If you’ve ever uploaded a YouTube Short and realized the automatically selected thumbnail is blurry, awkward, or just plain boring, you’ve likely looked for a “Change Thumbnail” button on your computer.
The bad news? For some reason, YouTube does not allow you to change or upload Shorts thumbnails on a PC or Mac once the video is live. The good news? You can still fix it using a simple workaround within the mobile app.
Here is exactly how to do it.
The Desktop Limitation
When you are on the YouTube Studio dashboard on your computer, you’ll notice that the thumbnail section for Shorts is often grayed out or missing the “Upload” option. This is a common frustration for creators, but the solution lies in your pocket.
Step-by-Step: Changing the Thumbnail on Mobile
To change your Shorts thumbnail, you must use the official YouTube mobile app (iOS or Android). Follow these steps:
- Open the YouTube App: Make sure you are logged into the account associated with your channel.
- Navigate to Your Content: Tap on your profile icon (usually labeled “You”) in the bottom right corner, then select “Your videos.”
- Filter for Shorts: Tap the “Shorts” tab at the top to see only your short-form content.
- Enter Edit Mode: Find the video you want to update and tap the three dots (ellipses) next to it. From the menu that appears, select “Edit.”
- The Secret Pencil Icon: Look at the top left corner of your video preview. You will see a small pencil icon. Tap it.
- Select Your Frame: A slider will appear at the bottom of the screen. While YouTube still doesn’t allow you to upload a separate image file after posting, you can slide through the entire video to pick the most engaging, high-quality frame to serve as your cover.
- Save: Once you’ve found the perfect shot, tap “Done” or the checkmark in the corner to save your changes.
Why You Should Do This
Thumbnails are the first thing a viewer sees when scrolling through the Shorts feed or your channel page. A well-chosen frame can significantly increase your click-through rate (CTR), turning a “scroll-past” video into a viral hit.
Summary & Final Tips
While it’s frustrating that we can’t upload custom-designed PNGs for Shorts after they are published, being able to choose the best frame is a huge improvement over a random auto-generated one.
Pro-Tip: If you want a specific “custom” look for your thumbnail, try editing a 1-frame “title card” into your video before you upload it. That way, you can select that specific frame using the method above!
If you find this useful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
