Make a Video Thumbnail

With Kapwing’s online editor, you can choose a frame from your video to turn into a clickable YouTube thumbnail with our freeze frame tool. Using a frame of the video to create your thumbnail helps you give viewers a preview of what the video will be about. To make it enticing, add text, graphics, and other design elements all within the Kapwing editor.

To get started, upload your video file to Kapwing. Use the playhead in the video timeline to find the frame you want to use as your video thumbnail. Try to choose a frame that is both relevant to the contents of the video and that will draw interest. A close up of someone’s face with a surprised or curious expression can be a good choice for a thumbnail frame. When you’ve found the perfect frame, use the Freeze Frame button in the Timing tab to pause that moment in the video. Kapwing will insert a still image of your video at the point you selected.

From here, add text to your thumbnail using the Add Text tool. Make sure the text for your thumbnail is bold and contrasts well with the background for legibility. If the background of your frame is too busy and makes the text difficult to read, consider choosing a different frame or using the Erase tool to remove the background and replace it with a solid color, leaving the subject of the video and the text as the main focus.

When you’re satisfied with your YouTube thumbnail, select “Export as Image” from the Export dropdown menu. Download the thumbnail frame as an image. Once your done, upload to YouTube and add the thumbnail to your video as usual.

Kapwing's thumbnail maker works for free with no watermark! Use it to add a thumbnail to any video with ease. Our mission is to provide fast, accessible tools to empower creators and their stories. We believe everyone is a creator, so this tool was made for everyone.