Add video thumbnails on YouTube

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

Add or alter a video thumbnail

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left carte du jour, select Content.
  3. Select a video by clicking its thumbnail.
  4. Choose an automobile-generated thumbnail and select Save.

Note: It may accept time for your thumbnail changes to announced on YouTube.

Create a custom video thumbnail

To upload custom thumbnails on YouTube, you lot must accept a verified business relationship.

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'd similar to apply as your custom thumbnail.
  6. Select Save.

Once you've added a custom thumbnail, point to it and click More  to download or edit the thumbnail.

Scout how to add a custom video thumbnail

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

How to Add Custom Thumbnails to Your YouTube Videos

Custom thumbnail all-time practices

Image size & resolution

Your custom thumbnail paradigm should be equally large as possible. It will be used as the preview image in the embedded player. We recommend your custom thumbnails:

  • Have a resolution of 1280x720 (with minimum width of 640 pixels).
  • Exist uploaded in epitome formats such as JPG, GIF, or PNG.
  • Remain under the 2MB limit.
  • Attempt to use a 16:9 aspect ratio as it's 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 account when it contains:

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

If a strike is issued, you'll get an email and see an alert in your Channel Settings the side by side time you sign in to YouTube. Y'all tin can appeal the strike if you lot think your thumbnails don't violate the YouTube Community Guidelines. If your appeal is approved and you haven't already replaced the thumbnail, we may restore information technology.

Custom thumbnail limits

There's a limit to how many custom thumbnails a aqueduct can upload each day. If you get an error saying "Daily custom thumbnail limit reached" when trying to upload a thumbnail, attempt again in 24 hours.

Limits may vary past country/region or channel history. Copyright strikes may affect channel history eligibility. Community Guidelines strikes will touch on how many custom thumbnails you can upload.

Why are my custom thumbnails turned off?

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

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