How to Upload a Thumbnail for YouTube Shorts

Trying to add a custom thumbnail to your YouTube Shorts and hitting a wall? You're in the right place. The process isn't the same as it is for regular long-form videos, which is why many creators get confused and frustrated. This guide will walk you through the exact steps to upload a thumbnail for your Shorts on both mobile and desktop, including the professional workaround for using a truly custom-designed image.

Why Your YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Matters

YouTube Shorts are designed for vertical, in-feed scrolling where they auto-play instantly. This has led many creators to believe thumbnails are irrelevant, but that's a huge misconception. While viewers swiping through the Shorts Shelf won’t see your thumbnail, it appears in several other key locations where people discover your content.

Here’s where your Shorts thumbnail can make or break a click:

• Your Channel Page: When a viewer visits your channel, they'll see a grid of your content under the "Shorts" tab. A clean, consistent set of thumbnails makes your brand look professional and invites them to browse.
• The Subscription Feed: Your subscribers often see your Shorts pop up in their main feed, where the thumbnail competes for attention against long-form videos and community posts.
• YouTube Search Results: If someone searches for a topic your Short covers, your video will appear in the search results with its thumbnail front and center. A compelling image can be the deciding factor between a click for you or a competitor.
• Suggested Videos: Your Shorts can be recommended next to or after long-form videos. A great thumbnail helps your vertical video stand out in a horizontal world.
• Homepage Recommendations: On desktop and tablets, YouTube often displays Shorts on the homepage in a more traditional grid format, using thumbnails to entice clicks.

A strong thumbnail transforms your Short from just another random clip into a polished piece of content. It shows viewers what to expect, sparks curiosity, and reinforces your brand identity - all before they even press play.

The Two Ways to Set a Thumbnail for YouTube Shorts

Before we get into the step-by-step instructions, it's important to understand a key limitation that causes most of the confusion. Unlike regular YouTube videos, you cannot upload a separate, custom-designed image file (like a JPG or PNG) as a thumbnail for a YouTube Short. The platform simply doesn't support it in the same way.

This leaves you with two main methods:

1. Selecting a Frame from the Video: This is the official, built-in method any creator can use. It's available directly in the YouTube app on mobile and on the desktop YouTube Studio. You simply scrub through your video and pick a single frame to serve as your cover image.
2. The "Embedded" Custom Thumbnail: This is the advanced workaround that top creators use to get a fully designed, custom graphic as their thumbnail. It involves editing your thumbnail image into your video file as a single, fleeting frame at the beginning. You can then select this as your frame "from the video" during the upload process.

We'll cover how to do both, starting with the simplest method on your phone.

How to Choose a Thumbnail Frame on Mobile (The Simple Method)

This is the most straightforward way to add a cover image to your Shorts, right from the YouTube app. The entire process takes less than a minute.

Step 1: Upload Your Short in the YouTube App

Open the YouTube app and tap the center plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen. From the menu, select "Create a Short." You have two choices here: record a new video on the fly with the Shorts camera or select a pre-edited video clip from your phone's gallery.

Step 2: Add Your Edits and Proceed to the Details Screen

Once you've recorded or selected your video, you can go through the standard Shorts creation flow. Add a sound, apply filters, include text overlays, or use any other creative touches. After you're done editing, tap the "Next" button in the top-right corner to move on to the final step.

Step 3: Locate the Edit Thumbnail Icon

On this next screen, you'll see a few options: adding your caption, setting visibility, and other details. Look at the top-left corner of the video preview. You should see a small pencil icon layered over the thumbnail. This is the magic button you've been looking for. Tap on it to open the frame selector.

Step 4: Scrub Through and Pick the Perfect Frame

You’ll now see a filmstrip view of your complete video at the bottom of the screen. Drag the white box along this filmstrip to scrub through every moment of your Short. Look for a frame that is clear, engaging, and accurately represents the most exciting part of your video. Ideally, find a shot with a clear view of a face, an action, or text that builds anticipation. Once you land on the perfect frame, tap "Done" in the top-right corner.

