How to change thumbnail on YouTube

Youtube has millions of videos being uploaded and views at any given moment, making it hard to gain views on your content. The video view count for beginners is incredibly difficult, but to help your videos become more appealing, Youtube gives you the option of thumbnails. You can use the auto-generated thumbnails by Youtube, or you can create your custom thumbnail. You might be wondering how to change thumbnail on Youtube.

We will tell you how you can change or design your thumbnail, along with some tips to make your thumbnails stand out from the rest.

How to change thumbnail on YouTube

Using YouTube’s auto-generated thumbnail options

YouTube presents you with some pre-selected thumbnail options that you can use as your video’s thumbnail. Youtube’s auto-generated thumbnails provide an overview of what viewers can expect from the video, which is an essential consideration.

If you want to make your youtube’s thumbnail to be a true representation of your video, then read the following steps on how to change thumbnail on Youtube using presets:

1. Log in: The first step is to go to YouTube’s website and log in to your account. If you are already logged in to your account on your browser, you can skip this step.
2. Click on the “YouTube studio” option: After logging in, YouTube will direct you to the homepage of your account. From this page, locate your profile’s icon, which you can find at the top right corner of the page. After clicking on your profile, there will be a list of options to choose from. You need to select the “YouTube Studio” option.

• Choose the video: Once you click on the studio option, YouTube will take to a page where you will find the option of “Videos” in the left pane. Click on the “Videos” option to see a list of your videos. Next, take your mouse over the video you have selected and click on the edit icon that appears on the video.

• Choose a thumbnail: When you click on the edit icon, YouTube will show you a Basic Details page. On this page, you can find the thumbnails that are auto-generated by YouTube. Choose the thumbnail that you like and click the “Save” button in the screen’s top right.

That is it – you can change the thumbnails of your YouTube videos that easily. However, what if you don’t like the options that YouTube provides and want to make a thumbnail by yourself? Don’t worry, we have got you covered. In the next section, you can learn how to use a custom thumbnail for your YouTube videos.

Using a custom thumbnail

You can either create a different thumbnail or choose a frame from your video – whatever option you go for, here is how you can upload that picture as a thumbnail to your video.

1. Repeat the steps: Repeat the previous section’s steps until you find the video you want to edit. Once you select the video you want to edit, go to the auto-generated thumbnails portion and click on the “Custom thumbnail” option.
2. Choose the customized thumbnail: After that, choose the thumbnail that you have designed or edited for your video.

Voila – you now have your customized thumbnail for your YouTube video.

Things to keep in mind while choosing thumbnails

If you are using thumbnails that are auto-generated by YouTube, then you don’t have to worry about the specs of the picture you choose. However, if you create a custom thumbnail by editing a frame from the video or designing a new one, you need to check for a few specifications. According to Youtube’s Help Center, here are the details you should keep in mind to ensure that your thumbnail stands up to the quality and clarity in the final result.

• The photo’s resolution should be 1280 x 720 resolution (with a minimum width of 640 pixels).
• The image format should be JPG, GIF, BMP, or PNG.
• The image should be under 2 MB.
• The size of the image should follow the 16:9 aspect ratio.

You should make sure that you use a high-quality image because it helps the thumbnail to be clear even when displayed in a larger setting.

We have provided below some more considerations to make your thumbnail attractive without making it look click-baity.

Select the right shot

Selecting the right shot from the video helps to capture the essence of the video. You can choose the frame that captures the true emotion or theme of your video. Moreover, the thumbnail should accurately depict what people should expect from the video. However, make sure that you don’t use click-baits to lure viewers as this strategy can backfire in the long-run and you may lose viewers. All in all, the thumbnail should be detailed, enticing, and not-a-click-bait.

Edit your image

Another tactic to make your thumbnail shine in the eyes of your viewers is to edit the image. Editing your thumbnail adds a pop of color and enhances the aesthetics of the image. Since the thumbnail’s size is small, you can go a bit overboard with your editing, as this will make the thumbnail appealing.

Text and graphic treatments

You can spice up your thumbnail by adding texts and other graphics to the image. Besides adding to the aesthetics, texts on the thumbnail can help you categorize your videos and make it easier for viewers to find your video. You can add episode numbers, the name of the theme that the video falls in, or basic information regarding the video – the sky is the limit.

Wrap up!

We have equipped you with all the information you need on how to change thumbnail on Youtube. You can either choose the auto-generated thumbnails or customize your own – the choice is all yours!