Where to find the picture settings on YouTube
YouTube stores your channel picture in two places, and which one you change depends on what you want to update. Your channel picture (the small circle that appears next to your name) lives in your channel settings. Your video thumbnail (the image that shows before someone clicks play) is edited separately for each video. Most people need to change one or the other, not both.
To reach your channel picture settings, sign into YouTube on a computer or phone, click your profile icon in the top right corner, and select "Create a channel" or "Manage your channel" depending on whether you already have one. On a phone, tap your profile icon, then tap "Create a channel" or go directly to your channel by tapping your profile icon again and selecting your channel name.
If you want to change a video thumbnail instead, you'll go to YouTube Studio, which is the editing dashboard for creators. From your profile icon, select "YouTube Studio" to open the creator tools.
Key Takeaways
- Your channel picture is a small circle next to your name and is changed through your channel settings, while a video thumbnail is the large image that shows before someone clicks play.
- Channel pictures must be a square image (at least 98 by 98 pixels, though 800 by 800 pixels works best) in JPG, GIF, or PNG format.
- Video thumbnails should be 1280 by 720 pixels in JPG, GIF, or PNG format, and you can upload a new one for any video you've published.
- YouTube Studio is where you change individual video thumbnails, while your profile settings control your channel picture.
- Changes to your channel picture appear across YouTube within a few minutes, but thumbnail changes may take longer to show in search results and recommendations.
How to change your channel picture
Open YouTube and click your profile icon in the top right corner. Select "Create a channel" if you don't have one yet, or "Manage your channel" if you do. Once you're on your channel page, look for the circular profile picture and hover your mouse over it (or tap it on a phone). A pencil icon or "Edit channel" button will appear.
Click or tap that icon to open the upload window. You can either drag a picture file onto the screen or click "Upload photo" to browse your computer or phone. YouTube accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG files. The image should be square—at least 98 by 98 pixels, though 800 by 800 pixels is ideal because it will look sharp on all devices and screen sizes.
Once you've selected your image, YouTube will show you a preview. You can crop or adjust the position of the picture before confirming. Click "Save" or "Confirm" to explore the change. Your new channel picture will appear across YouTube within a few minutes, including next to your comments, uploads, and channel name.
How to change a video thumbnail
Sign into YouTube and click your profile icon, then select "YouTube Studio." On the left side menu, click "Content" to see all your videos. Find the video you want to change and hover over it (or tap it on a phone). Click the pencil icon that appears to open the video details page.
Scroll down to the "Thumbnail" section. You'll see the current thumbnail with an upload button next to it. Click "Upload thumbnail" to choose a new image from your computer or phone. YouTube accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG files. The best size is 1280 by 720 pixels, though any square or rectangular image will work.
After you upload the image, YouTube will show you a preview. Click "Save" or "Confirm" to explore the change. The new thumbnail will appear on your video page right away, but it may take several hours or longer to show the updated image in YouTube search results, recommendations, and other places where YouTube displays thumbnails automatically.
Image size and format requirements
YouTube is flexible about image formats but has minimum size requirements to keep pictures looking sharp. For your channel picture, use a square image at least 98 by 98 pixels wide. If you want the picture to look crisp on large screens and in all places YouTube displays it, aim for 800 by 800 pixels. YouTube accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG files.
For video thumbnails, the ideal size is 1280 by 720 pixels (a 16:9 rectangle). YouTube will accept smaller images, but they may look blurry on phones or large screens. Use JPG, GIF, or PNG format. Avoid uploading animated GIFs for thumbnails—YouTube will use only the first frame, so a still image works better.
If your image is the wrong size, YouTube's upload tool will usually let you crop or resize it before saving. You can also resize images on your computer using free tools like Paint (Windows) or Preview (Mac) before uploading.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is uploading a picture that's too small. A tiny image will look pixelated or blurry when YouTube stretches it to fit larger screens. Always check the pixel dimensions before uploading—if you're not sure, make the image larger rather than smaller.
Another frequent problem is uploading the wrong file type. YouTube only accepts JPG, GIF, and PNG. If you have a picture in BMP, TIFF, or WebP format, you'll need to convert it first using a free online converter or your computer's built-in image editor.
People also sometimes change a thumbnail and then don't see the change appear right away. Remember that video thumbnails can take several hours to update in YouTube's search results and recommendation system, even though the change appears on your video page when ready. Channel pictures update much faster—usually within a few minutes.
Changing your picture on mobile devices
The process on a phone or tablet is nearly identical to the desktop version, but the buttons and menus look slightly different. Open the YouTube app, tap your profile icon at the top right, and tap your channel name to go to your channel page. Tap your profile picture, and a menu will appear with options to take a photo, upload from your phone's library, or remove the picture.
For video thumbnails on mobile, open YouTube Studio (tap your profile icon, then "YouTube Studio"), tap "Content," find your video, and tap the pencil icon. Scroll to "Thumbnail" and tap "Upload thumbnail." The rest of the process is the same as on a computer.
One thing to note: on some phones, the upload window may be slower or may not show a preview before saving. If you're having trouble, try using a computer instead, or make sure your phone has enough storage space and a strong internet connection.
What to do if your picture won't upload
If YouTube rejects your image, the most likely reason is the file format. Double-check that you're using JPG, GIF, or PNG. If you're unsure what format your file is, right-click it on your computer and look for "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac). The file type will be listed there.
If the format is correct, the file may be corrupted. Try downloading or taking the picture again. You can also try opening the image in a free online converter and saving it as a new file, which often fixes corruption problems.
If you're on a phone and the upload keeps failing, try switching to a computer, or make sure you have a strong WiFi connection. Mobile uploads sometimes fail due to weak internet or low storage space on your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same picture for my channel and my Google account?
Your YouTube channel picture and your Google account picture are separate. Changing one does not change the other. If you want them to match, you'll need to upload the same image to both places. Your Google account picture is changed in your Google Account settings, not in YouTube.
How often can I change my channel picture?
You can change your channel picture as often as you want. There's no limit on how many times per day or week you can upload a new one. Each change will appear across YouTube within a few minutes.
What if I want to remove my channel picture entirely?
Yes, you can delete your channel picture. Go to your channel settings, hover over your profile picture, and look for a "Remove" or "Delete" option. YouTube will replace it with a default colored circle with your initials.
Why is my new thumbnail not showing up in search results?
YouTube caches (stores) thumbnail images, so it can take several hours or even a day for a new thumbnail to appear in search results, recommendations, and other places where YouTube displays them automatically. The new thumbnail will show on your video page right away, but patience is needed for the rest of YouTube to catch up.
Can I change a thumbnail for a video that's not mine?
No. You can only change thumbnails for videos you uploaded to your own channel. If you want to change a thumbnail on someone else's video, you would need access to their YouTube account, which they would have to grant you through YouTube Studio's permissions settings.