# Change a YouTube Shorts thumbnail By HeyMark · Updated October 16, 2026 YouTube requires phone verification for custom Shorts thumbnails. This is separate from receiving a channel verification badge. ([YouTube Help: custom thumbnails](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431?hl=en); [verify your YouTube account](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/171664?hl=en)) ## Choose a frame in the app When creating a Short, continue to the final upload screen and tap **Edit** on the thumbnail. Select a frame and tap **Done**. To change the frame after publishing, open the YouTube app, go to **Your videos**, find the Short, tap **More** → **Edit**, tap the thumbnail, select a frame, and tap **Done**. This uses an image from the video; it doesn't upload a separate file. ([Help for creating Shorts on Android](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/10343433?hl=en)) ## Upload a custom image in Studio To upload a file, use a computer: 1. Sign in to [YouTube Studio](https://studio.youtube.com/) with an account verified by phone. 2. From the left menu, open **Content** and select **Shorts** at the top. 3. Find the Short and open its details. 4. Under **Thumbnail**, click **Upload file** and choose the image on your device. 5. Check the preview and click **Save**. YouTube recommends a vertical image with a **9:16** aspect ratio. For Shorts, the recommended resolution is 2160 × 3840 pixels, with a minimum height of 640 pixels. You can upload formats such as JPG or PNG; on a computer, the file can be up to 50 MB. These are YouTube's published recommendations and limits, not a guarantee that the thumbnail looks the same on every surface. **Fictional example:** a cooking creator chooses a vertical image where the finished dish is clear. After saving, they return to the Short's details to check that the image is selected. ## If it doesn't change or appear - **You can't find “Upload file”:** confirm you're in YouTube Studio on a computer and that your account is verified. The phone app lets you choose a frame, but custom Shorts image uploads happen in Studio on a computer. - **The old image is still showing:** YouTube says the change may take time. Check again later in Studio. - **The vertical Short has a 16:9 thumbnail:** on Home, Explore, and Subscriptions, YouTube may replace it with an automatically generated 4:5 thumbnail. Your custom thumbnail may still appear in the watch feed, watch history, and non-mobile platforms. - **The file is rejected:** check the format, aspect ratio, and size limit, and make sure the image follows [YouTube's Community Guidelines](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/72431?hl=en). If you still need to choose a publish date, follow [how to schedule YouTube Shorts](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/schedule-youtube-shorts/). To link another item from the Shorts player, see [YouTube Shorts related video](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/youtube-shorts-related-video/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I change a Shorts thumbnail after uploading? YouTube lets you choose a frame from the Short in the app before or after uploading. To upload your own image, open the Short in YouTube Studio on a computer. ### Why can't I find the option to upload a thumbnail? Custom Shorts image uploads are available in YouTube Studio on a computer. YouTube requires account verification; phone verification unlocks custom thumbnails and is separate from a channel verification badge. ## See it on your own accounts. Connect Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube and use HeyMark free for 7 days. Mark answers in your voice, and you approve what goes out. [Start free](https://app.heymark.ai) · [See pricing](https://heymark.ai/en/pricing/) ## Keep reading - [Schedule YouTube Shorts in YouTube Studio](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/schedule-youtube-shorts/): Upload a Short to YouTube Studio, choose when it goes public, and check the date, time zone, and visibility before you leave it scheduled. - [Add a related video to a YouTube Short](https://heymark.ai/en/solutions/youtube-shorts-related-video/): Link a video, Short, or live stream from your channel to a Short in YouTube Studio. Check the advanced feature access and visibility YouTube requires. - [YouTube MCP server: upload videos and Shorts from Claude](https://heymark.ai/en/mcp/youtube/): Upload YouTube videos and Shorts from Claude or ChatGPT with HeyMark's MCP server: title, visibility, made for kids and the synthetic content disclosure. ## Developer and agent resources - [HeyMark MCP documentation](https://heymark.ai/en/mcp/) - [llms.txt](https://heymark.ai/llms.txt) - [Full site content for language models](https://heymark.ai/llms-full.txt) - MCP protocol endpoint: `POST https://mcp.heymark.ai` - OAuth protected-resource metadata: [/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource](https://mcp.heymark.ai/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource) - MCP server card: [/server-card](https://mcp.heymark.ai/server-card)