Images & Edit Requests
This section covers how to submit edits and upload images the right way—following Wikipedia’s rules for transparency, proper sourcing, and media licensing. Knowing these steps helps make it more likely your contributions will be accepted.
How do I add a company logo to Wikipedia?
When you have a conflict of interest, it's better not to add the logo directly. First, upload the logo to Wikipedia (not Wikimedia Commons) as non-free content with proper fair use rationale. If a PNG or JPEG, it should be low-resolution and used solely for company identification. Then post a request on the article's Talk page asking editors to review and add the logo if appropriate. Include your COI disclosure and explain that the logo meets fair use criteria. Wait for volunteer editors to review and implement the change, likely without further discussion.
For detailed instructions, please refer to our How-To Guide on adding a company logo to Wikipedia.
How do I add a photo of a person to Wikipedia?
Photos of living people must be freely licensed or public domain. Wikipedia does not allow "fair use" arguments for using photos of living people. If you took the photo yourself, upload it to Wikimedia Commons under one of the following free licenses: CC BY 4.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, or Public Domain (PD). If someone else took it, you need written permission from the photographer sent to permissions-commons@wikimedia.org. Once uploaded to Commons, request on the article's Talk page that editors add the photo, disclosing your conflict of interest. Do not add the photo directly to the article yourself.
For step-by-step instructions, consult our How-To Guide on adding a photo of a person to Wikipedia.
What file formats are accepted for images?
Wikipedia accepts JPEG, PNG and SVG formats, with SVG being preferred for logos and graphics. These images should be kept reasonably small (around 250px width) for fair use compliance. They are considered non-free content and must be uploaded directly to Wikipedia with proper fair use rationale. Freely licensed photos must be uploaded to Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons 4.0 or Creative Commons 4.0-Sharealike license, or be put in the public domain. Commons accepts images and graphics in JPEG, PNG, and SVG formats, with PNG being preferred for images and SVG for graphics. For Commons uploads, higher resolutions are preferred.
What's the difference between Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons?
Wikipedia is the encyclopedia itself, while Wikimedia Commons is the Wikimedia community's free media library. Commons hosts freely licensed images, videos, and other files that can be used across all Wikimedia projects. All freely licensed or public domain files—such as headshots, event photos, or cityscapes released under Creative Commons—must be uploaded to Commons.
By contrast, non-free content such as company logos or book covers must be uploaded directly to Wikipedia with a strong fair use argument. These files are hosted locally, can only be used in specific articles, and require detailed justification.
In short: Commons supports open-access media across all Wikimedia projects, while Wikipedia itself only permits non-free media when necessary to represent the topic clearly.
How do I properly disclose my conflict of interest?
You must disclose your COI in at least one place, but the safest approach is all three: on your User page using templates like {{Paid}} or writing your own disclosure statement, on the Talk page of articles you're connected to using {{Connected contributor (paid)}}, and in edit summaries when making suggestions. Your disclosure should clearly state your connection to the organization, acknowledge you understand Wikipedia's COI policies, and confirm you'll follow proper procedures like using Talk pages instead of direct editing.
What is a Talk page and how do I use it?
A Talk page is the public discussion forum attached to each Wikipedia article, where editors collaborate, raise concerns, and work through disagreements. You can access it by clicking the "Talk" tab at the top of any article. Talk pages are often surprisingly informative—they can reveal what editors are debating, what sources are being considered, and how decisions are made behind the scenes.
Before posting a request, it’s a good idea to read through the existing discussion to see if your issue has already been raised or resolved. If you have a conflict of interest, Talk pages are the appropriate place to suggest changes instead of editing directly. Disclose your COI clearly, propose specific edits with reliable sources, and explain how your suggestions improve accuracy or neutrality. Independent editors will review and decide whether to make the changes. Used properly, Talk pages are a window into Wikipedia’s collaborative process and an essential tool for transparent editing.