YouTube Shorts have quickly become one of the most effective ways to reach new audiences. Their vertical, mobile-friendly format allows creators to share engaging content in under 60 seconds. However, many wonder if they can freely customize the thumbnail of their Shorts, as they would with standard videos. Understanding how YouTube handles thumbnails for Shorts will help you optimize your content’s presentation and improve its appeal to viewers.
Unlike traditional YouTube uploads, Shorts are designed for quick discovery, and their thumbnails are typically chosen automatically by the platform. While this system is meant to streamline content delivery, it can be frustrating for creators who want full control over their video’s first impression. I will show you in the video below how to change your YouTube Shorts thumbnail using a very simple trick.