Before you start: unlock custom thumbnails
You can only upload your own thumbnail image once your channel has access to custom thumbnails. Until then, YouTube only lets you pick from a few frames it generates automatically.
To unlock them, verify your channel. In YouTube Studio, open Settings, then Channel, then Feature eligibility, and follow the steps to verify with a phone number. Verification usually takes a minute or two.
If you've verified and still can't upload a custom thumbnail, check the same Feature eligibility page for any message about your channel's standing. Channels that have had thumbnails removed for breaking YouTube's policies can have the feature restricted.
How to change a thumbnail on a computer
1. Go to studio.youtube.com and click Content in the left menu.
2. Hover over the video and click the pencil icon (Details).
3. Find the Thumbnail section and click Upload file. You can also pick one of the automatically generated frames here.
4. Choose your image. YouTube recommends 1280 x 720 pixels in JPG, PNG, or non-animated GIF format.
5. Click Save in the top-right corner. The new thumbnail applies everywhere the video appears, including search, the home feed, and playlists.
How to change a thumbnail on a phone
You can change thumbnails in the YouTube app without a computer. Tap You at the bottom of the screen, then Your videos. Find the video, tap the three dots next to it, and choose Edit.
On the edit screen, tap the pencil icon on the thumbnail preview. Choose Custom thumbnail, pick an image from your phone, tap Select, and then tap Save.
Menu names can shift slightly between app versions. If you don't see these options, update the app, or use the YouTube Studio app, which offers the same editing tools.
Why your new thumbnail isn't showing
It hasn't refreshed yet. YouTube and your browser both cache images. After saving, the old thumbnail can keep appearing for a while in some places. Wait a few minutes, then check again in a private browsing window or after clearing your browser cache.
The upload didn't finish. If you closed the page before clicking Save, or the save failed, the change won't apply. Open the video's details again and confirm the new image is there.
The file was rejected. Use a JPG, PNG, or non-animated GIF, at least 640 pixels wide, and within the file size limit YouTube Studio shows when you upload. Export at 1280 x 720 to be safe.
Custom thumbnails aren't enabled. If you only see automatically generated options, your channel needs verification. See the first section of this guide.
The thumbnail broke the rules. YouTube can remove thumbnails that violate its Community Guidelines, for example sexual content, graphic violence, or misleading imagery. If yours was removed, you'll usually find a notice in YouTube Studio.
When it's worth changing a thumbnail
Changing a thumbnail doesn't reset a video's views or ranking, but it does change how many people click. It's worth trying when a video gets a healthy number of impressions and a click-through rate below your usual range.
Check this in YouTube Studio's Reach tab. Our guide to reading thumbnail CTR in YouTube Studio shows exactly what to look at, and the CTR guide explains what a normal range looks like.
Write down the old CTR and impressions before you change anything, then compare the same length of time afterwards, such as seven days before and seven days after. Without a before-and-after note, it's easy to fool yourself.
Test thumbnails instead of guessing
If your channel has access to Test & Compare, you don't have to swap thumbnails by hand. Upload up to three versions and YouTube shows them to viewers at the same time, then picks a winner based on watch time share.
That's more reliable than changing a thumbnail and comparing this week to last week, because both versions run under the same conditions. Our YouTube thumbnail A/B testing guide walks through the full process.
Before testing, it helps to see your candidates next to the videos you're competing with. Paste two links into the comparison tool to view them side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail on YouTube?
Your channel probably isn't verified yet. In YouTube Studio, go to Settings, Channel, Feature eligibility, and verify with a phone number. Channels with thumbnail policy violations can also have the feature restricted.
Does changing a thumbnail reset my views?
No. Views, likes, comments, and watch time stay the same. Only the image changes, which can raise or lower how many people click from now on.
How long does it take for a new thumbnail to show?
Usually a few minutes. Some places may show the old image for longer because of caching. Check in a private browser window to see the current version.
How often can I change a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube doesn't publish a limit, but changing it often makes it impossible to tell which version worked. Change it once, wait at least a week, and compare the numbers.
Can I change the thumbnail of a YouTube Short?
Shorts use a cover frame chosen from the video in the YouTube app. Whether you can change it after publishing depends on your app version, so check the Short's edit screen in the latest version of the app.
