How to Change a YouTube Short Thumbnail (Frame or Upload)

A Short's thumbnail is the little preview people see before they tap, and a bad frame can make a good video look dull. If you make Shorts for a business, a brand or a side project, it's worth getting that picture right. The route depends on what you want: pick a different frame from the video, or upload your own image. YouTube's help pages treat these separately, and they're not available in the same place, so here's the clear version.

Two ways to change a YouTube Short thumbnail

What you want	Where to do it, per YouTube's help pages
Pick a different frame from the Short	In the YouTube app on your phone, before or after upload
Use your own image	In YouTube Studio on a computer, with a verified account

Picking a frame as your YouTube Short thumbnail before uploading

1. Open the YouTube app, tap Create, and select Short.
2. Record your Short and enter the video details.
3. On the final upload screen, tap the Edit icon on the video's thumbnail.
4. Select a frame to use as the thumbnail.
5. Tap Done.

Changing the frame on a Short you've already posted

1. Sign in to the YouTube app.
2. Go to your channel page and open Your videos.
3. Tap the More icon on the Short, then tap Edit.
4. Select a frame to use as the thumbnail.
5. Tap Done.

YouTube's help centre notes that you can only edit this frame-based thumbnail from the YouTube app and not from Studio. It also says you can add text and apply filters to the thumbnail, with one warning: once you're done with an edit, you can't go back to previous edits to make changes. So decide before you tap Done.

Uploading a custom thumbnail for a YouTube Short on a computer

This is the route people are really searching for. YouTube's help pages say custom thumbnails for Shorts are currently only available to add in YouTube Studio on a computer. You can add one while uploading on a computer, or after the Short is up. Your account must be verified.

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio and open Content.
2. Select Shorts at the top.
3. Open the Short you want to edit and click the edit icon.
4. Under Thumbnail, click Upload file and choose your image.
5. Click SAVE.

YouTube says changes may take some time to appear. If the new image isn't showing straight away, give it a while before you try again.

What image to use for a YouTube Short thumbnail

• Use a 9:16 aspect ratio, because a Short is vertical.
• YouTube recommends 2160 x 3840 pixels if possible, with a minimum height of 640 pixels.
• Use a format such as JPG or PNG.
• On a desktop upload, the file size limit is 50 MB.

Keep the picture simple. A face or a single clear object reads better at small size than a crowded scene. Put any text near the middle, because screens crop edges differently. A tidy thumbnail also pairs well with a video that gets its first seconds right, which I covered when looking at why a YouTube Shorts view count can be stuck at zero.

YouTube Short thumbnail limits and rules

• Every channel has a daily limit on custom thumbnail uploads. If you see Daily custom thumbnail limit reached, try again in 24 hours.
• Limits vary by country or region and by channel history, and Community Guidelines strikes reduce how many you can upload.
• Thumbnails showing nudity, hate speech, violence or harmful content may be rejected and can result in a strike. Repeat offences can remove thumbnail privileges for 30 days, or lead to account termination.

In plain terms: use your own images, keep them honest to the video, and don't try to shock people into tapping.

Why your YouTube Short thumbnail won't change

• You're in Studio on a phone. Custom upload is described only for Studio on a computer.
• Your account isn't verified yet. Verification is required for custom Short thumbnails.
• You hit the daily limit. Wait 24 hours.
• The change hasn't appeared yet. YouTube says it may take some time.
• You tried to edit a frame in Studio. The frame picker is in the YouTube app.

Some older help text on the web says you can only pick a frame and can't upload an image at all. The current page I've used says computer upload is available, so the older wording looks out of date. If your Studio doesn't show the option, menus vary by account and rollout, so check again later.

Changing the thumbnail on a regular video instead of a Short

Long videos work differently. Their thumbnails are set in Studio or the app with an auto-generated option or your own image. If your video isn't a Short, my guide on uploading a video to YouTube covers the main upload flow, and deleting a YouTube video helps if you'd rather start again.

A simple thumbnail routine for Shorts creators

• Choose your best frame before posting, rather than fixing it later.
• Check how it looks in the Shorts shelf on your own channel.
• If you batch your content, make a custom image template on a computer and reuse the layout.
• Keep a note of which style you used, so you can compare how viewers respond.

For the rest of the series, see the YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes. Draft twenty options with the free tool that drafts YouTube titles.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change a YouTube Short thumbnail?

In the YouTube app, tap More on the Short, then Edit, pick a frame and tap Done. To upload your own image, use YouTube Studio on a computer.

Can I upload a custom thumbnail for a Short?

YouTube's help pages say custom Shorts thumbnails are currently only available in YouTube Studio on a computer, and your account must be verified.

What size should a Short thumbnail be?

A 9:16 image, ideally 2160 x 3840 pixels with a minimum height of 640 pixels, in a format like JPG or PNG.

Why does YouTube say daily custom thumbnail limit reached?

You've hit the channel's daily limit. YouTube says to try again in 24 hours.

Can I change a Short thumbnail from YouTube Studio on my phone?

The frame picker is only in the YouTube app, and the custom upload is described for Studio on a computer.