"Bridging Mac & Monetization  IMovie Editing to YouTube Success for 2024"

"Bridging Mac & Monetization IMovie Editing to YouTube Success for 2024"

Steven Lv12

Bridging Mac & Monetization: IMovie Editing to YouTube Success

How to Upload a Video from iMovie to YouTube?

author avatar

Liza Brown

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

“Is iMovie good for YouTube?”

The iMovie is not only good for YouTube but various other social media platforms. The thing is, you have to compromise with the quality offered by Apple’s video editor iMovie. Well, iMovie is perfect for getting started for beginners. But, the professionals and ones who want a bit high features than basic ones should look elsewhere. Thus, we always recommend alternatives to a particular software for our audience. In this article, there is a mention of Wondershare Filmora to overcome the drawbacks of iMovie.

Without further ado, let’s begin with how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We want to lead with the best iMovie export settings, specific troubleshooting issues, and our alternative intro section to overcome iMovie’s limitations.

Part 1: How to Upload a Video from iMovie to YouTube?

iMovie is ideal for making YouTube videos if you are too basic and are not looking for advanced features. Remember that professionalism pays in these platforms and helps you stand better among others. If you’re still interested in making introductory videos, here is a step-by-step guide on uploading a video to YouTube from iMovie on Mac first and leading with iPhone.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube on Mac

Step 1: Create a Project

On the first step, go to iMovie on Mac and click the Create New tab below.

Step 2: Import Media

Click the Import Media button and browse the files on your computer, as shown below.

Step 3: Edit Clips

It’s time to edit video footage. Drag your video to the timeline, as shown below.

Then, you can trim and drag the edges of video clips to allow editing.

Step 4: Add Titles

You can add titles by clicking the Title tab and further drag the Title’s template into the timeline.

Step 5: Export the Video

Click the Export button as follows after editing is over.

Select YouTube to upload your video over the platform directly.

Step 6: Save

After selecting the desired platform, click the Next tab to proceed with saving the file.

At last, save your video as shown below.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload iMovie to YouTube from iPhone

Step 1: Share the iMovie Project

Go to iMovie on your iPhone. Open the iMovie project on your iPhone and tap the Share button to select YouTube. Enter the information of Title, Description, Size, Tags, Privacy, and Location (optional).

Step 2: Upload iMovie Files

For ease of use, you can upload saved videos in Photo Library on your iPhone. Then, you can upload iMovie videos via the YouTube iOS app. Sign In to YouTube and click the Camera icon at the top of the Home page. Select your iPhone Photo Library file and set the video Title, Description, Size, Tags, and Privacy. Then, hit the Upload button to confirm.

Part 2: The Best iMovie Export Settings for YouTube Videos

As we all know that iMovie consists of a bit long procedure to export projects. Here are some tips on the best iMovie export settings to avoid an unnecessary headache.

  1. Set small resolution: Small resolution plays a more significant role, especially while uploading. Thus, you can set the smallest resolution in the Email tab of the Export button.

2. Change Export settings in the File tab: There is a File tab under the Export button. Click it and find various settings that you need to change to get the best export settings for YouTube 2021. Make the Title of the video as small as possible. Set the resolution at 1080P than 4K.

However, it isn’t going to upgrade the resolution if your video is already in the 1080P definition. Now, the last setting that will crazily offer you the best quality and lots of space-saving. You have to select Best (ProRes) in quality settings for this purpose. These settings also take less time to upload to YouTube.

3. Compress is not for speed: Various options you see in the Compresstab are not for speed. They are for how you save the video on a desktop. Thus, always choose the Better Quality tab than Faster.

  1. Do not export directly to YouTube: iMovie is pretty basic and doesn’t offer great settings to upload your video instantly. You may have to make changes to the uploaded video even if you do this as per our step-by-step guide mentioned above.

Part 3: How to fix the “Failed to Upload to YouTube” Error on iMovie?

The “iMovie to YouTube failed” problem occurs when you directly upload a YouTube video from iMovie. The issue will result if you upload from any third-party uploader. That is why the direct upload doesn’t work, especially in iMovie. You can opt to share your video to the desktop first and then drag it to upload to the YouTube platform.

Part 4: Upload Videos to YouTube with the Best Alternative to iMovie - Wondershare Filmora

“What can I use instead of iMovie to overcome its limitations?”

When you see that iMovie is not uploading to YouTube or iMovie upload to YouTube got stuck, go for a better alternative. In this section, we’d like to recommend Wondershare Filmora that offers the best export settings compared to iMovie. It is the go-to solution if you can’t upload video from iMovie to YouTube directly. Filmora further provides intuitive editing tools that professionally make your YouTube video projects.

