So, you started using YouTube and want to take it to the next level!
Custom Thumbnails are a simple, small detail that can make a major difference! Often the original thumbnail preview image doesn’t look good. To solve that, we’re going to help you add a better image so more shoppers will want to press the play button on your YouTube videos.
Follow these 6 steps to add a custom thumbnail image to your YouTube videos.
1. Go to YouTube Studio
First, log in to your YouTube account. After you’re logged in, go to YouTube Studio.
2. Click “Videos” in YouTube Studio
3. Choose the video you want to edit
4. Click “Details” to edit the video you want to add a custom thumbnail to
5. Click the “Upload thumbnail” button and choose a file you’ve saved on your desktop
PRO TIP: If you want to use an image still from the video you’re adding a custom thumbnail image to:
- First, click on the video link from the video details screen to bring up the video
- Then, pause the video where you want to take a screenshot
- Next, find the desired still image
- After, crop the image using a snipping tool (we like Snagit, but you can use any tool) while the video is paused. Then save the file
- Finally, follow instructions from Step 5 above to add your image as a custom thumbnail
6. Click “Save”
Once saved, you’ll see your selected custom thumbnail image in the video preview.
Other Pro Tips!
- Consistency! Picking an image that can be consistent across all your thumbnails while still allowing the customer to know what the video is about is key!
- Clean! Do not overdo the image. People need to know what they are going to click on quickly!
- Size! The size of a custom thumbnail on YouTube should be 1280 x 720 with a minimum width of 640 pixels!
- Format! Be sure it is a JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG File!
Are you new to using video? Use these 6 video tips for beginners to get you started!
If you still need help, reach out to your Account Manager directly or our Sales team here. We’re more than happy to answer your questions!
Article last updated 4/29/2020
Can you do this on your iPhone or does it have to be on a desktop computer? Everything was going fine till you said to click details. I can’t find details anywhere.
Hi James – yes, you can still do this on a mobile device, but the process will look a bit different from the desktop screenshots in this blog.
Mobile instructions (done on an Android device) :
– On mobile (with the YouTube Studio app installed), choose your video like normal.
– Then, in the upper right-hand corner of your screen, you should see a pencil icon indicating “details”.
– Touch that icon.
– The video screen will now say “Edit thumbnail”
– Click on the video screen
– Now it will give you the option to select a preselected screenshot shot or you can choose “Custom thumbnail” like the instructions above.
Let us know if this helped or if you’re still having trouble.
Thanks James!
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