YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Save the thumbnail of any YouTube video in HD and every smaller size, as a JPG.
No sign-up. The thumbnail comes straight from YouTube to your device, and nothing is stored.
Thumbnails belong to the channel that made the video. Use one for your own videos, for reference, or with the owner's permission, and do not pass someone else's thumbnail off as your own.
YouTube Thumbnail Downloader at a glance
- Price
- Free
- Largest size
- 1280 × 720 (HD), when the video has it
- Other sizes
- 640 × 480, 480 × 360, 320 × 180, 120 × 90
- Format
- JPG, exactly as YouTube stores it
- Links that work
- Videos, Shorts, live streams, youtu.be
- Passes through our server
- No, it comes straight from YouTube
How to use YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
- Copy the video linkOn a phone, tap Share under the video, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address from the browser bar.
- Paste itPaste the link into YouTube video link. The thumbnails appear straight away; if not, press Get thumbnail.
- Save the size you needPress Download next to a size to save it as a JPG. HD is listed first when the video has it. Copy link gives the image's web address instead.
Paste the link to a YouTube video and see its thumbnail straight away, in every size YouTube keeps for it: HD 1280 × 720 when the video has one, then 640 × 480, 480 × 360, 320 × 180 and 120 × 90. Each size shows its exact file size and saves as a JPG named after the video with one tap. It works with normal videos, Shorts, live streams and youtu.be links, on phone or computer, with no app or sign-up. The picture comes directly from YouTube's own image server to your device and is never stored by us.
Every YouTube video has a thumbnail, the picture shown before it plays, and YouTube
keeps it at several sizes. This YouTube thumbnail downloader finds all of them from the
video's link, shows the exact file size of each, and saves the one you pick as a JPG.
Links from youtube.com, youtu.be, Shorts, live streams and
embedded players all work.
Which thumbnail size to choose
| Size | Pixels | Shape | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| HD | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | The sharpest copy: slides, articles, a backup of your own thumbnail |
| Standard | 640 × 480 | 4:3, bars on widescreen videos | The best size when a video has no HD thumbnail |
| High | 480 × 360 | 4:3, bars on widescreen videos | Kept for every video |
| Medium | 320 × 180 | 16:9 | Small previews and lists, no bars |
| Small | 120 × 90 | 4:3 | Tiny icons |
Only the sizes that exist for the video are listed. The largest is shown first and previewed above the list.
Where the picture comes from
When you paste a link, your browser works out the video's id and asks YouTube's own image server for each size. The files come straight from YouTube to your device, so there is no waiting for a server in between, and the link you paste never reaches us. Nothing is re-compressed: the JPG you save is exactly the file YouTube serves.
Using thumbnails fairly
A thumbnail is part of the creator's work. Download your own freely, for example to reuse a design or keep a copy of an old one. Other people's thumbnails are fine to look at closely or keep for your own reference, but ask the channel before reusing one, and never upload someone else's thumbnail as your own. FreeMicroTools is not affiliated with YouTube or Google.
What it does
- Every size YouTube keeps, up to HD 1280 × 720, largest first
- Instant preview, exact file size, and a JPG named after the video
- Works with video, Shorts, live stream, youtu.be and embed links
- Copy the direct image link for any size
- No app, extension, account or watermark
- The image downloads straight from YouTube; nothing is stored
Questions
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Copy the video's link from the Share button, paste it into the box above, and press Download next to the size you want. The thumbnail saves as a JPG named after the video.
How do I get a YouTube thumbnail in HD?
HD, 1280 × 720, is listed first whenever the video has it. YouTube only keeps an HD thumbnail for some videos, so older or low-resolution ones may top out at 480 × 360. No tool can download a size YouTube does not keep.
What sizes does YouTube keep for a thumbnail?
YouTube's Data API documentation lists 120 × 90, 320 × 180 and 480 × 360 for every video, plus 640 × 480 and 1280 × 720 for some. This tool finds every one that exists for the video and shows the exact file size of each.
Why do some sizes have black bars?
The 640 × 480, 480 × 360 and 120 × 90 sizes are the older 4:3 shape. For a widescreen video YouTube fills the extra space with black bars at the top and bottom. The HD 1280 × 720 and 320 × 180 sizes are 16:9 and have no bars.
Can I download the thumbnail of a YouTube Short?
Yes. Paste the Short's link, the one containing /shorts/, and the thumbnails appear in the same sizes as any other video. YouTube serves them in landscape sizes, so the tall picture usually sits in the middle with a darkened, blurred copy of itself filling the sides.
Can I use someone else's YouTube thumbnail?
A thumbnail belongs to the channel that made it, and downloading one does not give you any rights to it. Use thumbnails of your own videos freely. For someone else's, keep to personal reference, or ask the owner before reusing it, and never upload it as your own.
What size should my own YouTube thumbnail be?
YouTube's thumbnail help page asks for a 16:9 JPG or PNG at least 640 pixels wide, recommends 3840 × 2160 for videos, and needs a verified account to upload one. Check that page for the current rules, as YouTube changes them from time to time.
Why is the downloaded thumbnail smaller than what I uploaded?
Whatever size was uploaded, YouTube's public image server offers thumbnails at up to 1280 × 720. That is the largest size any thumbnail downloader can get.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Copy the link in the YouTube app, paste it here in Safari or Chrome, and tap Download. On iPhone the JPG goes to Downloads in the Files app; open it and tap Share, then Save Image, to add it to Photos.
Can I download the thumbnail of a private or deleted video?
No. Only thumbnails YouTube still shows publicly can be downloaded. If a video's thumbnail was changed recently, YouTube's image server can keep showing the old picture for up to about two hours.
Is this made by YouTube?
No. YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC. This tool is not created, endorsed by, or affiliated with YouTube or Google.
Is it free?
Yes, completely free, with no sign-up and no limit on use.