Export Key Aspects of Wondershare Filmora in comparison to iMovie:

  • It offers a long list of export resolutions to choose from.
  • You get separate video and audio settings such as Encoder, Channel, Frame Rate, Bit Rate, Resolution, etc.
  • It is further compatible with export to various devices including the iPhone, Samsung, iPod, Apple TV, iPad, Google Pixel, PSP, Smart TV, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube via Wondershare Filmora

Step 1: Click the Export button and select resolution

After your project in Wondershare Filmora is over, click the Export tab and select video resolution from the Local tab, as shown below.

It has a list of formats. You can also edit the Name and saving location here.

Step 2: Select Quality

Select the Settings button and choose from three quality levels of Best, Better, and Good. You can also adjust video and audio parameters, including the Encoder, Frame Rate, Resolution, Bit Rate, etc.

Step 3: Select platform

Select the YouTube tab, Sign In to your YouTube account, and hit the Export button after modifying the Title and Quality if needed. Also, make sure to check the Enable GPU accelerated video encoding tab.

Select Wondershare Filmora as the ultimate solution even if iMovie upload to YouTube not showing up.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve informed you of the relevant facts on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We have also examined the number of troubleshooting issues involved in the iMovie video editor. Well, you will get to face similar kinds of export difficulties in the iMovie editor. Also, the entire procedure to end the exporting task is a bit long in iMovie compared to any other video editing software. Thus, it’s crucial to check out what other alternatives the technological world has today. We can’t state to you a better beginner-friendly yet advanced editing option than Wondershare Filmora that rightly outtakes the iMovie video editor in all aspects.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

“Is iMovie good for YouTube?”

The iMovie is not only good for YouTube but various other social media platforms. The thing is, you have to compromise with the quality offered by Apple’s video editor iMovie. Well, iMovie is perfect for getting started for beginners. But, the professionals and ones who want a bit high features than basic ones should look elsewhere. Thus, we always recommend alternatives to a particular software for our audience. In this article, there is a mention of Wondershare Filmora to overcome the drawbacks of iMovie.

Without further ado, let’s begin with how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We want to lead with the best iMovie export settings, specific troubleshooting issues, and our alternative intro section to overcome iMovie’s limitations.

Part 1: How to Upload a Video from iMovie to YouTube?

iMovie is ideal for making YouTube videos if you are too basic and are not looking for advanced features. Remember that professionalism pays in these platforms and helps you stand better among others. If you’re still interested in making introductory videos, here is a step-by-step guide on uploading a video to YouTube from iMovie on Mac first and leading with iPhone.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube on Mac

Step 1: Create a Project

On the first step, go to iMovie on Mac and click the Create New tab below.

Step 2: Import Media

Click the Import Media button and browse the files on your computer, as shown below.

Step 3: Edit Clips

It’s time to edit video footage. Drag your video to the timeline, as shown below.

Then, you can trim and drag the edges of video clips to allow editing.

Step 4: Add Titles

You can add titles by clicking the Title tab and further drag the Title’s template into the timeline.

Step 5: Export the Video

Click the Export button as follows after editing is over.

Select YouTube to upload your video over the platform directly.

Step 6: Save

After selecting the desired platform, click the Next tab to proceed with saving the file.

At last, save your video as shown below.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload iMovie to YouTube from iPhone

Step 1: Share the iMovie Project

Go to iMovie on your iPhone. Open the iMovie project on your iPhone and tap the Share button to select YouTube. Enter the information of Title, Description, Size, Tags, Privacy, and Location (optional).

Step 2: Upload iMovie Files

For ease of use, you can upload saved videos in Photo Library on your iPhone. Then, you can upload iMovie videos via the YouTube iOS app. Sign In to YouTube and click the Camera icon at the top of the Home page. Select your iPhone Photo Library file and set the video Title, Description, Size, Tags, and Privacy. Then, hit the Upload button to confirm.

Part 2: The Best iMovie Export Settings for YouTube Videos

As we all know that iMovie consists of a bit long procedure to export projects. Here are some tips on the best iMovie export settings to avoid an unnecessary headache.

  1. Set small resolution: Small resolution plays a more significant role, especially while uploading. Thus, you can set the smallest resolution in the Email tab of the Export button.

2. Change Export settings in the File tab: There is a File tab under the Export button. Click it and find various settings that you need to change to get the best export settings for YouTube 2021. Make the Title of the video as small as possible. Set the resolution at 1080P than 4K.

However, it isn’t going to upgrade the resolution if your video is already in the 1080P definition. Now, the last setting that will crazily offer you the best quality and lots of space-saving. You have to select Best (ProRes) in quality settings for this purpose. These settings also take less time to upload to YouTube.

3. Compress is not for speed: Various options you see in the Compresstab are not for speed. They are for how you save the video on a desktop. Thus, always choose the Better Quality tab than Faster.

