Table of Contents

How to Enable Custom Thumbnails On YouTube

Carla Marshall · 3 min read · Published Jul 25, 2025

Reviewed by Darryl Rentz on Oct 05, 2026

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TL;DR: Verify your phone number to enable custom thumbnails on YouTube. Check Intermediate features in YouTube Studio, then upload an image for your video.

There are no views, subscribers, or watch time requirements to unlock custom thumbnails. All you need to do is verify your YouTube account.

Here’s the step-by-step on how to verify your account:

On a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio for the channel you want to use.
Open Settings > Channel > Feature eligibility.
Expand Intermediate features and select VERIFY PHONE NUMBER.
Choose a text message or voice call and enter your phone number.
Enter the verification code you receive.
Return to Feature eligibility and check that Intermediate features shows Enabled.

You can also start phone verification at youtube.com/verify.

Phone verification unlocks intermediate features, including custom thumbnails. A phone number can verify no more than two channels per year. Advanced access can provide higher daily limits, but it is not required to start uploading custom thumbnails.

Upload your first custom thumbnail

In YouTube Studio, select Content and open your video. Under Thumbnail, choose Upload file, select your image, and click Save. Verification enables the feature; it does not add an image to a video.

For a Short, upload the custom image in YouTube Studio on a computer. Custom Shorts thumbnail uploads are not currently available on mobile.

For the full long-form desktop and mobile steps, see how to change a YouTube thumbnail.

For design ideas, read our thumbnail tips or try the vidIQ AI YouTube Thumbnail Maker.

FAQs

Why haven’t I received my YouTube verification code?

Wait a few minutes, then try the voice-call option or request a new code. If your carrier does not support Google’s messages or calls, try a phone number from a different carrier.

Why can’t I upload a custom thumbnail after verifying?

Check Feature eligibility for the channel you’re editing. If YouTube says “Daily custom thumbnail limit reached,” try again in 24 hours. If your file is rejected, use JPG or PNG and keep it under 50 MB on desktop or 2 MB for video thumbnails on mobile. Policy restrictions can also limit thumbnail access.

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Carla Marshall

FMR Head of Content Marketing

Carla Marshall has 10+ years of experience in video marketing, social media management, content marketing, DRM, and SEO. She was previously Editor in Chief at ReelSEO.com, and as a journalist and video marketer, she's covered news stories, creator journeys, and digital-first publishing initiatives across all the major online video platforms. She is YouTube Certified and a judge for the Shorty Awards, as well as the UK, US, Canadian, Global, and EU Search Awards.