BLOG › Convert & Compress & Edit Image › Ways to Change YouTube Thumbnail - A Step-by-Step Guide
Ways to Change YouTube Thumbnail - A Step-by-Step Guide
Change YouTube Thumbnail
By Kendra D. Mitchell |

A low-quality YouTube thumbnail can prevent you from reaching your first 1000 views. That’s because a thumbnail, just like a book cover, is the first selling-point for your video. After all, nobody wants to open a dull-looking video on YouTube. In that case, you’ll have to change thumbnail YouTube using a professionally taken video screenshot or photo. So, keep reading to learn how to change YouTube thumbnail effortlessly.
Part 1. How to Change YouTube Thumbnail on PC with Simple Steps
In this part, I want to show you how to change a YouTube thumbnail on your PC. Take note, however, that you, first of all, need to set the custom thumbnail before you can upload local thumbnails.

Step 1. Log into your YouTube account and click on the profile icon located at the top-right corner.
Step 2. Next, click the “Videos” tab and then open your video clip.
Step 3. On the “Basic” tab, scroll down to the “Thumbnail” section, where you’ll see three ready-to-use thumbnails. Next to them, you’ll see a “Custom thumbnail” button. Click on it.
Step 4. Choose a local thumbnail file and then click the “Open” button. Ensure that your thumbnail is at least 1280x720 in dimension and should be in PNG format for superior quality. Also, it should not exceed 2MB.
Step 5. Finally, hit the “Save” button to apply your new video thumbnail.
Part 2. How to Change YouTube Thumbnail on Phone Easily
Now let’s dive in and see how to change YouTube thumbnail on your mobile phone. The main difference between uploading a YouTube thumbnail on PC and mobile is that you’ll first need to download the YouTube Studio app from your App Store. After installing it, it’s super-easy to change the thumbnail. In fact, it’s more straightforward than on PC. Here’s how to change the thumbnail:

Step 1. Run the YouTube Studio app and then tap the “Menu” icon.
Step 2. Choose “Videos” and then select the video clip that you intend to edit.
Step 3. Next, press “Edit.” It’s the pencil-like button.
Step 4. Click “Edit thumbnail” and then choose one of the three pre-made thumbnails. Alternatively, click the “Custom thumbnail” button to upload a local thumbnail.
Step 5. Hit the “Select” button and then tap “Save.” That’s it!
Part 3. How to Upload Custom Thumbnail YouTube
Now that we already know how to upload pre-made YouTube thumbnails, let’s see how to set local thumbnails as well. In this case, I recommend that you get a robust YouTube thumbnail maker/downloader such as YouTube Thumbnail Image. With this website, you only need to copy-paste your YouTube video URL and paste it on the search box. It will immediately make high-quality thumbnails of varying resolutions. And after downloading your thumbnail, apply these steps to add it on YouTube:
Step 1. Download, install, and run the YouTube Studio app and then hit the “Menu” icon.

Step 2. Choose the “Videos” option and then select the video clip you’d like to edit.

Step 3. On the video screen, click the “Edit” or pencil-like icon to begin editing your thumbnail.

Step 4. Hit the “Edit thumbnail” tab and then tap the “Custom thumbnail” tab to add the local thumbnail.

Step 5. Click the “Select” button and then tap “Save” to upload your local thumbnail.