Step 5: Finalize Your Title and Upload

With your new thumbnail set, you’re back on the final details screen. Write a compelling title, add your relevant #hashtags, choose your visibility settings (Public, Unlisted, or Private), and then tap the blue "Upload Short" button. Your Short will now be published with the frame you selected as its cover image.

How to Add a Thumbnail on Desktop: The Two Options

Uploading from your computer gives you a bit more flexibility and is essential for the "pro" method of using a completely custom graphic. YouTube Studio now supports frame selection for Shorts, but the more reliable method for a perfect custom image remains the "embed" technique.

Option 1: Choosing a Frame in YouTube Studio

This process mirrors what you can do on mobile but within the desktop interface. It’s ideal if your video already contains a frame that works well as a thumbnail.

1. Open YouTube Studio: Navigate to studio.youtube.com and sign in.
2. Upload Your Video: Click the "CREATE" button in the top-right corner and select "Upload videos." Choose your vertical video file (under 60 seconds) to begin the upload process.
3. Find the Thumbnail Section: On the "Details" screen, scroll down a bit until you see the "Thumbnail" section. For a long time, this section didn't work for Shorts, but that has changed.
4. Select Your Frame: YouTube will automatically generate a few options. If you don’t like them, and your video is eligible, you might see an option to choose a frame yourself. Like the mobile version, you can scrub through to find the ideal moment. This feature is still rolling out and can be finicky, if you don't see it, move on to the pro method below.
5. Complete the Upload: Fill out your title and description, and publish your Short.

Option 2: The Custom Thumbnail "Embed" Method (The Pro Way)

This is the secret sauce for creators with polished, clickable Shorts thumbnails. If you’ve ever seen a Short with a custom graphic and text that wasn’t actually in the video itself, this is how they did it. The trick is to bake your desired thumbnail into a single frame of the video file before uploading it.

Step 1: Design Your Custom Thumbnail

First, create the image you want to use. Use a tool like Canva, Figma, or Adobe Photoshop to design a graphic in a 9:16 aspect ratio (1080x1920 pixels). Follow these best practices:

• Use big, bold text to communicate the video's hook.
• Feature bright, contrasting colors that stand out.
• Show a clear, emotional human face if possible.
• Keep it simple and uncluttered - it needs to be clear at a tiny size.

Save this finished thumbnail graphic as a JPG or PNG file.

Step 2: Add the Image Frame to Your Video File

Now, open your video editing software of choice (this works in CapCut, Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or even free online editors). Import your finished Short video and your new thumbnail image.

Either at the very beginning or the very end of your video timeline, drag your thumbnail image onto the timeline. Here’s the important part: set its duration to the absolute minimum possible, like a single frame or 0.1 seconds. It should be on screen for such a short time that a viewer wouldn’t even notice it when watching the video.

Export this edited video - complete with the extra hidden frame - as a new MP4 file ready for upload.

Step 3: Upload and Select Your Hidden Frame

Now, upload this new video file to YouTube Studio just like in the first desktop option. When you get to the "Thumbnail" section, use the frame selector to navigate to the very beginning (or end) of your video. You will now see your perfectly designed custom thumbnail appear as an option to select. Click on it, save, and you’re done.

This method gives you complete creative control over your thumbnail, allowing you to create something far more clickable and professional than a random frame from your footage.

Final Thoughts

Selecting the right thumbnail for your YouTube Shorts is a small step that dramatically elevates your channel's presentation. It's the key to driving views from search, feeds, and suggestions - real estate where clickability is everything. Whether you choose a frame from the video or embed a truly custom graphic into your file, you're taking control over how your content appears across the entire platform.

Creating great content is one thing, but managing it all consistently can feel overwhelming. We've found that using a streamlined workflow is crucial for planning, scheduling, and posting on a set schedule. That's why we built Postbase from the ground up for creators. We help you plan your content and schedule your Shorts, Reels, and TikToks to all your platforms at once - all without the frustration of legacy tools that aren't built for the way creators work today.

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