This post was originally written Mar 10, 2020 and has been updated with newer information
How to Download Your Own YouTube Thumbnails
Want to get YouTube thumbnails from your own videos? Here’s the quick method:
- Open YouTube Studio
- Go to the Content tab to view your videos
- Click the video you want
- Hover over your current thumbnail and click the three-dot menu
- Select Download Thumbnail
When you click 'download', the image may appear in a new web browser where you can do the usual right click and save. One thing to note, it doesn't matter what resolution you uploaded the thumbnail as, it will always be downloaded in 1280 X 720 resolution.
How to Download Any YouTube Thumbnail
If you want to download YouTube thumbnails from any video, the easiest way is to use our free tool:
👉 YouTube Thumbnail Downloader – HD Quality
Just paste the video URL, and our tool will instantly get YouTube thumbnails in high definition. No need to mess with URLs or search for the video ID—it’s simple, fast, and works on any public video.
How to Get YouTube Thumbnails Manually
Prefer the old-school method?
You can manually download YouTube thumbnails from any public video. You'll need the video ID, which you can find in the watch page URL—it’s the random collection of numbers and letters that comes after the equal symbol. So highlight all of that and copy it.
On a new browser tab, type in the following URL. Replace 'youtube-video-id' with the actual video ID:
*https://img.youtube.com/vi/youtube-video-id/maxresdefault.jpg*
Once inserted, you should be able to press enter or click go and you should now see the thumbnail from that video.
Keep in mind, thumbnails are copyrighted material. You can download YouTube thumbnails for personal use, research, or design inspiration—but get permission for commercial use, or ensure it qualifies under fair use.
Want to Mimic Popular YouTube Thumbnail Styles?
Downloading thumbnails is a great way to research what works. If you want to take it a step further, try vidIQ’s YouTube Thumbnail Template tool.
You’ll get ready-made templates that match popular YouTube thumbnail styles—perfect for learning proven design tactics and creating high-performing thumbnails faster.
Want To Get More YouTube Views?
If you want to take your YouTube channel to the next level then make sure to download vidIQ. It will help you research YouTube, analyze videos, audit your own channel, and take actionable steps click here to install now!
