How to Change YouTube Thumbnail

Author: Iqbal | Guide: YouTube |

You should know how to change your YouTube thumbnails to attract a large number of viewers for your YouTube videos.

YouTube thumbnails decide the first impression of your YouTube videos. The thumbnail should be attractive and catchy. A cath thumbnail compels the viewers to open the YouTube video and watch it. In the same way, you can also change the profile picture of your YouTube channel for an overall better look. Let's learn to change the Youtube thumbnail in just 7 simple steps.

How to Change YouTube Thumbnail after Uploading or Existing Video

Change YouTube Thumbnail in 7 Steps

Step-1 Open Youtube Studio: YouTube Studio is the web version of the YouTube application which contains the advanced settings and features for YouTubers.

The following steps will help you open YouTube Studio on your device:

  • First of all, just go to the web browser of whichever device you are using.
  • Then, in the search bar of your web browser, you have to type in 'studio.youtube.com'.
  • Then, simply hit the 'Search' button.
  • Now just click on the first link to open the YouTube studio.
Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 1

Step-2 Click on the 'Video' Icon: After opening YouTube studio on your device, you will see your 'Channel dashboard'.

  • In your channel dashboard, there are several options and icons.
  • From these icons, choose the 'Video' icon which is placed in the top left corner. This icon looks like the YouTube play button.
Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 2

Step-3 Click On The Video You would Like to Edit: Clicking on the 'Video' button will take you to all the videos that you have published on your YouTube channel so far.

From these videos, you can now select the video whose thumbnail you really want to change. Just click on the video to select the video.

Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 3

Step-4 Click On The 'Pencil Icon': After clicking on the video several options will appear on the right side of the video.

  • From these options, you have to click on the first option which is the 'Pencil Icon.
  • This option will allow you to edit the thumbnail or cover of that particular video.
Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 4

Step-5 Click on The 'Three Dots Icon': Then, in this step you have to do the following things:

  • Scroll down until you raise the 'Thumbnail' section.
  • Then, click on the three small vertical dots icon present on the top write corner of the thumbnail of that video.
Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 5

Step-6 Click On the 'Change' Button: the three dots option will provide you with two more options. These two options are:

  • Change
  • Download

Simply click on the 'Change' option to change the thumbnail of the video.

Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 6

Step-7 Select the Image That You Want to Put as Thumbnail: You will now be directed to the photo gallery of your device from where you can choose the image that you want to put as the new thumbnail of your video.

Make sure to select the most appropriate image to put as the thumbnail of your YouTube video.

Image titled change YouTube thumbnail step 7

FAQ

Can I Change YouTube Thumbnail After it's Posted?

Obviously, you can change the YouTube thumbnail of a video even after it has been posted or published on your channel.

In fact, the above article talks about this thing only. You do not need to worry about the thumbnail seen by your viewers. Because, after you change the YouTube thumbnail of your video it will automatically be updated in the accounts of your viewers in a few seconds.

Why Am I Not Able To Change My YouTube Thumbnail?

If you are not able to change the YouTube thumbnail of any video on your channel then, it might be due to the following reasons:

  • Your YouTube account does not have the option enabled to upload custom thumbnails by default.
  • If you want your YouTube account to gain this ability, you need to first enable the custom thumbnail option from your YouTube 'Settings'.
  • Also, make sure that your YouTube account is verified with your phone number. Otherwise, you will miss out on a lot of amazing options and features.

Does Changing The YouTube Thumbnail Affect Views?

If you are an experienced YouTuber then, you must already be aware of the fact that the look of your YouTube channel determines its success to a large extent.

Here, we are trying to imply that your YouTube thumbnail absolutely affects the views on your video.

  • If your video has a thumbnail that is very boring and plain then, most YouTube users will skip the video without even noticing.
  • On the contrary, if you choose a very attractive and catchy thumbnail for your video then, viewers will be compelled to open the video even if it is not relevant to them. In turn, it will increase the video on your video.

Being a good Youtuber, you must also ask your subscribers and viewers to share your YouTube videos as much as possible to increase views.

 

 

 

Another method

YouTube thumbnail is the way from which you present your content. Audiences never see your title, they see the thumbnail and decide to watch the video. YouTube provides the function for YouTube creators to use custom thumbnails on their videos.

You can even change YouTube thumbnails on your YouTube channel. It’s very easy and you can change it from your customized picture. You don’t need to take the thumbnail from the video.

Let’s learn to change YouTube thumbnails.

Steps to change YouTube thumbnail

Follow these quick steps to change the YouTube thumbnail on your desktop:

  1. Open your browser: Open your preferred browser.
  2. Open YouTube: Open YouTube and sign in with your Gmail account. Without a Gmail account, you cannot create a YouTube channel.
  3. Click on the profile picture: Click on your profile picture at the top right corner.
  4. Click on ‘creator studio’: Click on the creator studio in all given options.
  5. Click on ‘video manager’: Click on the ‘video manager’ option in the left corner.
  6. Click on the ‘video’ option: This option has two options. One for video and one for playlists. Click on the ‘video’ option.
  7. Choose the video: Now in the right corner, you can see your videos. Choose the videos, you want to delete.
  8. Click on ‘edit’: Now click on the edit option in the video.
  9. Click on video thumbnail: Now click on the video thumbnail on the right side of the video.
  10. Click on ‘change image’: Now click on ‘change image’ to change the thumbnail.
  11. Select the file from the desktop: Now select the file from your computer.
  12. Click on ‘save changes’: Click on the save changes option at the top right corner.

Now your video thumbnail will be changed automatically on video. Refresh the page and see your video on the home page of the channel.

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