CREOVLY
Visual Packaging5 min read·Pela equipe editorial do Creovly·Última verificação: November 2026

How to Change a YouTube Thumbnail, Step by Step

Step-by-step tutorial on how to change a thumbnail on YouTube: desktop Studio, mobile app, account phone verification, and Shorts thumbnail selection.

1. Phone verification: unlocking custom thumbnail uploads

Before you can upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, your channel must have verified phone status. If your account is not verified, YouTube will only allow you to pick from three automatically generated freeze frames. To unlock custom thumbnails, go to YouTube Studio settings, select Channel > Feature eligibility, and complete phone number verification under Intermediate features.

Destaque principal: Complete standard phone verification in YouTube Studio settings to unlock custom thumbnail uploads.

2. How to change a thumbnail on desktop in YouTube Studio

To change a thumbnail on a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio. Click "Content" from the left menu and click on the video you want to edit. Under the "Thumbnail" section on the Video Details page, hover over your current thumbnail, click the Options icon (three vertical dots), and select "Change". Select your new 1280 × 720 image file and click "Save" in the top-right corner.

Destaque principal: In YouTube Studio > Content > Video Details, click the three dots on the thumbnail box and select "Change".

3. How to change a thumbnail on the YouTube Studio mobile app

Open the YouTube Studio app on iOS or Android. Tap "Content" in the bottom navigation bar and select the video. Tap the Edit icon (pencil) at the top of the screen, then tap the pencil icon in the upper-left corner of the thumbnail preview. Tap "Change" to select a new image from your device photos, crop if prompted, tap "Done", and select "Save". Remember that mobile uploads strictly enforce a 2 MB file limit.

Destaque principal: Tap the pencil edit icon in the YouTube Studio mobile app to replace your thumbnail on the go.

4. How to select or change a YouTube Shorts thumbnail

YouTube Shorts handle thumbnails differently than long-form videos. Currently, custom thumbnail uploads from desktop are not supported for published Shorts. Instead, you must select your thumbnail frame during the initial upload process in the YouTube mobile app. On the final upload screen, tap the pencil icon on your video preview and drag the frame selector to your desired moment. Once published, this frame serves as your Shorts thumbnail.

Destaque principal: Choose your Shorts thumbnail frame during mobile upload; desktop custom thumbnail replacement is not currently supported for published Shorts.

5. Technical preparation: dimensions and compression

For optimal visual quality, prepare your image to 1280 × 720 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio) using Creovly’s YouTube Thumbnail Resizer. Ensure the file weight is under 2 MB with our YouTube Thumbnail Compressor to avoid mobile upload rejections. For full CTR optimization strategies, read The YouTube Thumbnail Blueprint.

Destaque principal: Format thumbnails to 1280 × 720 and compress below 2 MB before uploading to ensure fast processing and zero upload errors.
Cenário práticoAnálise passo a passo

Replacing an Underperforming Thumbnail to Boost CTR

O cenário: A creator notices that a video published 48 hours ago has a 2.1% click-through rate. They design a higher-contrast thumbnail with clearer focal text and need to replace the live image without losing views or analytics.

Etapas de execução

  1. 01Format new artwork: Export the revised thumbnail at 1280 × 720 pixels in JPG format.
  2. 02Compress under 2 MB: Run the file through Creovly Thumbnail Compressor, reducing size to 510 KB.
  3. 03Open YouTube Studio: Navigate to Content, click the video, and locate the Thumbnail panel.
  4. 04Execute replacement: Click the three-dot menu on the existing thumbnail, select "Change", upload the new file, and click "Save".
  5. 05Monitor response: Track Impressions click-through rate in YouTube Studio analytics over the following 72 hours.
Conclusão: The replacement thumbnail goes live immediately across YouTube search and recommendations without resetting video view counts or comments.
Plano de ação

Verificação pré-publicação

Concluído: 0 de 5

Marque cada item à medida que prepara seus arquivos para o YouTube.

  • Account Verification

    Confirm phone verification is completed in YouTube Studio Channel Settings.

  • Recommended Dimensions

    Format image to 1280 × 720 pixels with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

  • File Size Compliance

    Ensure file is under 2 MB for mobile Studio compatibility.

  • Format Selection

    Use JPEG or PNG format with an sRGB color profile.

  • Save Confirmation

    Click Save in YouTube Studio and verify the thumbnail renders on the public watch page.

Utilidades aplicadas

Ferramentas Creovly relacionadas

Use estas ferramentas locais do Creovly para validar e formatar seus materiais antes de publicar.

Thumbnail Tools

YouTube Thumbnail Compressor

Compress YouTube thumbnails online for free. Reduce JPEG, PNG and WebP file sizes in your browser, compare results and download optimized images.

DisponívelAbrir →
Thumbnail Tools

YouTube Thumbnail Resizer

Resize YouTube thumbnails online for free. Adjust images to 1280x720 or custom dimensions, preview framing and download ready-to-use files.

DisponívelAbrir →
Thumbnail Tools

YouTube Shorts Safe Zone Checker

Check YouTube Shorts safe zones before publishing. Preview overlay guides, keep key content clear of buttons and export an annotated safe zone guide.

DisponívelAbrir →