In recent years, YouTube Shorts has quickly emerged as a go-to platform for creators looking to share bite-sized content. One of the best things you can do for your video is this: a strong thumbnail. Unfortunately, adding custom thumbnails to YouTube Shorts is not as simple as it is when uploading regular videos. So here’s how to properly customize your Shorts thumbnails in order to make the most of their promotion.
The Importance of Thumbnails for YouTube Shorts
Although the Shorts player does not show the thumbnails, they are important elsewhere on YouTube, such as:
Channel Pages: Content organization & showcase.
Subscription Feeds: Getting your subscribers’ attention.
Search Results: Convincing a potential viewer to click on your video.
So, it can help your content stand out — and compel viewers to click play.
How to Put a Thumbnail on Your YouTube Shorts
At this stage, YouTube has not released an option to upload custom thumbnails for Shorts in the same manner as its regular video option. During the upload process, though, you can choose a frame from your Short to be used as the thumbnail. Here’s how:
- During Upload:
- Similar to this: Start uploading your Short to the YouTube app.
- Thumbnail: Select a frame that represents your video.
- After Upload:
- Open the YouTube Studio app.
- Find your content and tap the Short you want to edit.
- Click on ’Edit’ and then ’Edit thumbnail.
- Define the frame of your choice in the video.
How to Choose the Best Thumbnail Frame
Select a Point and High-Resolution Frame: It is a good practice to make sure that the frame you upload is not blurred and resembles the content of the video uploaded.
Focus on the Key Elements: Use a frame that shows the main subject or action to immediately give viewers an idea of what your video is about.
Mind the Text: If you have text in your Short, pick a frame where the text is visible and adds to the relevant context.
Limitations and caveats
Aspect Ratio Change Effects: Videos with 16:9 custom thumbnails can be substituted by an auto-generated 4:5 thumbnail on the home, explore, and subscription pages. The chosen frame will still show on the watch feed, watch history, and non-mobile platforms.
Platform nuances: Not from a stability perspective, but platform-wide — YouTube app vs. YouTube Studio app, and upstream to the device.
Want to Download an Image from YouTube Shorts? We’ve Got You Covered!
While most of the Thumbnail downloader tools on the web fail to download YouTube shorts thumbnails, our YouTube Thumbnail Downloader can extract high-quality thumbnails from any Shorts video. No matter if you are looking for inspiration or picking up stats on successful Shorts, our tool maximizes your efficiency without the extra work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I upload a custom thumbnail image to my YouTube Short?
A: YouTube does not presently allow for separate custom thumbnail images to be uploaded for Shorts. You can only choose a frame from the video itself.
Q: Why doesn’t my Short allow for a thumbnail after uploading?
A: After uploading a Short, the selected thumbnail frame becomes permanent and cannot be modified. During the upload process, it is important that you select which frame you want.
Q: Will the custom thumbnail I choose show up everywhere on YouTube?
A: The frame you select will be shown in search results, channel pages, and subscription feeds. In some sections such as the home and explore pages, though, YouTube might still generate an auto-created a 4:5 thumbnail.
Conclusion
Though YouTube Shorts currently does not support custom thumbnails, picking a nice frame in the upload flow can help get people to instantly recognize your video across the platform. You have to follow YouTube updates and features to keep on rocking with your content share.
Lastly, just in case you ever need to download a YouTube shorts thumbnail, don’t forget to use our YouTube Thumbnail Downloader for escorting yourself to sharp and quality images with ease!