How-to

How to Change a YouTube Thumbnail (Desktop, iPhone and Android)

Change a YouTube video thumbnail in YouTube Studio on a computer or in the Studio app on your phone, plus what to do when custom thumbnails are greyed out.

By Free Thumbnail Downloader Team 2 min read
Article cover: How to Change a YouTube Thumbnail (Desktop, iPhone and Android)
In this article
  1. Before you start: get the file right
  2. On a computer (YouTube Studio)
  3. On iPhone or Android (YouTube Studio app)
  4. “Custom thumbnail” is greyed out — what now?
  5. Lost the original thumbnail file?
  6. When should you change a thumbnail?

You can change the thumbnail of any video you own at any time — before publishing or years later. Here is how to do it on every device, and how to fix the most common problem: the upload button being greyed out.

Before you start: get the file right

  • Size: 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9). Minimum width 640 pixels.
  • Format: JPG, PNG or non-animated GIF.
  • File size: YouTube has long limited custom thumbnails to 2 MB; check the YouTube Help Center for the current limit.

If your image is the wrong shape or too heavy, run it through our thumbnail resizer first.

On a computer (YouTube Studio)

  1. Go to studio.youtube.com and sign in.
  2. Click Content in the left menu.
  3. Hover over the video and click the pencil icon (Details).
  4. Under Thumbnail, click Upload file (or the three dots on the current thumbnail → Change).
  5. Choose your image and click Save in the top-right corner.

On iPhone or Android (YouTube Studio app)

  1. Open the YouTube Studio app.
  2. Tap Content and choose the video.
  3. Tap the pencil icon (Edit).
  4. Tap the thumbnail, then Custom thumbnail, and pick an image from your photos.
  5. Tap Select, then Save.

The main YouTube app also lets you choose a thumbnail while uploading, but for changing an existing video, Studio is the reliable option.

“Custom thumbnail” is greyed out — what now?

CauseFix
Channel not verifiedVerify with a phone number at youtube.com/verify, then wait a little and refresh
Recent Community Guidelines strikeThe option returns once the strike is resolved or expires
Uploading from a brand account you don’t ownAsk the owner or manager for the right permissions
Video is a ShortShorts thumbnails work differently — see our Shorts thumbnail guide

Lost the original thumbnail file?

If you want to reuse or edit a thumbnail you uploaded earlier but no longer have the file, paste the video link into our thumbnail downloader. It shows every size YouTube stores, up to 1280 × 720, so you can save the best copy available.

When should you change a thumbnail?

Changing thumbnails is most useful for videos that get impressions but few clicks. In YouTube Analytics, open the video, check Impressions click-through rate, and compare it with your channel’s usual rate. If it’s clearly lower, try a new thumbnail and give it at least a week before comparing again. Eligible channels can also use YouTube’s built-in thumbnail testing.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail?

Your channel probably isn't verified yet. Verify it with a phone number in YouTube Studio settings (or at youtube.com/verify). Channels with past Community Guidelines strikes can also lose access to custom thumbnails for a while.

Does changing a thumbnail reset a video's views or ranking?

No. Views, likes and comments stay. The new thumbnail simply starts collecting its own click-through data.

How long does a new thumbnail take to appear?

Usually a few minutes, but browsers and YouTube's servers cache images, so some people may see the old one for longer. Refresh or check in a private window.

Grab any YouTube thumbnail in seconds

Paste a link and download every available size, up to 1280×720.

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Free Thumbnail Downloader Team

We build small, fast tools for YouTube creators and write guides based on testing them ourselves.

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