How to Change a YouTube Shorts Thumbnail on the Mobile App

Trying to change the thumbnail for your YouTube Short on your phone can feel surprisingly confusing. You published a great video, but the default frame it chose is blurry or completely misses the point. The good news is you can change it, and this guide will walk you through exactly how to select the perfect image both before and after you publish. We'll cover the simple steps on the YouTube and YouTube Studio mobile apps, plus some tips for picking a frame that gets more views.

First, The Unfortunate Truth About Custom Thumbnails for Shorts

Let's get one thing straight right away: As of right now, you cannot upload a completely custom, pre-designed thumbnail for a YouTube Short from your phone or desktop. Unlike long-form YouTube videos where you can craft a perfect graphic in Canva or Photoshop, Shorts are limited to using a single frame from the video itself.

While this might feel limiting, it’s a deliberate choice by YouTube to keep the Shorts feed feeling more raw, organic, and distinct from the main platform. The focus is on the content in the video, not a heavily edited cover image. The trick isn't about creating something from scratch, it's about mastering the art of choosing the most compelling frame hidden within your video.

How to Select Your Shorts Thumbnail (Before You Publish)

The best and most reliable time to set your thumbnail is during the upload process itself. This method is available to everyone directly within the main YouTube app.

Once you’ve shot your video or selected it from your camera roll, you’ll be taken to the editing screen where you can add sounds, text, filters, and other effects. After you’ve made your edits and tapped "Next," you'll land on the final publishing screen where you add your caption and visibility settings. Don't hit "Upload Short" just yet! Look closely at the preview of your video at the top.

Follow these steps to choose your thumbnail frame:

1. Navigate to the final "Add details" screen before publishing your Short.
2. Look for a small pencil icon (✏️) overlaid on the top left corner of the video thumbnail preview. Tap it.
3. You'll now see a filmstrip view of your entire video along the bottom. You can drag the selector box left and right with your finger to scrub through every frame of your video.
4. Pause on the exact frame you want to use as your thumbnail. Take your time to find the most eye-catching moment.
5. Once you’ve found the perfect frame, tap "Done" in the top right corner.
6. The video preview will now update to show your chosen frame. You can now finish filling out your details and tap "Upload Short."

Doing this every time you upload is a fantastic habit to build. It ensures every Short you publish has a deliberately chosen, high-impact first impression instead of a random, system-generated one.

How to Change Your Shorts Thumbnail (After It's Already Published)

Okay, so you forgot to set the thumbnail before uploading, or you've changed your mind about the frame you picked. For a long time, this was impossible to fix once the Short was live. Fortunately, YouTube has quietly added this feature into the YouTube Studio mobile app. If you don’t have it already, you’ll need to download it from the App Store or Google Play Store. It’s an essential tool for any creator.

Here’s how to edit the thumbnail of an existing Short:

1. Open the YouTube Studio app on your phone.
2. In the bottom navigation menu, tap on the "Content" tab.
3. You might land on the "Videos" tab by default. At the top of the screen, tap the "Shorts" filter to see only your Shorts videos.
4. Scroll through your content and tap the Short whose thumbnail you want to change.
5. On the video details screen, tap the pencil icon (✏️) at the very top of the screen.
6. You’ll be taken to the "Edit video" page. Tap the pencil icon again, this time located on the thumbnail itself in the top left corner.
7. This will bring up the same filmstrip editor you saw during the upload process. Scrub through your video and select a new frame.
8. Tap "Done" in the top right, then make sure to tap "Save" on the next screen to confirm your changes.

Your thumbnail will update across YouTube within a few minutes. This is a game-changer for reviving older content or just fixing a simple mistake without having to delete and re-upload your work.

Strategies for Picking a Thumbnail Frame That Actually Works

Knowing how to change the thumbnail is only half the battle. Knowing what to choose is what separates good Shorts from great ones. Your thumbnail’s one job is to get someone to stop scrolling. Here are a few strategies for choosing a frame that does exactly that.

Go for the Face

There's nothing more compelling online than a human face showing a clear emotion. Whether it’s shock, joy, concentration, or laughter, a frame that captures an expressive moment is almost always a winner. The human brain is hardwired to connect with faces, so prioritize frames where your face (or someone else’s) is front and center and clearly visible.

Highlight the "Peak Moment"

What is the most interesting, surprising, or satisfying part of your video? That moment is a prime candidate for your thumbnail. If your video is a DIY project, use a frame of the incredible final result. If it's a sketch, choose the punchline moment. This creates a curiosity gap - viewers see the peak moment and feel compelled to watch to understand how it happened.

Look for Dynamic Action

Static, boring frames get ignored. Look for a shot with implied movement or energy. A picture of someone mid-jump, ingredients being tossed into a bowl, or a painter's brush mid-stroke is far more interesting than a shot of them just standing there. Find the frame that best hints at the action happening in the video.

Ensure Clarity & Brightness

The Shorts feed moves fast. Your thumbnail has a split second to be understood. Avoid frames that are out of focus, poorly lit, or visually cluttered. Look through your video and pick a moment that is sharp, bright, and has a clear subject. Good lighting in your videos isn't just for the video itself - it’s for creating better thumbnail options.

Will We Ever Get Custom Thumbnails for Shorts?

This is the million-dollar question for many a creator. For now, YouTube seems intent on keeping Shorts distinct from their long-form counterparts, and the frame-only approach reinforces that distinction. Platforms like TikTok and Reels operate similarly, favoring in-the-moment authenticity over polished, graphic-heavy thumbnails.

However, YouTube is constantly testing new creator tools. It’s entirely possible they may introduce a more flexible thumbnail option in the future, especially if they see a demand for it. For now, your best strategy is to become an expert at filming and editing your content with strong thumbnail moments in mind. Think about those "freeze frames" as you're creating a storyline so you have fantastic options to pick from when it's time to upload.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right thumbnail for your YouTube Shorts is a small step that makes a huge impact on your video's performance. By remembering to select your frame during the upload process or using the YouTube Studio app to edit it later, you gain complete control over that critical first impression, turning overlooked videos into attention-grabbing content.

As we spend all day helping creators succeed, we know that managing all these small details across multiple platforms can feel overwhelming. That’s why we built our visual calendar in Postbase to make it simple. Not only can you schedule your Shorts in advance, but you can see your entire month of YouTube content planned out visually, which helps you plan your thumbnail strategy alongside everything else.