How to add a custom thumbnail on YouTube (PC and mobile)
To add a custom thumbnail on YouTube: your account has to be verified, then you go to YouTube Studio, open your video, scroll to the Thumbnail section, and click Upload file. It takes two minutes. Here are the exact steps on desktop and on mobile, how to change the thumbnail on a video that's already live, and what to do when the option doesn't show up.
The one requirement: a verified account
Custom thumbnails are only available on verified accounts. If the option isn't showing up for you, that's almost always why. Go to youtube.com/verify, enter your phone number, type in the code you get by text. It's instant, and you only do it once. Until your account is verified, all you can do is pick from the images YouTube pulls out of your video automatically.
Adding a thumbnail during the upload
As you put your video online, at the Details step, a Thumbnail section appears under the title. Next to the three images generated by YouTube, there's an Upload file button. Click it, pick your thumbnail, and carry on publishing as usual. Your thumbnail is attached to the video from the moment it goes live.
Changing the thumbnail on a video that's already live
No need to take your video down and upload it again. Open YouTube Studio, go to the Content tab, and click the video in question (or the Edit pencil). Scroll down to the Thumbnail section, hover over the current image, click Upload file and select your new image. Finish with Save in the top right. The change takes effect within a few minutes, and you can redo it as many times as you want, even years after publishing.
On mobile, with the YouTube Studio app
From a phone, everything goes through the YouTube Studio app, which is not the regular YouTube app. Open it, select your video, tap the pencil at the top, then Edit thumbnail. You can upload an image from your gallery. Two limits worth knowing: uploading from the app caps out at 2 MB, and the compression there is more aggressive. Whenever you can, upload from a computer to keep the image sharp.
The specs you have to hit
Before you upload, check that your file ticks these boxes. Otherwise YouTube either rejects the image or shows it blurry.
| Criterion | Value |
|---|---|
| Recommended resolution | 3840 x 2160 px (4K) |
| Minimum width | 640 px |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 |
| File format | JPG or PNG |
| Max file size (computer) | 50 MB |
| Max file size (phone) | 2 MB |
| Requirement | Verified account |
The areas the interface covers up, the versions YouTube builds from your file and the compression traps are all covered in our guide on YouTube thumbnail size.
"I can't add a thumbnail": the 3 causes
If the upload is blocked, it's almost always one of these three reasons:
- Your account isn't verified. That's cause number one. Head to youtube.com/verify and the option unlocks in a minute.
- Your video is vertical. On a portrait video, YouTube swaps a 16:9 thumbnail for an auto-generated 4:5 version. For a Short, design in 9:16 from the start.
- Your file is too heavy for the app. Past 2 MB from a phone, the upload fails. Switch to a computer, where the limit goes up to 50 MB, rather than compressing your image.
How long before it shows up
A few minutes, usually. Sometimes the old thumbnail sticks around a bit longer, while YouTube's cache refreshes across all its image servers. If you still see the old one, reload the page or give it an hour, instead of uploading ten times over: the file has already gone through.
And now, the real question
Putting the thumbnail online takes two minutes. Designing a thumbnail people actually click is the real job: that's what decides how far your video travels. The full method is in how to make a YouTube thumbnail that gets clicks, and once your video is live, you can test several thumbnails with YouTube's built-in tool. If you'd rather hand it off, at Miniads we design thumbnails built to get clicked, first version within 48 hours, from €78.
Frequently asked questions
How do you change the thumbnail on a YouTube video that's already published?
Go to YouTube Studio, open the Content tab and click the video. In the Thumbnail section, hover over the current image and choose Upload file, pick your new image, then hit Save. The change shows up within a few minutes.
Why can't I add a custom thumbnail?
Most of the time, your account isn't verified yet: uploading custom thumbnails is reserved for verified accounts. Go to youtube.com/verify, confirm your number by text, then come back. The other common cause is a vertical video, where YouTube forces an auto-generated thumbnail.
Can you add a thumbnail from a phone?
Yes, with the YouTube Studio app: select your video, tap the pencil, then Edit thumbnail and upload an image from your gallery. The limit is 2 MB from the app, versus 50 MB from a computer.
What size should a YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube recommends 3840 x 2160 pixels, in 16:9, as a JPG or PNG, with a minimum width of 640 pixels. The full breakdown is in our guide on YouTube thumbnail size.
How long before the new thumbnail appears?
A few minutes, usually. Sometimes a little longer, while YouTube's cache refreshes. Reload the page or wait it out, instead of uploading again and again.