How to Enable Custom Thumbnails on Your YouTube Channel

Creating custom YouTube thumbnails can significantly boost your videos' click-through rate. In this guide, you'll learn the steps to enable custom thumbnails and best practices for creating them.

Why Custom Thumbnails Matter

Custom thumbnails are more than just images; they are the first impression viewers get of your videos. A visually appealing and relevant thumbnail can increase click-through rates by up to 40%. Ensuring your channel has a consistent, recognizable brand identity is crucial, and custom thumbnails play a significant role in achieving that.

Guidelines for High-Quality Thumbnails

Choose a High-Quality Image

Select an image that accurately represents your video's content and stands out when displayed in thumbnail form. High-quality, visually appealing images should be the focus of your thumbnails as they catch the eye more effectively.

Add Text

Clearly communicate the video's main point or include a compelling call-to-action (CTA). Avoid cluttering the thumbnail with too much text, as it can make the image become less visually appealing. A simple and clear CTA can make a significant difference.

Use a Consistent Design

Maintain a consistent style across your thumbnails to establish a recognizable brand identity. This consistency helps build trust with your audience and makes your channel more professional.

Optimize Dimensions

Ensure your thumbnail meets YouTube's recommended size: 1280 x 720 pixels with a minimum width of 640 pixels. You can use online tools like Canva or Adobe Express to streamline the design process. These platforms offer a wide range of templates and design elements that can help you create professional-looking thumbnails quickly and easily.

Steps to Enable Custom Thumbnails on Your YouTube Channel

Verify Your Account

tGo to YouTube and sign in to your account. tClick on your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Account" "Verify Account".

Upload a Video

tOnce your account is verified, upload a video by clicking on the camera icon with the "Upload" label.

Select a Custom Thumbnail

tAfter uploading, you'll see a section for thumbnails. You can choose from auto-generated thumbnails or upload a custom one. tTo upload a custom thumbnail, click the "next" or "add thumbnail" button.

Thumbnail Requirements

Ensure your custom thumbnail meets YouTube's guidelines:

tSize: 1280 x 720 pixels with a minimum width of 640 pixels. tFormat: .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG. tSize limit: Under 2MB. tNo misleading content or inappropriate elements.

Save Changes

After selecting your thumbnail, finish the upload process and save your changes.

Check Your Channel

Once the video is published, check your channel to see the custom thumbnail displayed alongside your video. This will help you verify that the changes were applied correctly and that the thumbnail is visible and appealing.

Alternative Methods

Using YouTube Channel Studio (Desktop)

You can also enable custom thumbnails using the YouTube Channel Studio:

tGo to Channel Studio. tNavigate to the "Channel Content" section. tTap on the video you want to add a custom thumbnail to. tDown to the "Add Custom Thumbnail" option and follow the steps to upload a custom thumbnail.

Using YouTube Studio App (Mobile)

Alternatively, you can use the YouTube Studio app on your mobile device:

tDownload and install the YT Studio app. tSign in to your account. tGo to the video you want to add a custom thumbnail to. tTap the hamburger icon on top to open the menu. tTap on the "Add Custom Thumbnail" option to upload a custom thumbnail.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully enable and use custom thumbnails for your YouTube videos!