YouTube thumbnail not showing

Check what YouTube is serving

Paste the video's link below. You'll see the thumbnail YouTube's image server is handing out right now, in every size. If the new one shows here but not on YouTube, it's a matter of time or of your browser's cache. If the old one shows here too, YouTube hasn't switched yet, or the upload didn't save.

If your own thumbnail isn't showing

You've only just changed it. Thumbnail changes can take time to show on YouTube. Browsers and other sites may also keep the old image: when we checked, YouTube's image server let browsers reuse a copy for up to two hours. Wait before uploading again.

It's a vertical video with a 16:9 thumbnail. On the home, explore and subscription pages, YouTube replaces it with an automatic 4:5 thumbnail. Your own thumbnail still shows in the watch feed, in watch history and away from mobile. Nothing is wrong; that's how YouTube handles vertical videos.

The upload didn't go through. You need a verified account to upload a custom thumbnail. Check the file too: JPG or PNG, at least 640 pixels wide for a video (640 tall for a Short), and under 2 MB from a phone or 50 MB from a computer. If you see "Daily custom thumbnail limit reached", try again in 24 hours. See how to change a YouTube thumbnail for the steps.

YouTube removed it. A thumbnail that isn't right for all audiences can be removed even when it doesn't break the Community Guidelines. YouTube tells you, and you can upload another. A thumbnail that does break the guidelines is removed and can earn a strike.

It's hidden in some search results. YouTube may turn off custom thumbnails for certain search results when it considers them inappropriate for viewers.

An A/B test is running. During a test, viewers see different thumbnails, and a small control group only sees the default. You may not see the one you expect. When the test ends, the winner is shown to everyone.

If no thumbnails load on YouTube

When thumbnails are blank or grey across YouTube, work through YouTube's own troubleshooting steps for loading problems:

1. Reload the page, or close and reopen the app.
2. Restart your internet connection, or try another network.
3. Update your browser, or the YouTube app.
4. Clear your browser's cache and cookies.
5. Check your extensions, including ad blockers. Try YouTube in a private (incognito) window with all extensions off.
6. Restart your device.

If thumbnails load in a private window but not in your normal one, an extension or your cache is the cause.

If a thumbnail doesn't show on your website

If you link to a thumbnail on YouTube's image server, check that the size exists for that video. The HD file (maxresdefault.jpg) and the 640 × 480 file (sddefault.jpg) are missing for some videos. YouTube then sends a 120 × 90 grey placeholder with a "not found" status. Paste the link into the tool above: sizes that don't exist are greyed out, so you can pick one that does.

For more on image quality, see why a YouTube thumbnail looks blurry.