Add video thumbnails

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

Add or change a video thumbnail

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, select Content.
  3. Select a video by clicking its thumbnail.
  4. Choose an car-generated thumbnail and select Relieve.

Note: It may take time for your thumbnail changes to appear on YouTube.

Create a custom video thumbnail

To upload custom thumbnails, you lot must have 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 like to use as your custom thumbnail.
  6. Select Save.

Once you've added a custom thumbnail, indicate to information technology and click More  to download or edit the thumbnail.

Watch how to add together a custom video thumbnail

Sentry the following video from the YouTube Creators aqueduct if you'd similar a tutorial on how to add together a custom video thumbnail.

How to Add Custom Thumbnails to Your YouTube Videos

Custom thumbnail best practices

Image size & resolution

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

  • Have a resolution of 1280x720 (with minimum width of 640 pixels).
  • Be uploaded in image formats such equally JPG, GIF, or PNG.
  • Remain under the 2MB limit.
  • Try to utilise a 16:9 attribute ratio equally it'south the most used in YouTube players and previews.

Thumbnail policies

All custom thumbnail images must follow our Customs Guidelines. Your thumbnails may be rejected and a strike on your account when it contains:

  • Nudity or sexually provocative content
  • Detest Spoken language
  • Violence
  • Harmful or dangerous content

If a strike is issued, y'all'll become an email and see an alert in your Channel Settings the adjacent time you sign in to YouTube. You tin appeal the strike if you recall your thumbnails don't violate the YouTube Customs Guidelines. If your appeal is canonical and you haven't already replaced the thumbnail, we may restore it.

Custom thumbnail limits

There's a limit to how many custom thumbnails a aqueduct can upload each 24-hour interval. If you lot become an error 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 touch on aqueduct history eligibility. Community Guidelines strikes will touch how many custom thumbnails y'all 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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