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How to Upload a Thumbnail on YouTube in 2023 (Step-by-Step Guide)

 

Uploading a custom thumbnail is one of the best ways to make your YouTube videos stand out. An eye-catching thumbnail can help grab viewers' attention and get more people to click on your video.

In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to easily add or change a thumbnail on YouTube using both desktop and mobile.

 

Why You Should Use Custom Thumbnails on YouTube

Here are some key reasons to take the time to create and upload custom thumbnails:

• Increased click-through rate: An appealing thumbnail makes it more likely viewers will click to watch your video.
• Improves branding: A consistent thumbnail style helps reinforce your channel's brand.
• Allows customization: You can tailor the thumbnail to each specific video.
• Higher audience retention: A relevant thumbnail sets accurate expectations so viewers are less likely to click away.
• Better video discovery: Custom thumbnails make it easier for your target audience to find your content.

 

YouTube Thumbnail Requirements and Best Practices

When making a custom thumbnail, there are a few guidelines to follow:

YouTube thumbnails must be:

1. In JPG, GIF, or PNG format
2. At least 1280 x 720 pixels
3. Under 2MB in file size

• Create balanced compositions and use high-quality images
• Ensure any text is large, easy to read, and conveys value
• Consider adding branding elements or visual styles unique to your channel
• Make it relevant to video content without misrepresenting what viewers will see
• Use contrasting colors that pop and attract the eye
• Include people's faces and emotions to spark interest

Following these best practices will help you create effective and optimized thumbnails.

 

Step 1: Upload Your Video to YouTube

The first step is to upload your video to YouTube as unlisted or public. YouTube will automatically generate a thumbnail from a frame in the video, but we will replace this with a custom thumbnail.

To upload a video:

1. Go to YouTube Studio.
2. Click on Upload video and select the video file you want to upload from your computer.
3. Fill out the video details like the title, description, tags, playlist additions, visibility, etc.
4. Click Publish (or Save as unpublished if you want it unlisted for now).

YouTube will now process and upload the video which can take a few minutes to an hour depending on the video length and quality.

 

Step 2: Create Your Custom Thumbnail Image

Next, you'll want to create or edit a custom thumbnail image that aligns with YouTube's thumbnail specifications. Here are some tips for creating great thumbnails:

Option 1: Design from scratch

Use image editing software like Photoshop, Canva, GIMP, PicMonkey, or Thumbnail Maker to design a new thumbnail image. Make sure it's at least 1280 x 720 pixels.

Option 2: Edit an existing image

Take a quality screenshot from your video or find a good related image online to edit. Crop it, and add text, icons, or visual styles to make it pop.

Option 3: Use YouTube thumbnail downloader

Tools like YouTube Thumbnail Downloader or Tubebuddy let you enter a YouTube video URL and download that video's existing high-resolution thumbnail to edit. This saves time instead of screenshotting it yourself.

No matter which option you choose, ensure your finished thumbnail looks great, draws attention, and represents the video content.

 

Step 3: Upload the Thumbnail to YouTube

Once your custom thumbnail image is created, it's time to upload it to YouTube:

1. Return to YouTube Studio and open the video you want to add or change the thumbnail for.
2. Under the video preview, click Edit thumbnail.
3. Click Upload custom thumbnail and select your thumbnail image file from your computer.
4. Click Save.

The custom thumbnail will now be added to your video on YouTube. It may take an hour or so to fully update across YouTube.

 

How to Add or Change a Thumbnail on Mobile

You can also easily add or edit thumbnails for YouTube videos right from the YouTube mobile app:

1. Open the YouTube app and go to your channel page.
2. Tap on the video you want to change the thumbnail for to open it.
3. Tap Edit in the top right corner.
4. Tap the Thumbnail under the video preview.
5. To upload a new thumbnail, tap the thumbnail image and select a photo from your mobile device.
6. Alternatively, tap Get thumbnail from the video to generate a thumbnail from any point in the video.
7. Select or crop the thumbnail as needed and tap Done.
8. Finally, tap Save in the top right to update the thumbnail.

The new or edited thumbnail will now be updated on the YouTube video.

 

YouTube Channel Art Tips

While this guide covers adding a custom thumbnail to individual videos, you can also upload channel art to brand your overall YouTube channel.

Some tips for eye-catching YouTube channel art:

• Use 2560 x 1440 pixel image sizes
• Include channel branding, logos, or colors
• Feature recognizable faces of creators/talent
• Add intriguing textures, graphics, or themes
• Use bold, contrasting text that stands out
• Keep important visuals in the center away from the edges

Having cohesive and professional channel art and thumbnails is key to making a strong first impression on viewers discovering your YouTube channel.

 

FAQs:

Q1: How do I add a thumbnail to a YouTube video?

A: Go to YouTube Studio, open the video, click "Edit thumbnail", then select and upload your custom thumbnail image file.

Q2: How do I change the thumbnail on YouTube Studio?

A: In YouTube Studio, open the video, click "Edit thumbnail", choose "Upload custom thumbnail", select your image, and save. This will change the current thumbnail.

Q3: How long does it take for a YouTube thumbnail to update?

A: It usually takes around 1 hour for a custom thumbnail to update across YouTube after being changed in Studio. But give it 2-3 hours to fully propagate everywhere.

Q4: What are the best thumbnail sizes for YouTube?

A: 1280 x 720 pixels is the minimum size YouTube recommends for thumbnails. Higher resolutions up to 1920 x 1080 can display crisply on different devices.

Q5: Can I use thumbnail images from YouTube?

A: You can use YouTube Thumbnail Downloader to download any YouTube video's thumbnail in high resolution and edit it for reuse. Be aware of copyright issues with other creators' content.

Q6: How do you take a good thumbnail on mobile?

A: In the YouTube mobile app, tap the thumbnail while editing the video. Then tap "Get thumbnail from video" to capture and crop the exact frame you want to use as a thumbnail.

 

Conclusion

Custom thumbnails are a valuable way to improve the branding, presentation, and performance of your YouTube videos. Following YouTube's thumbnail specifications and best practices when designing will help them grab attention and clicks.

Uploading your thumbnail image is simple to do in YouTube Studio for desktop or directly within the YouTube mobile app. Just make sure to give the changed thumbnail time to fully update across YouTube's servers afterward.

Well-designed and relevant thumbnails act as mini-ads for your video content and entice viewers to learn more. Spend time refining your thumbnail strategy and it can directly translate to more YouTube views.