Airbnb says your photos need attention: what it means and how to fix it

What "needs attention" usually points to

Airbnb's Help Center doesn't explain the label itself, so start with the rules it does publish. Each one has a clear fix:

If none of these fits, contact Airbnb support from the listing and ask which photo the warning refers to.

Fix the photo tour

Most photo warnings clear in the photo tour. On a computer, Airbnb's steps are:

1. Click Listings and select the listing.
2. Under Listing editor, click Photos (or Photo tour).
3. Check every room and space. A room with no photo needs one, or remove the room from the tour until you have it.
4. Click Add + to add a photo, then assign it to a room or space.
5. Open All photos to drag photos into order, and use Manage photos and the trash icon to delete weak ones.

Airbnb says changes can take up to 30 minutes to show. The first five photos appear on your listing's cover, and the first one is the large image in search, so put your best room first; our Airbnb cover photo guide covers which shot to pick.

Replace small, dark or blurry photos

Airbnb's own photo advice, from its Resource Center:

• Use photos at least 1200 × 800 pixels; larger is better, up to about 10 MB.
• Take horizontal photos. Search results crop them to squares, and listing pages show them landscape.
• Turn off the flash. Open blinds and curtains first, then turn on the lights if the room is still dark.
• Shoot straight ahead with the phone level, not tilted up or down.
• Use a mix of wide, mid-range and close-up shots.
• Light editing is fine: brightness, contrast, highlights, and straightening.

Small photos usually come from a screenshot, a messaging app or a photo downloaded from another site. Upload the original file from your phone; if it still won't upload, see Airbnb photos not uploading. For shooting the rooms again, see how to take Airbnb photos with an iPhone and, for editing, Airbnb photo editing.

If Airbnb asks you to confirm your photos

Airbnb sometimes asks hosts to confirm photo accuracy. This is a separate request from the photo tour:

• You take new photos on-site in the Airbnb app; existing photos from your camera roll can't be uploaded for this review.
• Shoot from the same perspective as your current listing photos, so the reviewer can see the basics match.
• Airbnb says these images are for review only and are never shown to guests.
• Keep the phone still so the photos aren't blurry.

If the place has changed since your listing photos were taken, new furniture or a renovation, update the listing photos too. Photos that don't match are also what guests complain about; see Airbnb photos vs reality.

Getting a full new set of photos

If several rooms need new photos, it is usually quicker to reshoot the whole place in one go, in daylight, with the same lights on in every room. Airbnb suggests at least 5 photos to start; one or more per room and space is what the photo tour needs.

The October app is one way to do that: it guides you through each room on an iPhone 12 or newer, and an image model then makes finished listing photos from your capture, usually within a few hours. It costs $49 a place (up to 6 rooms), $99 with a walkthrough video, and your first place is free. Check each photo before you upload it. See pricing.

Questions