Are you a Shorts creator? If so, here’s some advice you probably haven’t heard in a while:

Thumbnails aren’t just for long-form videos.

In 2024, your Shorts need attention-grabbing thumbnails to stand out on YouTube — not just a great title and description. A captivating graphic will persuade viewers to click on your content, and that could kickstart a viral moment on your channel. You might even get enough views to achieve 

 that we conducted recently on your community page, 33,000 voters made their choice clear on the subject. However, YouTube has not introduced any tool or feature to create custom thumbnails. In fact, in a recent update video from Creator Insider, the YouTube team revealed that they have no plans for custom thumbnails for the rest of 2024 either. 

But First, Why Make Thumbnails for YouTube Shorts?

Take one look at the YouTube Shorts player, and you’ll notice thumbnails don’t appear in that part of the app. Instead, viewers see a random frame from the video, which could be anything — an awkward hand gesture, a transition moment, or a non-essential character from the video. Without a custom thumbnail, there’s no guarantee YouTube will choose the best frame for your content.

And that makes sense, considering how YouTube designed the Shorts player. It was made for endless swiping and not necessarily the browsing features we see on the YouTube homepage. Most creators look at the Shorts player and say, “I don’t need thumbnails here.” 

Thumbnails Are Important Outside the Shorts Player

But while thumbnails don’t appear on the Shorts player, they 

 show up in other areas of the app and website, including:

​​The Shorts tab on your YouTube channel

Recommended videos on YouTube’s homepage

, don’t overlook the power of thumbnails. You’ll need them to get more clicks 

 on YouTube. As of writing, the feature that makes this possible is available to Android and 

The first option is to set a specific frame as your video’s thumbnail during the upload process. It’s not the 

 solution, especially if your video doesn’t have an engaging frame to catch viewers' attention. But it’s quick, efficient, and gets the job done.

Option 2: Create a Custom Thumbnail Frame

The second option is to create a thumbnail ahead of time using a tool like Canva or Photoshop, then 

add the graphic to your video as a new frame

. You’ll have to do this in an editing program, such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. But the extra step allows you to set the new frame as your video’s thumbnail when uploading to YouTube.

Here’s how to select a thumbnail for your Short:

1. Upload the Short as you normally would. When you reach the details screen, 

Pencil icon to change YouTube Shorts thumbnail

2. Use the frame selector to choose a scene for your thumbnail, then tap 

3. Fill out any other sections, then tap 

As stated earlier, YouTube hasn't made this arduous process any easier from their end yet. The rationale provided by YouTube is that 

the majority of views and watch time for Shorts come from the Shorts feed, where thumbnails are not displayed.

In our channel's experience, this information doesn't hold true. While a mere 13% of our views do come from the Shorts shelf, most of it is from YouTube Search, where thumbnails are prominently shown. Watch Rob talk about this discrepancy and many more in the video below covering this update.

Design Tips for YouTube Shorts Thumbnails 

If you're designing a custom thumbnail, here's how to make your Shorts stand out from the rest.



that describes your video accurately. For example, the thumbnail below reads, "hack for more views," which is just enough information to pique viewers' curiosity.

 in your thumbnail. The Short below is about YouTube monetization, and the first thing you see is physical money.

, use your thumbnail to show one step in the process. This signals to viewers that your video is helpful, like Short below!

What Is the YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Size?

Shorts are vertical videos with a 9:16 aspect ratio and a size of 1920x1080 pixels. If you want to make custom thumbnails for Shorts, they should match those dimensions (1920x1080 pixels).

Can You Change the Thumbnail for a YouTube Short?

As of writing, you can’t change the thumbnail for a Short once it’s posted. YouTube hasn’t explained why, but a brief notice says as much in the content editor of the YouTube Studio. So, be sure to select your thumbnail frame 

Notification saying you can't edit Shorts thumbnails

Now that you know everything about Shorts thumbnails, check out the 12 types of thumbnails viewers love to click on!

Do you make thumbnails for YouTube Shorts? Here's why you should create them, plus two ways to attach the graphics to your videos.

