YouTube thumbnail size, format, and upload limits
Use a 16:9 master for long-form video and check the file on the device you will upload from. A correctly framed image can still fail because of its format or file size.
Use a 16:9 master for long-form video and check the file on the device you will upload from. A correctly framed image can still fail because of its format or file size.
Choose a master size
Work at 3840 × 2160 if your source supports it. A 1280 × 720 draft still has the same ratio, but resampling it to 4K cannot restore detail. Keep a full-resolution editable master and export a separate upload copy.
Check the actual delivery file
Use JPG for a photo-heavy composition or PNG when fine typography needs it. YouTube currently documents different upload limits by device. A file accepted from desktop may exceed the 2 MB mobile limit for regular video thumbnails. Measure the exported file itself.
Fix the failure you can see
If the ratio is wrong, crop before encoding. If the dimensions are right but the file is too heavy, lower JPG quality until the visible text edges are still crisp. Preview the exact export at a small size before sending it to Studio.
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Turn SRT or VTT captions into readable notes
An exported caption file contains timing and markup that are useful to a player but get in the way when you read the text. Keep the timed file and make a separate plain-text copy.
PNG, JPG, or WebP for YouTube thumbnails?
The best working format and the best delivery format can differ. Choose the export based on both the picture and the upload destination.
Compress a thumbnail without muddying the details
Compress for the upload limit you need. Keep the uncompressed master so future edits do not inherit compression artifacts.