How Do You Add Thumbnails to YouTube Videos Like a Pro?

What is Thumbnails for YouTube Videos

Thumbnails are the visual previews of your YouTube videos. They serve as the first impression, influencing viewers' decisions to click on your video. A well-crafted thumbnail can significantly impact your video's click-through rate, watch time, and overall performance. Thumbnails can be custom-designed or automatically generated by YouTube, but using a custom thumbnail is often recommended for better engagement.

Importance of Thumbnails:

• First Impressions Matter: Thumbnails are the first thing viewers see. A well-designed thumbnail can grab attention and encourage clicks, while a poorly designed one can lead to missed views.
• Branding Opportunity: Thumbnails provide an opportunity to showcase your brand. Consistent styling (like colors, fonts, and logos) helps create a recognizable brand identity.
• Increased Click-Through Rate (CTR): A compelling thumbnail can significantly increase the CTR, meaning more people are likely to click on your video when they see an attractive and informative thumbnail.
• Visual Storytelling: Thumbnails can convey the essence of the video content. They allow creators to visually tell a story or highlight key themes, enticing viewers to learn more.
• Improved Video Performance: Videos with custom thumbnails often perform better in terms of views and engagement, helping to grow your channel and reach a wider audience.

Overall, thumbnails play a crucial role in the success of YouTube videos, influencing viewer behavior and channel growth.

How Do You Add Thumbnails to YouTube Videos on PC?

To add custom thumbnails to your YouTube videos on computers, you'll need to use YouTube Studio. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Log in to your YouTube Studio.

Step 2. From the left menu, select "Content" and then choose the video you want to add a thumbnail to from your video library.

Step 3. Then click on the pencil editing icon to open the video-editting window.

Step 4. In the Thumbnail section, you can selec the auto-generated thumbnail or click "Upload" to create a custom video thumbnail from an image on your device.

Step 5. Click "Save" button on the top corner to update the change.

How to Add Thumbnails to YouTube Videos on Mobile Devices

Adding thumbnails on Android and iOS mobiles are quite similar, so here we take the steps of adding thumbnails to iOS devices as an example for your reference.

On iOS Devices

Step 1. Locate the YouTube Studio app on your device. The app icon typically looks like a white play button on a red background. Tap on the icon to launch the app.

Step 2. Once the app is open, look at the bottom navigation menu. Tap on the "Content" option. This will take you to a page that displays all your uploaded videos.

Step 3. Browse through your list of videos until you find the one you want to edit. Tap "Edit" and then "Edit Thumbnail".

Step 4. You will see the thumbnail section where you can select a thumbnail.

You have two options:

• Auto-Generated Thumbnail: Below the video preview, you may see several auto-generated thumbnails created by YouTube from your video. You can tap on any of these thumbnails to select it.
• Custom Thumbnail: If you want to upload your own image, tap on the "Custom thumbnail" option. This will open your device’s photo gallery or file explorer.

Step 5. You can select the auto-generated thumbnail or tap on "Upload" to upload your own image.

Step 6. After selecting your thumbnail, you may see a preview of how it will look. To finalize your choice, tap the "SELECT" button to confirm your thumbnail selection.

Step 7. Once you have selected the thumbnail, you will be taken back to the video details page. Tap the "SAVE" button to apply your changes, usually located in the upper right corner of the screen. 

★Possible to Upload Thumbnails Without Verification on YouTube:

To upload custom thumbnails without verification, you typically need to be a verified YouTube creator. Verification is often required for channels with a significant number of subscribers and views. However, YouTube's policies may change over time, so it's best to check the latest guidelines.