YouTube Shorts Thumbnails: How to Upload Them for More Views

Are you struggling to make thumbnails that stop viewers in their tracks and inspire them to click on your videos? If so, you’re going to love this update geared toward creators of all sizes.

, that lets you upload multiple thumbnails and test them with different audiences. The results are pretty straightforward: Whichever graphic has the highest share of 

 wins the attention war. Best of all, the tool is 100% free, and all YouTube creators will have it by early 2024.

The watch time share for three thumbnails being tested on YouTube

, as it’s never been harder to stand out on YouTube and get noticed by your target audience. Thumbnails do a lot of that work, from grabbing viewers' attention to providing an emotional snapshot of the video beforehand. So, getting to test multiple thumbnails is a fantastic way to increase your views.

YouTube is gradually rolling out the Test and Compare tool, but you might have early access. To find out, upload a video as you normally would and pay close attention when it’s time to upload a thumbnail. If you have the feature, you’ll see an option labeled “Test and Compare” below Reselect and Upload File.

Test and compare menu option when uploading a thumbnail

Does ‘Test and Compare’ Work for all Content Types?

For now, you can test and compare thumbnails on long-form videos, completed 

. Certain types of content, like those aimed at kids or mature audiences, are excluded from using this tool.

YouTube Thumbnail Testing: How to Measure Performance

YouTube’s new tool follows the rules of 

. It allows you to upload multiple thumbnails (two or three) for the same video. YouTube then displays these thumbnails to different segments of a creator’s audience, each one getting an equal share of exposure.

The goal is to determine which thumbnail is more effective in terms of viewer engagement and performance. And YouTube is using a new metric, “

”, as its benchmark of choice. That’s not to be confused with average view duration, which is the average amount of time viewers spend watching a video.

From a testing perspective, the share of watch time each thumbnail earns is what YouTube describes as watch time share. For example, if you test and compare two thumbnails, thumbnail A might accumulate 60% of the watch time, while thumbnail B collects 40%. In this case, thumbnail A is the winner and most likely to boost your views.

But why is YouTube using watch time to test thumbnail performance instead of clicks? After all, the 

 measures how attractive a video is on search pages and other display areas.

It turns out that click appeal isn’t enough. In the YouTube Studio, the platform explains why watch time is a better predictor of satisfaction than clicks, and how thumbnails reinforce that.

Screenshot of a tool tip in the YouTube studio explaining what watch time share is

“Great thumbnails don’t just get viewers to click,” YouTube states. “They also help viewers understand what the video is about, so that they can make informed decisions about what to watch.”

It’s awesome that YouTube is helping creators choose the best thumbnails for their videos. But the real question is, does it work? Do you get more views after testing thumbnails and using the best one?

In a simple experiment, we tested three thumbnails for 

this video about new AI developments on YouTube.

three vastly different youtube thumbnails

The AI robot image was winning by a small margin, so we dropped the worst-performing thumbnail and let the stronger options compete against each other. Eventually, we got better results: The AI robot was leading the watch time share with a 59.7% split.

One image beats another in a thumbnail test

So, we dropped the other thumbnail and used the strongest performer (AI robot image). In the end, the video got three times the amount of views that we normally get.

Views going up on a line graph for a video that underwent a thumbnail test

New to Thumbnail Testing? A Word of Advice

YouTube’s new thumbnail tester is a major step up when you want to optimize your video’s appeal. At the same time, not everyone has the time or resources to create two or three thumbnails per video. If that’s your situation, do small tests instead of large, time-consuming experiments. Make tiny design shifts, like testing different fonts, colors, or simple backgrounds. Even those small tweaks can make a difference in your viewer’s eyes.

This video has more details and advice, so give it a quick watch to cement your knowledge.

But even without a thumbnail test, are you designing images your viewers can’t resist? 

Here are 12 thumbnail styles that people love on YouTube!

An image with the words "this is thumbnail A"

Want to A/B test your thumbnails to see which one performs better? YouTube has you covered with its new ‘test and compare’ tool.

