For a standard YouTube video, prepare a 16:9 JPG or PNG, ideally 3840 × 2160 pixels, then upload it in YouTube Studio under Content → select the video → Thumbnail → Upload file → Save. Your account must be verified to use a custom thumbnail. Shorts use a different portrait format and are currently managed from Studio on a computer.
Prepare the image to match the video type
YouTube recommends different dimensions and aspect ratios for standard videos and Shorts. Its guidance says to make the image as large as possible, but the recommended pixel dimensions do not guarantee that every YouTube surface will display the image at full resolution.
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| Content type | Recommended dimensions | Minimum dimension stated by YouTube | Recommended aspect ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard video | 3840 × 2160 pixels | 640 pixels wide | 16:9 |
| Short | 2160 × 3840 pixels | 640 pixels high | 9:16 |
YouTube’s custom-thumbnail guidance gives JPG and PNG as image examples. Check the file’s dimensions and format before uploading, and keep it within the size limit for the device and content type you are using. See YouTube’s custom thumbnail requirements for its current specifications.
Check the size limit for your upload route
The maximum file size is not the same for every thumbnail upload. YouTube’s Help page lists these limits:
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| Thumbnail type and upload device | Maximum file size |
|---|---|
| Video thumbnail uploaded on mobile | 2 MB |
| Video, Shorts, or podcast thumbnail uploaded on desktop | 50 MB |
| Podcast thumbnail uploaded on mobile | 10 MB |
These are the limits listed on YouTube’s Help page, retrieved October 7, 2026. Do not assume the desktop limit applies to a mobile video thumbnail upload.
Upload a custom thumbnail for a standard video
You need a verified YouTube account to add a custom thumbnail. On a computer, use YouTube Studio:
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- Sign in to YouTube Studio with the verified account.
- Open Content in the left navigation.
- Select the video you want to change.
- In the video details, find the Thumbnail section.
- Choose Upload file and select the prepared image. If YouTube offers Get suggestions and one suits your needs, you can choose that instead.
- Select Save.
You can also set a thumbnail while uploading a new video: after selecting the video file, edit its details and set the thumbnail as part of that workflow. YouTube’s computer upload instructions are at Upload YouTube videos.
Set a custom thumbnail for a Short
YouTube’s current Help guidance says custom Shorts thumbnails are managed through YouTube Studio on a computer. Prepare a portrait image using the recommended 9:16 ratio and 2160 × 3840-pixel dimensions; YouTube lists a minimum height of 640 pixels. The Help page lists a 50 MB desktop limit for Shorts thumbnails.
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Shorts do not qualify for Test & Compare. Also, a vertical video’s 16:9 custom thumbnail is replaced by an automatically generated 4:5 thumbnail on the home, Explore, and subscriptions pages. YouTube says the custom thumbnail remains visible in other contexts, including the watch feed, watch history, and non-mobile platforms. The appearance can therefore vary by surface even when the custom image was uploaded successfully.
Understand verification, upload limits, and policy
Account verification and daily limits
A verified account is required for custom thumbnails. YouTube also limits the number of custom thumbnails a channel can upload each day. The limit can vary by country or region and channel history; YouTube says copyright strikes may affect channel-history eligibility, while Community Guidelines strikes affect upload allowance.
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If Studio reports “Daily custom thumbnail limit reached,” YouTube’s stated remedy is to try again after 24 hours.
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Custom images must follow YouTube’s Community Guidelines. YouTube identifies nudity or sexually provocative content, hate speech, violence, and harmful or dangerous content as examples that may lead to rejection and a strike. Repeated offenses may result in custom-thumbnail privileges being removed for 30 days or account termination. If you believe a strike is mistaken, YouTube says you can appeal; if the appeal is approved, it may restore the image if it has not already been replaced. Read the current rules on YouTube’s custom thumbnail Help page.
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Troubleshoot a thumbnail that is missing or looks different
- The custom-thumbnail option is unavailable: check that you are signed in to a verified account and that the channel has not reached its daily upload limit.
- The image is rejected: confirm that it meets the applicable file-size and image requirements, then check it against YouTube’s Community Guidelines.
- The old image still appears: YouTube says a thumbnail change may take time to appear. Allow time for the update before concluding that the save failed.
- A Short’s thumbnail looks different on some pages: vertical-video thumbnails may be shown as an automatically generated 4:5 image on home, Explore, and subscriptions pages rather than as the custom 16:9 thumbnail.
Compare thumbnail options with Test & Compare
YouTube Studio’s Test & Compare can evaluate up to three thumbnail variants for eligible content. The feature is desktop-only and requires advanced features. YouTube lists public long-form videos and podcast episodes as eligible; made-for-kids, mature-audience, and private videos are excluded. A Premiere becomes eligible after it ends and converts to long-form. Shorts are not eligible.
YouTube evaluates the winning variant by watch-time share. This is not a promise of higher views or click-through rate. Use clear, meaningfully different alternatives if you want the test to compare distinct creative choices. YouTube recommends high-resolution test images; if any thumbnail in an experiment is below 1280 × 720 pixels, it says all thumbnails in that experiment are downscaled to 854 × 480 pixels. Details are on YouTube’s Test & Compare Help page.
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