How do I change the thumbnail image on a video?

Quick Answer

The thumbnail image that represents a video can be changed in a few easy steps. Here’s a quick overview of how to change the thumbnail for a video you’ve uploaded to YouTube or other video platforms:

• Log into your YouTube account and go to YouTube Studio.
• Find the video you want to edit.
• Hover over the video and click the “Edit” button.
• This will open the video details. Go to the “Thumbnails” section.
• Click “Choose thumbnail” and select a new thumbnail from the options shown.
• You can also upload a custom thumbnail image here.
• Click “Save” once you’ve selected the new thumbnail.

The new thumbnail image should now be updated and will be shown as the video representation across YouTube and other linked platforms. Read on for more details and tips for changing thumbnails.

Why Change the Thumbnail?

The thumbnail image is one of the most important elements for getting viewers to click on your video. It represents the content and provides a visual preview. Here are some key reasons you may want to change or optimize your video thumbnail:

• The current thumbnail is not eye-catching or engaging enough.
• You want to try testing different thumbnails to see which performs better.
• The current thumbnail does not properly convey the content of the video.
• You have improved upon the original thumbnail graphic.
• You want the thumbnail to match other videos in your channel.

Having an optimized thumbnail that draws in viewers is key to improving your video’s clickthrough rate (CTR). Investing the time to create or choose the right thumbnail can pay off with more views.

Accessing Video Thumbnails on YouTube

For videos uploaded to YouTube, here is how to access the thumbnail editor:

1. Go to YouTube Studio and find the video you want to edit.
2. Hover over the video thumbnail and click the pencil “Edit” icon.
3. This opens the video details. Click on “Thumbnails” in the left sidebar.
4. You will then see the current thumbnail highlighted with the option to choose a new one.

YouTube Studio provides a few automatically generated thumbnails from your video to choose from. You can also upload a custom image from your computer.

Other video platforms like Facebook and TikTok have a similar thumbnail selection process in their creator tools.

Choosing an Effective Thumbnail

When selecting a new thumbnail for your video, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose an eye-catching, high-quality image that stands out.
• Ensure the image properly conveys the content of your video.
• Focus on close-up shots of people or important objects.
• Use bold colors and text that quickly convey what the video is about.
• Minimize clutter and background details that distract.
• Make sure the central focus point is unobstructed.
• Consider using the same thumbnail style across your video library for consistency.

Study thumbnails from top creators in your niche for inspiration. Test different options to see which thumbnails get the best clickthrough rate.

Custom Thumbnail Requirements

If you want to upload a custom thumbnail, most video platforms require:

• JPG or PNG image file format
• Minimum resolution of 1280×720 pixels
• Landscape 16:9 aspect ratio
• File size under 2 MB

Refer to YouTube’s custom thumbnail specifications for details.

Using Canva, Adobe Photoshop, or other graphic tools you can create custom thumbnails tailored for your videos. Add eye-catching text, graphics, color schemes, and other elements that make your thumbnails stand out.

Editing Thumbnails for Multiple Videos

Changing the thumbnail on each video individually can be time consuming. Many platforms offer ways to edit multiple video thumbnails at once:

• YouTube Studio: You can select multiple videos using the checkboxes, then click “Edit” and change the thumbnails in bulk.
• Facebook: Choose “Edit Videos” from the Publishing Tools menu, select multiple videos, click “Change Thumbnail”, and replace with your new thumbnail image.
• TikTok: You can select up to 10 videos when editing and apply the same thumbnail to all of them.

Take advantage of bulk editing to update thumbnails across your video library. This allows you to efficiently test new thumbnail styles and ideas.

Table of Platform Options for Bulk Thumbnail Changes

Tips for Creating Great Thumbnails

Follow these tips when designing and selecting thumbnails:

• Use bright contrasting colors that attract the eye.
• Include the central focal point without too much clutter.
• Craft text headers that quickly convey the topic.
• Ensure the image resolution is HD 1080p or higher.
• Edit the thumbnail image to remove imperfections or distractions.
• Add interesting visual effects like shadows, layers or illustrations.
• Place key elements according to the rule of thirds.

