How to Update a YouTube Shorts Thumbnail

Caught yourself staring at a blurry, awkward, or just plain bad thumbnail that YouTube automatically picked for your new Short? You’re not alone. Unlike long-form videos, you can't just upload a custom thumbnail for Shorts, which leaves many creators frustrated. This article cuts straight to the chase and shows you exactly how to select the perfect thumbnail frame during the upload process, and what your options are if the video is already live.

The Hard Truth About YouTube Shorts Thumbnails

Let's address the biggest point of confusion right away: As of right now, you cannot upload a separate, custom-designed image for your YouTube Shorts thumbnail in the same way you can for a regular YouTube video. You also cannot go back and edit the thumbnail of a Short that has already been published. YouTube automatically grabs a frame from your video to serve as the thumbnail on the Shorts shelf and your channel page.

So, does this mean you have zero control? Absolutely not.

While you can't upload a custom file, you can choose the exact frame from your video that you want to serve as the thumbnail. The catch? You have to do it from your mobile device during the upload process, before you hit "Publish." If you miss this step, your opportunity is gone - at least without re-uploading the video entirely.

How to Select a Thumbnail Frame for a YouTube Short (The Official Way)

This is the one method YouTube provides to control what your audience sees first. It's surprisingly simple, but it only works in the YouTube mobile app. You can’t do this from your desktop.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Start Your Short Upload

Open the YouTube app on your smartphone. Tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen and select "Create a Short." You can either record a new video right there or upload a pre-edited video from your camera roll.

Step 2: Add Your Edits

Proceed through the usual creation flow. Add sounds, text, filters, or use any of the A.R. effects to finish your clip. Once you're happy with the edits, tap the checkmark icon and then tap "Next" in the top-right corner.

Step 3: Find the "Edit" Pencil Icon

You have now landed on the "Add details" screen, where you write your caption and set your visibility. Look at the preview of your video at the top left of the screen. You should see a small pencil icon overlaid on the video preview. This is the key to choosing your thumbnail.

Step 4: Choose Your Perfect Frame

Tap that pencil icon. This will take you to the "Select thumbnail" screen. At the bottom, you'll see a filmstrip view of your entire video. Simply drag your finger along this filmstrip to scrub through every frame of your Short. Watch the preview above as you go, and stop when you land on the most compelling, clear, and attention-grabbing frame.

Step 5: Confirm and Upload

Once you've found the perfect shot, tap "Done" in the top-right corner. You'll be taken back to the "Add details" page, but now the preview will show the frame you selected. Finish writing your caption, choose your settings, and tap "Upload Short." That's it! The frame you picked is now locked in as your thumbnail.

What Makes a Good Shorts Thumbnail Frame? Strategies for Standing Out

Just because you can pick a frame doesn't mean every frame is a winner. The Shorts feed is an incredibly competitive space. Your thumbnail has a split second to convince someone to stop scrolling. Here's what to look for when choosing your frame:

• Choose Clarity Over Motion Blur: The #1 mistake is picking a frame that’s blurry because it's mid-motion. Find a moment of relative stillness where the subject is sharp and clear. If your video is high-action, find the brief pause just before or after the action peaks.
• Show a Face, Especially an Emotive One: Our brains are hardwired to notice and react to human faces. A frame showing a clear, expressive face - surprise, laughter, shock, curiosity - is almost always more effective than one showing an object or a wide shot.
• Hint at the Payoff: Your thumbnail should create an intrigue gap. If your video has a big reveal, a cool transformation, or a surprising outcome, select a frame that hints at it without giving everything away. For example, in a "before and after" cleaning video, the "after" shot often makes a great thumbnail.
• Find Bold Colors and High Contrast: The Shorts feed can be visually noisy. A bright, high-contrast frame with bold colors will naturally pop and draw the eye more effectively than a muted or dark one.
• Think About Text on Your Video: If you've added text in your video editor that summarizes the hook (e.g., "3 Mistakes You're Making"), try to select a frame where that text is fully visible. This adds immediate context for the viewer.

"Oops, I Already Uploaded It" - The Unfortunate Workaround

What happens if your Short is already live and you’re stuck with a terrible thumbnail? This is where the bad news comes in. As mentioned, there is no "edit thumbnail" button for live Shorts. Your only option is to delete the video and re-upload it.

This is a big decision, and it comes with a major consequence: you will lose all accrued views, likes, comments, and engagement on the original video.

So, when is it worth it?

• For a new video with low views: If you posted the Short within the last few hours and it only has a handful of views, deleting and re-uploading is a no-brainer. You've lost almost nothing and have everything to gain with a better thumbnail.
• If the thumbnail is actively hurting perception: Maybe YouTube picked a frame that's a black screen, completely blurry, or gives away the punchline of a joke. In this case, even with a few hundred views, a terrible thumbnail might be strangling the video's long-term potential. Fixing it could be worth resetting the view count.
• If the video is a cornerstone of a campaign: If this Short is a critical piece of content linked to a product launch or a major brand initiative, its appearance matters more than a few early views. For brand consistency, it might be best to re-upload.

If you decide to go this route, make sure you have the original video file saved on your phone. Then, simply delete the old Short from your YouTube Studio and follow the exact mobile upload process detailed above, paying close attention when you get to the "Select thumbnail" screen.

An Advanced Strategy: Editing a "Thumbnail Frame" Into Your Video

For creators who want near-total control over their Shorts' appearance, there's a more proactive method: bake the thumbnail right into your video edit.

This technique involves adding a single, dedicated frame to your video file specifically so you can select it during the upload process. Think of it as creating a custom still image and inserting it into the video.

Here's how to do it:

1. Create Your Thumbnail Image: In a program like Canva, Adobe Express, or even just your video editor's text tool, design a simple, bold still image. It should be in a 9:16 vertical format. This could be a compelling photo from the video, overlaid with a text title. Make it look like a real thumbnail.
2. Add it to Your Video Edit: In your video editing software (like CapCut, VN Editor, Adobe Premiere Rush, etc.), import this image. Add it to either the very beginning or the very end of your video timeline.
3. Set the Duration to a Blink: Make this still-frame incredibly short - just a flicker. A duration of 0.1 to 0.2 seconds is perfect. It will be so fast that no one watching the Short will consciously notice it, but it will be present as a selectable frame in the filmstrip.
4. Export and Upload: Export your final video file and upload it using the YouTube mobile app. When you get to the "Select thumbnail" screen, you will be able to scrub to the very beginning or end and select your professionally designed frame.

This method bridges the gap between Shorts and long-form videos, giving you the power to craft a cohesive, branded look for your channel's Shorts tab. It’s an extra step, but for dedicated content creators, the consistency it provides is well worth the effort.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the YouTube Shorts thumbnail really comes down to process. By incorporating the frame selection step into your mobile upload routine - or even planning for it in your video edit - you can move from letting the algorithm decide to consciously shaping what viewers see first. This small change gives you back a critical layer of control over your content's first impression.

Perfecting your frame selection is a great step, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. When you're managing multiple videos across Shorts, Reels, and TikTok, your workflow can get messy fast. That's why we created Postbase. Our platform is designed from the ground up to handle short-form video. You can visually plan your entire content schedule in one calendar, schedule a video one time to post across different platforms, and know with rock-solid confidence that it will publish exactly when you want. See how a truly modern social media tool can give you some time back at Postbase.