How to Enable Custom Thumbnails On YouTube

There are no views, subscribers, or watch time requirements to unlock custom thumbnails. All you need to do is verify your YouTube account.

Here’s the step-by-step on how to verify your account:

1. On a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio for the channel you want to use.
2. Open Settings > Channel > Feature eligibility.
3. Expand Intermediate features and select VERIFY PHONE NUMBER.
4. Choose a text message or voice call and enter your phone number.
5. Enter the verification code you receive.
6. Return to Feature eligibility and check that Intermediate features shows Enabled.

You can also start phone verification at youtube.com/verify.

Phone verification unlocks intermediate features, including custom thumbnails. A phone number can verify no more than two channels per year. Advanced access can provide higher daily limits, but it is not required to start uploading custom thumbnails.

Upload your first custom thumbnail

In YouTube Studio, select Content and open your video. Under Thumbnail, choose Upload file, select your image, and click Save. Verification enables the feature; it does not add an image to a video.

For a Short, upload the custom image in YouTube Studio on a computer. Custom Shorts thumbnail uploads are not currently available on mobile.

For the full long-form desktop and mobile steps, see how to change a YouTube thumbnail.

For design ideas, read our thumbnail tips or try the vidIQ AI YouTube Thumbnail Maker.