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If you mean a finished video that viewers will watch together at a scheduled time, set its thumbnail in YouTube Studio’s video settings, then schedule it as a Premiere. A Premiere is not an encoder-based livestream: it is an uploaded video presented as a shared timed viewing. If you mean a scheduled broadcast sent from an encoder, manage that stream in Live Control Room instead.
First, identify which kind of “pre-recorded live stream” you have
| What you are scheduling | Where to manage it | How viewers experience it |
|---|---|---|
| A finished, uploaded video | YouTube Studio’s Content workflow; schedule it as a Premiere | Viewers watch the upload together at its scheduled time |
| An encoder feed | YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room | A live broadcast is sent from an encoder using a stream key |
YouTube describes a Premiere as a way to schedule an uploaded video for viewers to watch together. Setting a thumbnail on an uploaded video does not turn it into an encoder-based live broadcast. See YouTube’s guidance on Premieres and live streaming.
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Set a custom thumbnail for an uploaded video or Premiere
Use YouTube Studio on a computer. YouTube’s custom video thumbnail guidance is for the video workflow; Shorts use a different process.
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- In the left menu, select Content.
- Select the video you want to edit.
- In the Thumbnail section, choose Upload file, then select the image from your computer.
- Save the change.
- To schedule it as a Premiere, set the video’s visibility to Public, choose Set as Premiere, configure the schedule and Premiere options, and schedule it.
YouTube creates a public watch page before a scheduled Premiere begins, so viewers can visit the page in advance. You need a verified account to upload a custom video thumbnail. After saving, allow time for the updated thumbnail to appear. YouTube’s instructions are in its thumbnail help page.
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Prepare an image that fits YouTube’s guidance
YouTube recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels for video thumbnails; the listed minimum width is 640 pixels. JPG and PNG are among the supported formats. Its current documented size limits differ by device: up to 2 MB for a video thumbnail uploaded on mobile and up to 50 MB on desktop. These are YouTube’s recommendations and documented limits, not requirements for every image or a guarantee that a thumbnail will be accepted. Check the current image requirements if the interface or limits have changed.
- Keep the image at 16:9 where possible so it matches the video player shape.
- Use an image at least 640 pixels wide, and aim for YouTube’s recommended 3840 × 2160 resolution if your image editor and source material allow it.
- Export as JPG or PNG and keep the file within the limit for the device you are using to upload.
- Make sure the image complies with YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Prohibited material can result in rejection or a strike. Daily thumbnail upload limits may also vary by country or region and by channel history.
If you mean an encoder-based scheduled livestream
Use this route when the scheduled item is a broadcast that will be sent from streaming software or another encoder, rather than an uploaded video Premiere.
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- In YouTube Studio, select Create, then Go live.
- Open Manage and select the scheduled stream you want to edit, or schedule a new stream there.
- Inspect the selected stream’s editable details for its thumbnail and other metadata. YouTube allows stream metadata to be edited during stream creation or from the stream’s settings, but the exact thumbnail-edit path can vary by interface; do not assume the video Content workflow applies.
- Enter the stream key from YouTube into your encoder so the encoder can connect to that scheduled broadcast.
Use YouTube’s live-streaming settings help for stream creation and encoder setup. A Premiere thumbnail belongs to an uploaded video; it is not the same thing as an encoder stream’s thumbnail.
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