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YouTube Thumbnail Downloader:
every size, up to HD
Paste a YouTube link to see every thumbnail size the video has, from Full HD 1280 × 720 down to 120 × 90, and download the one you need as JPG or WebP. Free, no sign-up.
- Output
- JPG · WebP
- Max size
- 1280 × 720
- Batch
- Up to 10 links
- Price
- Free
Download a YouTube thumbnail
Results
No thumbnails for this link
Not generated
YouTube did not create this resolution for this video.
- No sign-up or extension
- Shorts and youtu.be links
- Files straight from YouTube
- Phone and desktop
Thumbnails are the creator’s work and stay their copyright. Use them for reference, research or your own videos, and ask before reusing anyone else’s.
Quick answer
Last updated
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
To download a YouTube thumbnail, copy the video’s link (a watch, youtu.be or Shorts link), paste it into this free YouTube thumbnail downloader and press Get thumbnails. You see every size YouTube stores, from 1280 × 720 HD down to 120 × 90, and can save any of them as JPG or WebP. No sign-up or extension is needed.
Procedure
How to download a YouTube thumbnail
Three steps, on a phone or a computer. No YouTube account and no extension needed.
Step 1: Copy the video link
In the YouTube app, tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address from your browser. Regular videos, Shorts, live streams and embed links all work.
Step 2: Paste it and press Get thumbnails
Paste the link into the box above. You can add up to 10 links at once, one per line. The tool checks which thumbnail sizes YouTube actually has for each video.
Step 3: Download the size you need
The sharpest available size is highlighted. Download it as JPG or WebP, or copy the image link. Files are named after the video so they are easy to find.
Output
YouTube thumbnail sizes, explained
When a video is uploaded, YouTube saves its thumbnail as a set of files with fixed names, from maxresdefault at 1280 × 720 down to default at 120 × 90. Most sites only show you one of them.
The three smallest sizes exist for every video. The two largest are only made for some uploads, which is why the tool checks each one and shows you exactly which are there. Many sizes also come as WebP, a lighter file with the same picture.
Inspect size to scale:
Full HD (maxresdefault.jpg)
16:9 Widescreen921,600 px
The sharpest file YouTube generates. Used for large displays, smart TVs, and video embeds.
Holds 85× the pixels of the smallest size| Size | File name | Pixels | Shape | Every video? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full HD | maxresdefault.jpg | 1280 × 720 | 16:9 | HD uploads only | The sharpest copy. Use it for reference, mockups or re-uploading your own thumbnail. |
| Standard | sddefault.jpg | 640 × 480 | 4:3 | HD uploads only | Good fallback when the HD file is missing. Has black bars above and below a widescreen video. |
| High quality | hqdefault.jpg | 480 × 360 | 4:3 | Always | Exists for every video. The size most embeds and link previews use. |
| Medium | mqdefault.jpg | 320 × 180 | 16:9 | Always | Widescreen without black bars. Fine for small cards and lists. |
| Small | default.jpg | 120 × 90 | 4:3 | Always | Tiny preview, the one YouTube shows in old playlists and feeds. |
Need a custom thumbnail for your own channel? YouTube recommends uploading 1280 × 720 (16:9), under 2 MB, as JPG, PNG or GIF. That is the same size as the largest file above.
Input
Links it understands
Copy the link however YouTube gives it to you. Timestamps, playlist IDs and tracking parameters are ignored.
- Standard Videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Standard watch page copied from browser address bar
- Short Share Linkhttps://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ
Created when tapping Share in YouTube mobile app
- YouTube Shortshttps://youtube.com/shorts/dQw4w9WgXcQ
Vertical video URLs from the Shorts feed and app
- Live Streams & Premiereshttps://www.youtube.com/live/dQw4w9WgXcQ
Live broadcasts, scheduled streams and replay links
- Embedded Playerhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/dQw4w9WgXcQ
Embed code used on websites, blogs and CMS articles
- YouTube Music & Mobilehttps://music.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
music.youtube.com tracks and m.youtube.com phone links
- 11-Character Video IDdQw4w9WgXcQ
The unique 11-character YouTube video ID on its own
FAQ
Questions people ask
About thumbnail sizes, missing HD images, file formats and what you are allowed to do with them.
Is this YouTube thumbnail downloader free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no limit on how many thumbnails you save and no watermark. You do not need a YouTube account, because thumbnails of public videos are already visible to everyone.
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail in HD?
Paste the video link above and press Get thumbnails. If YouTube has a Full HD copy, it appears first as the 1280 × 720 maxresdefault image. Press JPG or WebP under it to save it at full resolution.
Why is the HD thumbnail missing for some videos?
YouTube only creates the 1280 × 720 (maxresdefault) and 640 × 480 (sddefault) files for some videos, usually ones uploaded in HD. Older or low-resolution uploads often stop at 480 × 360. The tool checks every size and marks the ones YouTube does not have, so you always get the best copy that exists.
Why do some thumbnails have black bars?
The 640 × 480, 480 × 360 and 120 × 90 files are 4:3, while most videos are 16:9 widescreen, so YouTube pads them with black bars above and below. For a clean widescreen image, use the 1280 × 720 or 320 × 180 size.
Can I download thumbnails from YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste the youtube.com/shorts/… link like any other. Shorts thumbnails come in the same sizes, but because Shorts are vertical, the image is usually a frame from the video with bars on the sides.
Is it legal to download YouTube thumbnails?
Saving a thumbnail to look at is generally fine, but the image is still copyrighted by the creator who made it. Use it for your own videos, for reference and research, or to study what works. Do not reuse someone else’s thumbnail as your own or in commercial work without their permission.
Should I download JPG or WebP?
JPG opens everywhere, including older editing apps, so it is the safe choice. WebP is the same picture in a smaller file, which is handy for websites. YouTube does not make a WebP copy of every size, so the WebP button only appears when one exists.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. On iPhone, Safari saves the image to the Files app under Downloads; long-press the preview if you would rather save it to Photos. On Android, images land in your Downloads folder.
Public images, real creators
This tool only reads what YouTube already shows to everyone: the public thumbnail files on its image server and the title and channel name from YouTube’s public embed information. Images pass straight from YouTube to your device. Nothing is stored, and the links you paste are not kept.
A thumbnail is a creator’s artwork, and copyright stays with them. Saving one for reference, research or your own videos is fine. Reposting someone else’s thumbnail as yours, or using it in ads or products, needs their permission. See YouTube’s terms of service for the details.
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