Add video thumbnails on YouTube

Video thumbnails let viewers encounter a quick snapshot of your video as they're browsing YouTube. After your video is finished uploading, you can choose a thumbnail from the three options YouTube automatically generates, or upload your own if your account is verified.

Add together or change a video thumbnail

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left card, select Content.
  3. Select a video past clicking its thumbnail.
  4. Cull an auto-generated thumbnail and select Save.

Note: It may take fourth dimension for your thumbnail changes to announced on YouTube.

Create a custom video thumbnail

To upload custom thumbnails on YouTube, y'all must accept a verified account.

New videos

Uploaded videos

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, select Content.
  3. Select a video by clicking its thumbnail.
  4. Under "Thumbnail", select Upload thumbnail.
  5. Choose the file you lot'd like to utilize as your custom thumbnail.
  6. Select Save.

In one case you lot've added a custom thumbnail, signal to it and click More  to download or edit the thumbnail.

Watch how to add together a custom video thumbnail

Watch the following video from the YouTube Creators channel if y'all'd like a tutorial on how to add together a custom video thumbnail on YouTube.

How to Add Custom Thumbnails to Your YouTube Videos

Custom thumbnail best practices

Image size & resolution

Your custom thumbnail paradigm should be as large every bit possible. Information technology will exist used as the preview image in the embedded player. Nosotros recommend your custom thumbnails:

  • Have a resolution of 1280x720 (with minimum width of 640 pixels).
  • Be uploaded in image formats such as JPG, GIF, or PNG.
  • Remain under the 2MB limit.
  • Try to utilize a sixteen:9 aspect ratio as it'due south the most used in YouTube players and previews.

Thumbnail policies

All custom thumbnail images must follow our Community Guidelines. Your thumbnails may exist rejected and a strike on your business relationship when it contains:

  • Nudity or sexually provocative content
  • Detest Speech
  • Violence
  • Harmful or dangerous content

If a strike is issued, you'll get an email and encounter an warning in your Channel Settings the next fourth dimension you sign in to YouTube. You can appeal the strike if you think your thumbnails don't violate the YouTube Customs Guidelines. If your appeal is approved and you haven't already replaced the thumbnail, we may restore information technology.

Custom thumbnail limits

There'due south a limit to how many custom thumbnails a aqueduct can upload each mean solar day. If you go an mistake saying "Daily custom thumbnail limit reached" when trying to upload a thumbnail, try once more in 24 hours.

Limits may vary by country/region or channel history. Copyright strikes may impact channel history eligibility. Customs Guidelines strikes will touch on how many custom thumbnails you tin upload.

Why are my custom thumbnails turned off?

YouTube may plough off custom thumbnails for certain search results when they're considered inappropriate for viewers.

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