Free tool, no sign upYouTube live thumbnail checker and resizer
Drop in any image to check it against YouTube's thumbnail requirements, then save a 16:9 JPG under 2 MB that uploads from any device. Everything runs in your browser.
Drop an image here or click to choose
JPG, PNG or WebP. Nothing is uploaded.
Checks follow YouTube Help's "Add custom thumbnails on YouTube" page. YouTube can change these rules.
How to add a thumbnail to a YouTube live stream on a computer
Live streams use the same thumbnail field as normal uploads. You can set it before you go live, while you are live, or on the replay afterwards. YouTube moves its menus around from time to time, but the path is roughly:
- ·Sign in to YouTube Studio and click Create, then Go live to open the Live Control Room.
- ·For a scheduled stream, open the Manage tab and pick the stream. For the stream you are on now, stay on the Stream tab.
- ·Click Edit to open the stream details.
- ·Under Thumbnail, choose Upload thumbnail (or Upload file) and pick your 16:9 image.
- ·Click Save. Your account has to be verified for the upload option to show.
- ·Already live or finished? You can also go to YouTube Studio, Content, the Live tab, click the pencil next to the stream and change the thumbnail there.
How to change a live stream thumbnail on your phone
On a phone the upload limit is 2 MB, so run the image through the checker above first. YouTube's help describes these steps for its apps:
- ·YouTube Studio app: tap Content, pick the stream, tap Edit, then Edit thumbnail. Tap Custom thumbnail, choose the image, tap Select, then Save.
- ·YouTube app: tap your profile picture, then Your videos. Next to the stream tap More, then Edit, then Edit thumbnail. Choose Custom thumbnail, tap Select, then Save.
- ·Thumbnail changes can take a little while to appear across YouTube.
What makes a good live thumbnail
A live thumbnail does more work than a normal one, because it represents the stream for as long as it runs. On a 24/7 stream that is weeks or months of search results and recommendations with one image.
- ·Big, simple shapes and no more than a few words. It has to read at phone size.
- ·Keep text and faces out of the bottom right corner, where YouTube places its own badges and the time label.
- ·Use the same look across your streams so people recognize your channel at a glance.
- ·Test it small. The preview above is a good stand in for how it looks in a feed.
Thumbnails on a 24/7 stream
A stream that never ends still needs a strong thumbnail, since it is the one image people see before they click in. A 24/7 stream keeps showing up as live, which helps grow subscribers and views, and every visit is a chance to send people to your other socials. Loopcast sets the thumbnail for you when it creates each broadcast through your connected YouTube account. Read more in how to add a thumbnail to a YouTube live stream.
Frequently asked questions
What size should a YouTube live stream thumbnail be?
The same as any YouTube video thumbnail: a 16:9 image at least 640 pixels wide. YouTube's help page currently recommends 3840 x 2160. 1280 x 720 is still the most common size and looks sharp everywhere a thumbnail shows up.
What is the file size limit for a YouTube thumbnail?
YouTube lists 2 MB for video thumbnails uploaded from mobile and 50 MB from a computer. Keeping the file under 2 MB means it works from any device, which is why this tool aims for that.
Can I change the thumbnail while my stream is live?
Yes. Open the stream in YouTube Studio, edit its details, upload the new image under Thumbnail and save. The stream keeps running. It can take a little while for the new image to show everywhere on YouTube.
Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail?
YouTube only allows custom thumbnails on verified accounts. If the upload option is missing or greyed out, verify your channel in YouTube Studio first. The image also has to follow the Community Guidelines.
Is my image uploaded anywhere?
No. The check and the resize run entirely in your browser. The image never leaves your device until you upload it to YouTube yourself.
Want it live 24/7 without your computer on?
Loopcast keeps your videos streaming on YouTube around the clock from the cloud, and sets your thumbnail, title and description on every broadcast for you. Try Loopcast free.
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