YouTube Launches New Thumbnail Testing Tool to Boost Your Views

You can’t have a thriving YouTube channel without 

. Most creators know this, so they work extra hard to make images that encourage more video clicks.

Nonetheless, making thumbnails on the fly is easier said than done. It takes time to come up with a good design, find a harmonious color scheme, and make sure everything in the frame is balanced. 

So how do you make YouTube thumbnails fast and easy?

First, don’t rely on the old method. This is where you look for a background image on Google, open up Photoshop, and spend hours designing a thumbnail mostly from scratch. Instead, use these six tips to make thumbnails in record time!

Do you show your face in YouTube thumbnails? If so, you’ll save a lot of time by taking 10-12 headshots that you can use to create any type of thumbnail — happy, shocked, amused, and other emotions that draw people in.

Since you’ll need a lot of thumbnails on YouTube, this works best if each image shows a 

. Then you can match the right pose to a specific thumbnail idea in your mind.

For example, YouTuber-in-residence Rob Wilson uses the same 

 to create thumbnails like this for the vidIQ channel:

Youtube Thumbnail with the creator looking confused

Creating a few background styles is another way to make YouTube thumbnails faster. After all, who wants to spend hours designing a thumbnail because they’re always starting from scratch? 

As a shortcut, leverage the power of artificial intelligence. Different AI tools will generate photos for you, and it only takes a few seconds to get stunning results. All you have to do is describe your YouTube video or what you want the background image to look like.

 works (a tool by vidIQ). With just one keyword, it generates a video title, description, script, hashtags, voice-over, and some thumbnail backgrounds to choose from.

Let’s say you want to make a video about Japanese ramen. You could type “how to make Japanese ramen” into the keyword section, then 

— a variety of backgrounds will appear.

AI content generator for Youtube with a keyword typed into the search bar

3. Pose for a Thumbnail While You’re Filming

, you may need images that are more relaxed and down-to-Earth. Some creators pull this off by making the thumbnail for their video while filming that content.

For this time-saving hack, you’ll keep the camera rolling but stop to 

pose for a thumbnail in the middle of your video

. It’s up to you whether you keep this "segment" in your final upload. Sometimes it’s endearing and lets people know you have a lighthearted personality on YouTube!

While editing the video, take a screenshot of your “posing” clip. Send it to Canva or Photoshop, where you can spice up the image with text, emojis, and other visual elements. 

For example, here’s how you could transform a selfie into a YouTube thumbnail.

Of all the methods out there, this is probably the fastest. It’s typically used by people who shoot vlogs, pranks, challenges, and storytime content.

4. Use High-Performing Thumbnails as a Template

You’ve likely heard this advice before:

If you want to make thumbnails faster, create templates you can use repeatedly.

While templates are always a good idea, recycling any old design pattern is not. You want to use templates that produce high-performing thumbnails on your channel — a template 

 you instantly get more clicks. Not only does this save you time, but it also arms you with data when answering the question, “What thumbnail style should I use?”

To start, pay attention to which videos perform well and the 

. More than likely, these images are high-quality, attention-grabbing, and have consistent branding.

From there, you can decide which thumbnail templates have the highest return on investment.

Sometimes, it’s better to make a bunch of thumbnails simultaneously instead of one at a time. That’s because filming a video, editing the footage, and making a thumbnail within the same day is tiring. You'll be happier (and more energetic) when that list becomes a bit shorter!

For example, what if, on day one, all you did was film multiple videos? And on day two, what if you spent time creating thumbnails for all of your content? For the rest of the week, you could edit the videos, tinker with titles, and spend time uploading the content.

Lastly, the fastest way to make thumbnails is to never, ever make them. If you're thinking, 

 let us explain.

If someone can do a task faster than you (and you have a little cash to spend), why not outsource that job to an expert? In the case of YouTube, you could hire a thumbnail designer to make images that take your channel to the next level.

Fiver and Upwork are good places to look for these creatives. Many thumbnail designers work on a freelance or contractual basis, so you’ll find strong candidates on those sites. Another place to look is 

, a website with plenty of thumbnail designers for hire.