The thumbnail acts as the cover image for your video. Put time into perfecting it. Test different thumbnails to see which ones perform best.

Using Thumbnail Templates

Creating great custom thumbnails from scratch takes graphic design skills. For DIY thumbnails without much design experience, use pre-made templates.

Platforms like Canva offer tons of free thumbnail templates with easy drag-and-drop editing. You can quickly customize the templates for your own videos.

Here are some tips for using thumbnail templates effectively:

• Browse templates and find an appropriate, eye-catching base design.
• Change the text to match your video title and add other text.
• Replace any images or graphics with relevant ones for your niche.
• Edit colors, effects, and filters to match your branding.
• Make sure to preserve the resolution and aspect ratio.
• Save your completed thumbnails as JPG or PNG files to upload.

Leverage templates to create stunning thumbnails and test different styles. But ensure your thumbnail still stands out and does not look generic.

Outsourcing Thumbnail Design

For professional, customized thumbnails, consider hiring a graphic designer. A designer can create on-brand, high-converting thumbnails tailored for your video content strategy.

Places to find designers include:

• Fiverr – Freelance services starting at $5
• 99Designs – Design contests starting at $199
• Upwork – Larger pool of freelancers from $500 and up
• Dribbble – Browse designer portfolios to find one you like
• Local design agencies

When outsourcing thumbnails, provide the designer with:

• Brand guidelines and color palettes
• Examples of content themes and video topics
• Competitor thumbnail examples to model
• Image preferences and graphic needs
• Required specifications for the platform

Set clear expectations for the number of thumbnail variations needed, timelines, and pricing per thumbnail.

AB Testing Thumbnails

How do you know which thumbnail design drives the most traffic and engagement? Run A/B tests.

AB testing lets you compare two thumbnails by splitting your traffic between them to see which performs better. Follow these steps:

1. Create two different thumbnails for a video.
2. Assign each version to get 50% of the traffic.
3. Run the test for 1-2 weeks tracking performance.
4. Compare clickthrough rate, impressions, and viewer retention between versions.
5. Make the better performing variation the permanent thumbnail.

You can A/B test elements like:

• Different graphics, images or text
• Colors, effects and treatments
• Faces vs products vs text-based
• Emojis vs no emojis
• Busy vs minimalist designs

Keep optimizing thumbnails over time by testing new ideas against the current best versions. Apply lessons across your channel.

Updating Thumbnails to Refresh Old Videos

Over time, go back and update old thumbnails to give stagnant videos new life. An improved thumbnail can spark renewed interest.

Tips for updating old video thumbnails:

• Sort videos by lowest clickthrough rates to find worst thumbnails.
• Prioritize refreshing evergreen videos that still get regular views.
• Study your most popular videos for inspiration on what works.
• Make sure new thumbnail aligns to current branding and styles.
• Leverage new graphics, more eye-catching effects and text.

Updated thumbnails help keep your channel feeling fresh and engaging. The improvement can reignite audience interest in your back catalog.

Using TubeBuddy or VidIQ for Thumbnails

Tools like TubeBuddy and VidIQ integrate with YouTube Studio to provide extra thumbnail features:

• A/B Testing: Built-in tools to run split tests on multiple thumbnails.
• Performance Data: See realtime clickthrough rates and impressions for each thumbnail.
• Auto-Generation: AI-powered thumbnail creation with customization options.
• SEO Scores: Grades for title, description, and thumbnail optimization.
• Competitor Research: Analyze top videos in your niche for thumbnail trends.

These tools provide data-driven insights to optimize your thumbnails over time. The features complement YouTube’s built-in options.

Conclusion

Thumbnails have a big influence on video clickthrough rates. Take time to create and test thumbnails that attract viewers, convey your content, and boost impressions. Analyze performance data to refine your thumbnails. Update old videos with improved thumbnails to keep driving views and engagement. Well-designed thumbnails elevate the viewing experience.