Summary
These are the best steps of how to change YouTube thumbnail professionally. If you don’t have a custom thumbnail yet, YouTube offers you free, high-quality thumbnails to apply. And if you want to upload a video screenshot or your photo, you can still use the Custom thumbnail feature to upload it. Just ensure that it meets all the YouTube thumbnail standards.
Related Posts
- [Free] Top 11 Online PFP Makers - Make Your PFP Stand Out!
- How to Make an Aesthetic PFP for TikTok Online [+ 6 Best TikTok PFP Ideas]
- 7 Fast Methods to Resize Image on iPhone/iPad
- Easy Guide on How to Resize Images in Canva
- Twitter Picture Resizer: How to Resize Images for Twitter Online Free
- Top 4 Ways to Resize Images for YouTube Easily
Convert & Compress & Edit Image
- Convert BMP
- Convert GIF
-
- Record Animated GIF
- Screen Record GIF
- Compress GIF
- Crop GIF into a Specific Size
- Make a Custom GIF
- Edit Animated GIF
- Design Funny GIF
- Make and Download Funny GIF
- Add Text to GIF
- Add Music to GIF
- Combine Two GIFs into One
- Split GIF into Individual Frames
- Play GIF on Computer
- Convert Image/Video to GIF
- Make GIF Video Clip
- Convert FLV to GIF
- Convert MKV to GIF
- Convert M4V to GIF
- Convert MPG to GIF
- Convert GIF to AVI
- Convert GIF to WMV
- Convert Images to GIF
- Convert GIF to Picture
- Convert GIF to JPEG
- Convert GIF to MPG
- Convert GIF to PSD
- Convert GIF to WebP
- Convert GIF to ICO
- Convert PSD to GIF
- Convert EPS to TIFF
- Convert GIF to BMP
- Convert WEBP to GIF
- Convert JPG
-
- JPEG Defination
- JPG vs. JPEG vs JPEG 2000
- What is JPG File
- Edit JPG
- Rotate JPG
- Crop JPG Images
- Compress JPG Photo
- Change JPG Size
- Increase JPEG Size & Resolution
- Merge JPG Files
- Open JPEG on Mac & Windows
- Best JPEG Converter
- Convert Image to JPG
- Convert Image/Video to JPEG
- Convert JP2 to JPG
- Convert JPEG to JPG
- Convert JPG to JPEG
- JPG vs. PNG
- Convert JPG to PNG
- Convert JPG to PNG Online
- Convert JPG to PNG on Mac
- Convert JPEG to WebP
- Convert JPG to Video
- Convert JPEG to MOV
- Convert JPG to PSD
- Convert JPG to WebP
- Convert JPG to RAW
- JPG vs. GIF
- Animate JPG Files
- Convert JPG to TIFF
- Convert JPEG to BMP
- Convert CR2 to JPG
- Convert AI to JPG
- Convert ARW to JPG
- BMP vs. JPG
- Convert BMP to JPG
- Convert NEF to JPG
- PNG vs. JPG
- Convert PNG to JPG
- Convert PSB to JPG
- Convert PSD to JPG
- Convert RAR to JPG
- Convert RAW to JPG
- Convert DJVU to JPG
- Convert TTF to JPG
- Convert TIFF to JPG
- Convert WebP to JPG
- Convert MHT to JPG
- Convert ODT to JPG
- Convert PCX to JPG
- Convert PDD to JPG
- Convert PHP to JPG
- Convert DSC to JPG
- Convert DXF to JPG
- Convert EMF to JPG
- Convert EPS to JPG
- Batch Convert RW2 to JPG
- Convert EXR to JPG
- Convert GIF to JPG
- Convert ICO to JPG
- Convert Screenshot to JPG
- Convert JPG to AI
- Convert JPG to PCX
- JPG vs. PNG vs. BMP
- Convert JPG to BMP
- Convert JPG to EPS
- Convert JPG to GIF
- Convert JPG to ICO
- Convert PNG
-
- Convert Photo to PNG
- Crop PNG
- Open PNG
- Create PNG
- Convert PNG to BMP
- Convert PNG to TIFF
- Optimize and Compress PNG
- Best Free PNG Converter
- Edit PNG
- Convert PNG to JPG on Mac
- Convert PNG to AI
- Convert PNG to TGA
- Vectorize a PNG Image
