Using a custom thumbnail in ContentStudio
Want your videos to stand out before they even play? Custom thumbnails give you the power to control the first impression your audience gets. Whether you're uploading to YouTube, Facebook, or other platforms, ContentStudio gives you flexible options to choose your ideal thumbnail.
Let’s explore how to use custom thumbnails👇
What is a custom thumbnail?
A custom thumbnail is a still image selected manually to represent your video post. Instead of letting platforms auto-generate one, you can pick a frame from your video or upload a separate image for more control and brand consistency.
How to use custom thumbnails in ContentStudio
When uploading a video post in the Composer:
- 1
- Add your video file as usual.
- 2
- Once the video is uploaded, you’ll see a custom thumbnail option.
- 3
- You have three main options:
- Choose Suggested: Select from automatically suggested thumbnails generated by the platform.
- Choose From Video: Play your video and pause it at the frame you want. ContentStudio captures that paused frame as the thumbnail.
- Upload Image: Upload a custom image from your device as the video thumbnail.
Thumbnail options by platform
Here are the options you can expect across different platforms:
| Platform | Choose Suggested | Choose From Video | Upload Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube (except Shorts) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Instagram (Only Reels) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| TikTok | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| GMB | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tumblr | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bluesky | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| X (Twitter) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
⚠️ Platform Limitations to Note
- YouTube: You must pause the video to choose a frame; frame selection won’t work if the video is still playing.
- TikTok: Currently, it doesn’t allow custom thumbnail selection via ContentStudio.
FAQs
Q1. Can I upload a completely different image as a thumbnail?
A: Yes! Just use the "Upload Thumbnail" option after uploading your video.
Q2. What happens if I skip selecting a thumbnail?
A: The platform will automatically generate a thumbnail from a random video frame.