How to Change Your YouTube Thumbnail

YouTube thumbnail images are used to give viewers a preview of a video or to represent a user as a profile image. Both of these types of YouTube thumbnails can be set and changed through your user account settings.

• Instructions

1. Log in to YouTube and click on "Account" in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Click on the "My Videos" link.
2. Locate a video for which you'd like to change the thumbnail image. Click on the "Edit Video Info" button to the right of the video information.
3. View the available video stills for your YouTube video. The thumbnail image that is currently being used will be outlined in yellow. Click on the image you would like to change it to and then click on "Update Video Info."

• Profile Thumbnails
  

1. Navigate to your account page and click on "Personal Profile" under the "Manage My Channel" menu.
2. Find the "Profile Picture" section and click on "Upload an Image." Click "Browse" to browse your computer for a picture to upload.
3. Browse your hard drive until you find an image you want to use. Highlight it and click "Open." Then, click "Upload Picture."

• Tips & Warnings

! You can set your profile picture to one of your video stills by choosing "Choose from your video stills" on your Personal Profile page. Click on one of the available stills and click "Choose still."
! YouTube thumbnail changes can take up to six hours to be reflected on your YouTube page.