I created this video to show exactly how to change your YouTube video’s thumbnail after it’s already published. Here’s the step-by-step:

Whether you uploaded in a hurry or just created a better design later, updating your thumbnail can give your video a second life — and improve click-through rates.

In the tutorial, I walk through:

  1. Opening YouTube Studio
  2. Clicking Content in the left sidebar
  3. Finding the video and clicking Edit (pencil icon)
  4. Scrolling to the Thumbnail section
  5. Clicking Upload thumbnail to select a new image
  6. Saving changes

Your new thumbnail will update within a minute or two across all devices. I also explain image specs: use a JPG/PNG, under 2MB, ideally 1280×720 resolution.

This trick is great for A/B testing thumbnails or fixing outdated visuals. I’ve done this a ton — sometimes a new thumbnail can instantly boost engagement on an underperforming video.

Have you tried updating thumbnails after launch, or do you set them once and forget it?