Download a YouTube thumbnail in HD and every size YouTube serves.
Paste a public YouTube video link to grab its thumbnail JPGs: the HD 1280 × 720 file when the video has one, and every smaller size YouTube serves.
One link, every available thumbnail size.
Paste a public video link to see the files YouTube currently serves.
HOW IT WORKS
How to download a YouTube thumbnail in HD.
- Paste the video link.Use a public Watch, Shorts, Live, youtu.be, or embed URL.
- Check the available files.WThumb shows the real pixel dimensions YouTube returns, HD first when the video has it.
- Save the JPG you need.Choose a file, or carry the video into Studio and recreate the YouTube thumbnail with your face.
THUMBNAIL URL FORMAT
Get a YouTube thumbnail straight from its URL.
Every public video's thumbnails sit at a fixed address. Put the video's 11-character ID, the part after v= or /shorts/ in its link, in place of VIDEO_ID:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg- maxresdefault.jpg Max resolution, usually 1280 × 720 (HD). Some videos, often older or lower-resolution uploads, do not have one.
- sddefault.jpg Standard definition, 640 × 480.
- hqdefault.jpg High quality, 480 × 360.
- mqdefault.jpg Medium quality, 320 × 180.
- default.jpg Default, 120 × 90.
The 4:3 files carry black bars above and below a 16:9 picture. The tool above checks every address for you and shows each file's real size, so there is nothing to guess.
HOW TO USE IT
Save what YouTube actually serves.
WThumb checks the public thumbnail files for the video and shows their real dimensions. It never stretches a smaller image or invents a higher-resolution version.
A publicly available thumbnail can still be protected by copyright. Download and reuse only files you own or have permission to use.
Read whether it is OK to copy a YouTube thumbnail styleQUESTIONS
YouTube thumbnail downloader and converter FAQ
Here, converter means turning a public YouTube video link into the available thumbnail image URLs and JPG files. It does not convert or download the video itself.
No. It lists the public JPG files YouTube serves and reports their actual dimensions. It does not upscale a small image or label it as 4K.
No. Your browser reads the link and requests the image directly from YouTube. WThumb does not receive or store either one.
No. Public access does not remove copyright. Reuse only thumbnails you own or have permission to use.
https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg, with the video's 11-character ID in place of VIDEO_ID. Swap maxresdefault for sddefault, hqdefault, mqdefault, or default to get the smaller files.
Open this page in Safari, paste the video link, and tap Download under the size you want. Safari saves the JPG to Downloads in the Files app; open it there and use Share, then Save Image, to put it in Photos.
Open this page in Chrome, paste the video link, and tap Download under the size you want. The JPG goes to your Downloads folder, where your Files or gallery app can open it.
Yes. Watch, Shorts, Live, youtu.be and embed links work: paste the link and the standard JPG sizes YouTube serves for that video appear. For a Short, those files are landscape, with the vertical picture between black bars.
The thumbnail is a public image, and your browser downloads it anyway to show it in a feed. Reusing it is what needs permission: public access does not remove copyright, so publish only thumbnails you own or have permission to use. This is general information, not legal advice.
Yes. Press Recreate it with your face above the results to carry the video into Studio as a reference, add your photo, and get a new design built around you rather than a copy. New accounts get 2 free credits, and 1 credit makes 1 thumbnail.
Ready for a fresh direction?
Start with a reference you like and make a new thumbnail around your channel.
Make a new thumbnail in WThumbUse Recreate it with your face above the results to carry the video into Studio as a reference.