These six tips will help you make thumbnails faster for horizontal videos, but don't forget about your YouTube Shorts. They need thumbnails too!

If you don't know how to make custom thumbnails for YouTube Shorts, this guide has all the details!

YouTube thumbnails are a big part of any channel, but sometimes they take forever to make. Design them faster and easier with these hacks!

Faster Than Ever: 6 Ways to Make YouTube Thumbnails in Record Time

“What type of YouTube thumbnails should I make for my channel?”

That’s a question many creators ask, especially when thinking of ways to brand their content and stand out on YouTube. It’s a question that will 

90% of the top videos have custom thumbnails

So how do you choose one, cohesive style for your channel?

12 Types of YouTube Thumbnails People Love to Click On

In this article, we’ll show you how to build the right thumbnail style for you in four simple steps. From understanding your content goals to designing vibrant, click-worthy images, here’s how to get started!

1. Start with Your Channel Type and Content Goals

Your content type plays a massive role in building the right thumbnail style. So before you open up Photoshop or Canva, think deeply about the videos you’re creating on YouTube.

Understanding your content type helps determine whether your videos should 

 viewers. Both paths lead to a different thumbnail style, so figure out which road you want to take ahead of time!

Here’s a little test: If you can say something like, “My channel is about bird watching, and my goal is to educate viewers on how to get started,” you’re ready for the next step.

2. Get Thumbnail Inspiration from Your Competitors

Once you know your channel topic and content goals, get some design inspiration so you know 

Overall, you want images that resonate with viewers so they always click on your content.

Technically, you can find inspiration everywhere — in magazines, billboards, and even some commercials. But a competitor's channel is the best place to look if you want to save time. A close competitor makes videos similar to yours and has the same goal as you, whether that's entertaining or educating viewers.

How to Find Your Biggest Competitors on YouTube

So fire up YouTube and find those like-minded creators! When you have about 10, analyze their thumbnails so you can jot down common themes, such as their:

Now you have a list of visual elements to choose from. This will give you a rough idea of what your thumbnails 

3. Think About Your Target Audience. What Excites Them Visually?

We’ve come a long way, but we’re not done yet! The next step is putting everything together so you can make thumbnails that stand out.

Getting stuck in this part of the journey is common, but don’t worry about that too much. We know a secret to get you unstuck just as fast:

Design for your target audience, not your personal taste.

On YouTube, viewers have desires that elicit powerful emotions, like hope, fear, and curiosity. If you know their desires and the feelings that come with them, design a thumbnail to capture that reality. You’ll get more clicks with a relatable image!

question everything about your thumbnails

 and always tie the answer back to your audience.

Do I need a fancy design, or will a screen-grab from the video work best?

Do my viewers like unique fonts or simple ones that are easy to read?

How will viewers react if I show my face?

Should I create bold, colorful designs or something simpler?

4. Test Different Thumbnails, Then Analyze the Results

At this stage, you have everything you need to build some potential thumbnails for your channel. So take everything you’ve discovered — your content goals, trends within your niche, and what your viewers respond to visually — to create a few “ test styles.”

The thumbnail style that gets the most views is the one you should choose!

Picture Perfect: 3 Channels with Effective Thumbnail Styles

What does the “right” thumbnail look like? At a minimum, it should feel like an extension of the video it belongs to (and the YouTube channel it was posted on). It should also provide a snapshot of the video's mood and emotional appeal.

Want to see a few examples? The creators below are doing an excellent job of designing the best thumbnails for their channels.

Content Type: Lifestyle and family
Thumbnail Style: Minimalistic, people-focused, calm, joyful

Minimalistic thumbnail styles on ZoeSuggs YouTube channel

A simple, calming design matches the vibe of her down-to-earth vlogs.

Images of her family cater to the topic of lifestyle and parenting.

Facial expressions show warmth and joy, just like the energy within her vlogs.

 Action-packed, people and object-focused, exciting, adventurous

The bold, adventurous thumbnail style of the JStu channel

Bold text and bright colors reflect their adventurous, over-the-top challenges.