- Convert PNG to EPS
- Convert PNG to ICO
- File Converter to PNG
- Flip PNG Image
- Convert GIF to PNG
- Difference between GIF and PNG
- Convert CR2 to PNG
- Convert EMF to PNG
- Merge PNG Images
- Convert MP4 to PNG
- Create PNG to GIF
- Convert PNG to MP4
- Convert PNG to PCX
- Convert PNG to PSD
- Convert PSD to PNG
- Convert ARW to PNG
- Convert NEF to PNG
- Convert PNG to IMG
- Convert PNG to RAW
- PNG vs GIF
- Convert Other Images
-
- Open TIFF/TIF File
- Merge TIFF
- Convert TIFF to JPG
- Convert AI to TIFF
- Convert CR2 to TIFF
- Convert GIF to TIFF
- Convert NEF to TIFF
- Convert RAW to TIFF
- Change YouTube Thumbnail
- Great YouTube Thumbnail Size
- Download YouTube Thumbnail
- Convert NEF to JPEG
- Convert PEF to JPEG
- RAW vs. JPEG
- Convert RAW to JPEG
- Convert DNG to JPG
- Convert SWF to JPG
- Convert TGA to JPG
- Convert WMF to JPG and vice versa
- Convert DCM to JPG
- Convert JIF to JPG
- Convert RTF to JPG
- Convert RAF to JPG
- Convert SVG to JPG
- Convert DDS to JPG and vice versa
- Convert CDR to PNG
- Convert DDS to PNG
- Convert ICO to PNG
- Convert PS to PNG
- Convert RAW to PNG
- Convert EPS to PNG
- Convert AI to PNG
- What is the BMP File
- Convert BMP to ICO
- Convert PNG to WebP
- Resize Image
-
- Resize Image on iPhone/iPad
- Resize Image on Android
- Resize Image on Windows/Mac/Smartphone
- Resize Image on Windows/Mac
- Resize Image for Windows 10/8/7
- Resize Image for Mac
- Resize Image on Linux
- Resize Image in KB
- Resize Images in cm/mm/inches
- Resize Image in Pixels
- Best Image Compressor & Resizer
- Top Image Resizers Online
- Resize Signature Online
- Crop & Resize Image
- Resize Image for WhatsApp Profile
- Resize Image for Instagram
- Resize Image for Twitter
- Resize Image for Facebook
- Resize Image for YouTube
- FastStone Photo Resizer
- Resize JPG
- Resize PNG
- Resize PNG
- Resize GIF
- Resize BMP
- Resize Icon
- Resize SVG
- Resize Image to Passport Size
- Resize Logo without Losing Quality
- Resize Image in OpenCV Python/CSS/PHP
- Resize Image in Lightroom
- Resize Image In Paint
- Resize Image in Pixlr
- Resize Image in GIMP
- Resize Image in InDesign
- Resize Image in Illustrator
- Resize Image in Canva
- Resize Image in Photoshop CC/CS6
- Make YouTube Thumbnail Size in Photoshop
- Best Online Photoshop Tools
- Bulk Resize Multiple Images Online
- Make Your Memes
-
- 25 Funninest Text Meme Ideas
- Top 10 Online Free Meme Text Generators
- 6 Best Free Twitter Meme Generators
- Top 5 Easy Instagram Line Break/Space Generators
- 10 Free Instagram Meme Makers to Level Up Your Post
- Easily Make a Meme on Facebook Online
- 4 Best Online YouTube Photo Editors
- 6 Best Free GIF Meme Makers Online
- 10 Newest Meme Websites to Find Funny GIF Memes
- 10 Best Meme Makers Online & Free
- 5 Best Online Inspirational Quote Meme Generators
- 6 Best Meme Apps for iPhone for 2022
- 6 Best Meme Apps for Android [2022]
- 12 Best Funny Meme Maker Apps
- 5 Best Ways to Make a Meme Video
- 3 Best Free WhatsApp Meme/Stickers Generators
- All Kinds of Laughing Emoji Memes You Can't Miss
- Everything about Mocking SpongeBob Meme
- 5 Easiest Ways to Get a Long Text Meme
- Easily Make a Meme with Standard Impact Font
- Best Tips to Getting Meme Images with NO TEXT