG, crop it square, and check that it is at least 1400 pixels on each side.
I fixed the cover. Why do apps still show the old one?
Each app reads your feed on its own schedule. The new cover appears after its next read.
Keep reading
Podcast RSS feed not public or shows Not found: the trial, an ended plan, Private or Unlisted visibility, a missing owner email or no episodes, and how to fix each one.
I cannot hear my guest in the live streamCan't hear a guest in your live? Usually the guest arrived muted, joined without a microphone, or picked the wrong mic. The checks for host and guest, in order.
The guest link does not workGuest link not working? Usually it expired after 4 hours or your studio was closed, so the room is gone. What the guest sees, what it means, and how to fix it fast.
A guest cannot join because the room is fullA guest sees "This room is full right now"? Your plan sets how many people a room seats. Who counts, how to free a place, and when to upgrade.
Want to try it? 7-day trial, no credit card.
Start free