Dramatic facial expressions create the emotional thrill of adventure.

A “busy” design matches the intensity of their content.

Content Type: ASMR cooking
Thumbnail Style: Minimalistic, object-focused, mouthwatering, straightforward

The minimalistic thumbnail style on the Nino's Home channel

A "no design" approach matches the simplistic nature of the content, which includes cooking sounds and no speaking.

A lack of text puts the focus on what matters most: the food.

These tips (and examples) will help you build the best thumbnail style for your channel. But if you need more, 

here’s some general advice for designing any type of thumbnail!

Do you have a thumbnail strategy for YouTube? If not, now’s the time to build a thumbnail style that matches your content and makes your channel stand out.

How to Choose a Winning Thumbnail Style for Your YouTube Channel

When you want more YouTube views, it makes sense to design enticing, high-quality thumbnails. The only problem? It’s hard to design images that make thousands of people feel something on a deep, emotional level. There are challenges along the way, such as running out of ideas or not knowing 

If you’ve run out of ideas, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we share 12 types of YouTube thumbnails people love to click on!

One way to get people interested in your thumbnail is by displaying 

 that keeps them up at night. “Can I afford a house right now with my current income?” “Will eating organic produce transform my health?” The more relevant the question is to your audience, the more likely they are to click!

For example, creators Colin and Samir started a 

 to address the most pressing concerns of YouTube creators. So far, each thumbnail displays an actual question from their audience.

In fact, one of their popular videos has a thumbnail that reads, “Will YouTube Shorts pay us more than TikTok?” And that is definitely a hot-button issue for their viewers.

We often say the best thumbnails draw people in with their emotional appeal. But for some viewers, facts and statistics can be enticing, too! This method works well in niches that rely on numbers and data, such as sports, science, and history.

 make videos about “NBA moments” that lead to shock, controversy, or at least a good laugh. Some of those moments include record-breaking stats for different players, so adding those numbers to the thumbnail is a way to get viewers interested in the video.

After all, it’s a bit surprising to learn that a player achieved 50 points and 40 rebounds in one game!

Thumbnails that compare an object or place in its before-and-after state — a bare room or a failing garden, for example — is an instant win on YouTube. People love seeing transformations, especially when the final form is far from the original. When you show this transformation in a thumbnail, you prove to viewers that the video is worth watching.

For example, take a look at this thumbnail from Bernardo Bacalhau’s video, “

.” The before and after shots aren’t even close! With such a beautiful upgrade, you can’t help but press play and watch the journey unfold.

Before and after shots of a renovated van

Thumbnails that follow the “versus” format compare two items in the same category. For example, you might display two video games about action and fighting or two washing machines that are both energy efficient. In both cases, you’re helping viewers understand what will be compared and why they should care.

The Vox channel has a great example of this. They did an excellent video 

 of the 1800s to the ones we ride today, and you can see the difference just by looking at the thumbnail.

A thumbnail showing rollercoasters in two different eras

If you’re going to put text on a thumbnail, consider a quote or sound bite from the video itself. That will give viewers a subtle preview of what to expect when they press play. Plus, the more interesting the sound bite is, the more enticing the video becomes.

 from Alpha Leaders is about Kobe Bryant’s incredible work ethic. The thumbnail exposes a little-known fact, claiming that he 

 to squeeze in longer, harder basketball practices. The video has 3.4 million views!

YouTube thumbnail showing a Kobe Bryant quote

Did you know that headshots aren’t just for vloggers or creators building a personal brand? Sometimes, showing your face in a YouTube thumbnail just makes sense.

But it’s about more than showing dramatic facial expressions. To keep things interesting, most people edit around their faces to convey a unique twist in the video and get more views.

That’s what Shelby Church did for her viral video, “

” The thumbnail shows her face, but it also shows some hologram-like images projecting from her glasses. It’s more engaging than a bare headshot!

Thumbnail of a woman wearing smart glasses

Need some fresh ideas for your YouTube thumbnails? Explore these popular image styles to get more views on your content today!

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