Add together video thumbnails on YouTube

Video thumbnails let viewers see a quick snapshot of your video as they're browsing YouTube. After your video is finished uploading, you tin choose a thumbnail from the iii 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 past clicking its thumbnail.
  4. Choose an machine-generated thumbnail and select Salvage.

Note: Information technology 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 account.

New videos

Uploaded videos

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, select Content.
  3. Select a video past 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 yous've added a custom thumbnail, point to it and click More  to download or edit the thumbnail.

Watch how to add a custom video thumbnail

Watch the following video from the YouTube Creators aqueduct if you'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 best practices

Paradigm size & resolution

Your custom thumbnail image should be every bit large every bit possible. It will be used equally the preview paradigm 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 nether the 2MB limit.
  • Try to use a xvi:nine attribute ratio as it'southward the well-nigh used in YouTube players and previews.

Thumbnail policies

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

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

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

Custom thumbnail limits

There's a limit to how many custom thumbnails a channel tin upload each twenty-four hour period. If you get an error saying "Daily custom thumbnail limit reached" when trying to upload a thumbnail, try again in 24 hours.

Limits may vary past country/region or channel history. Copyright strikes may impact aqueduct history eligibility. Community Guidelines strikes volition impact how many custom thumbnails yous 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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