Your YouTube Short needs a better thumbnail, but picking a video frame and uploading a separate image use different controls. You can choose or change a frame in the YouTube app on Android and iPhone, even after publishing. For a separate custom image, use YouTube Studio on a computer with an eligible channel.
Choose a thumbnail before uploading
Start here if you're creating a Short in the main YouTube app on your Android phone or iPhone. The thumbnail picker appears on the final upload screen.
Tap Create, select Short, and record your video. Continue to the final upload screen, then tap Edit on the thumbnail.
Choose the video frame you want as the thumbnail, then tap Done to finish your selection. Complete your video details and tap Upload Short.
Change the frame after publishing
Open your channel page in the YouTube app and go to Your videos. Tap More beside the Short you want to change, then select Edit. Choose the thumbnail frame you want to use and tap Done.
Keep your published Short in place: changing its thumbnail frame doesn't require deleting and reuploading it.
Upload a separate image from your computer
A separate image won't upload through the mobile frame picker because custom Shorts image uploads are computer-only.
Use YouTube Studio on a computer with a verified channel that has custom Shorts thumbnail access. YouTube launched this option for YouTube Partner Program creators in July 2026; verification alone does not guarantee access.
Sign in to YouTube Studio on your computer and open Content. Select Shorts, then click the Short's pencil edit icon. Under Thumbnail, click Upload file.
Select your thumbnail image. YouTube recommends a 9:16 image at 2160 × 3840 pixels, in JPG or PNG format, below 50 MB. Click SAVE to apply it. If your channel lacks this option, choose a frame using the mobile steps above.
Add text or filters to your chosen frame
Use the mobile thumbnail editor to add text or filters to your selected frame. These tools work before and after uploading.
Open the thumbnail editor using the mobile route above for a new or published Short, then select the frame you want to customize. Add text to the frame and apply a filter if you want one.
Review your changes before finishing. Previous edits cannot be reopened for modification after you complete an edit. Tap Done when you're satisfied.
Verify your channel for custom uploads
Custom-image uploads require account verification. On a computer, open YouTube Studio and follow Settings > Channel > Feature eligibility > Intermediate features.
Click VERIFY PHONE NUMBER, then enter your phone number. Complete verification using the code delivered by text or voice call. This enables eligibility for intermediate features, but it does not assign a thumbnail or guarantee access to custom Shorts image uploads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't my new Shorts thumbnail showing yet?
Thumbnail changes aren't always immediate. If YouTube says you've reached the daily thumbnail upload limit, retry in 24 hours. Daily limits vary by country/region and channel history, and advanced feature access raises them. Your thumbnails must also follow the Community Guidelines: a violating thumbnail can be rejected with a strike, and repeat offenses can remove your custom thumbnail privileges for 30 days.
Can I choose a Shorts thumbnail frame on desktop?
Yes. YouTube supports choosing one of three suggested Shorts frames on desktop. For manual frame selection, use the YouTube app on an Android phone or iPhone.
Can I A/B test thumbnails on YouTube Shorts?
No. YouTube excludes Shorts from thumbnail A/B testing. Its announced Ask Studio thumbnail generation feature is for long-form videos, not Shorts.
Can I use a tablet to create a Short and choose its thumbnail?
YouTube's Shorts camera is unavailable on tablets. Use the YouTube app on an Android smartphone or iPhone for the mobile creation and thumbnail-selection process.