  1. Do not export directly to YouTube: iMovie is pretty basic and doesn’t offer great settings to upload your video instantly. You may have to make changes to the uploaded video even if you do this as per our step-by-step guide mentioned above.

Part 3: How to fix the “Failed to Upload to YouTube” Error on iMovie?

The “iMovie to YouTube failed” problem occurs when you directly upload a YouTube video from iMovie. The issue will result if you upload from any third-party uploader. That is why the direct upload doesn’t work, especially in iMovie. You can opt to share your video to the desktop first and then drag it to upload to the YouTube platform.

Part 4: Upload Videos to YouTube with the Best Alternative to iMovie - Wondershare Filmora

“What can I use instead of iMovie to overcome its limitations?”

When you see that iMovie is not uploading to YouTube or iMovie upload to YouTube got stuck, go for a better alternative. In this section, we’d like to recommend Wondershare Filmora that offers the best export settings compared to iMovie. It is the go-to solution if you can’t upload video from iMovie to YouTube directly. Filmora further provides intuitive editing tools that professionally make your YouTube video projects.

Export Key Aspects of Wondershare Filmora in comparison to iMovie:

  • It offers a long list of export resolutions to choose from.
  • You get separate video and audio settings such as Encoder, Channel, Frame Rate, Bit Rate, Resolution, etc.
  • It is further compatible with export to various devices including the iPhone, Samsung, iPod, Apple TV, iPad, Google Pixel, PSP, Smart TV, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube via Wondershare Filmora

Step 1: Click the Export button and select resolution

After your project in Wondershare Filmora is over, click the Export tab and select video resolution from the Local tab, as shown below.

It has a list of formats. You can also edit the Name and saving location here.

Step 2: Select Quality

Select the Settings button and choose from three quality levels of Best, Better, and Good. You can also adjust video and audio parameters, including the Encoder, Frame Rate, Resolution, Bit Rate, etc.

Step 3: Select platform

Select the YouTube tab, Sign In to your YouTube account, and hit the Export button after modifying the Title and Quality if needed. Also, make sure to check the Enable GPU accelerated video encoding tab.

Select Wondershare Filmora as the ultimate solution even if iMovie upload to YouTube not showing up.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve informed you of the relevant facts on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We have also examined the number of troubleshooting issues involved in the iMovie video editor. Well, you will get to face similar kinds of export difficulties in the iMovie editor. Also, the entire procedure to end the exporting task is a bit long in iMovie compared to any other video editing software. Thus, it’s crucial to check out what other alternatives the technological world has today. We can’t state to you a better beginner-friendly yet advanced editing option than Wondershare Filmora that rightly outtakes the iMovie video editor in all aspects.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

“Is iMovie good for YouTube?”

The iMovie is not only good for YouTube but various other social media platforms. The thing is, you have to compromise with the quality offered by Apple’s video editor iMovie. Well, iMovie is perfect for getting started for beginners. But, the professionals and ones who want a bit high features than basic ones should look elsewhere. Thus, we always recommend alternatives to a particular software for our audience. In this article, there is a mention of Wondershare Filmora to overcome the drawbacks of iMovie.

Without further ado, let’s begin with how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We want to lead with the best iMovie export settings, specific troubleshooting issues, and our alternative intro section to overcome iMovie’s limitations.

Part 1: How to Upload a Video from iMovie to YouTube?

iMovie is ideal for making YouTube videos if you are too basic and are not looking for advanced features. Remember that professionalism pays in these platforms and helps you stand better among others. If you’re still interested in making introductory videos, here is a step-by-step guide on uploading a video to YouTube from iMovie on Mac first and leading with iPhone.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube on Mac

Step 1: Create a Project

On the first step, go to iMovie on Mac and click the Create New tab below.

Step 2: Import Media

Click the Import Media button and browse the files on your computer, as shown below.

Step 3: Edit Clips

It’s time to edit video footage. Drag your video to the timeline, as shown below.

Then, you can trim and drag the edges of video clips to allow editing.

Step 4: Add Titles

You can add titles by clicking the Title tab and further drag the Title’s template into the timeline.

Step 5: Export the Video

Click the Export button as follows after editing is over.

Select YouTube to upload your video over the platform directly.

Step 6: Save

After selecting the desired platform, click the Next tab to proceed with saving the file.

At last, save your video as shown below.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload iMovie to YouTube from iPhone

Step 1: Share the iMovie Project

Go to iMovie on your iPhone. Open the iMovie project on your iPhone and tap the Share button to select YouTube. Enter the information of Title, Description, Size, Tags, Privacy, and Location (optional).

Step 2: Upload iMovie Files

For ease of use, you can upload saved videos in Photo Library on your iPhone. Then, you can upload iMovie videos via the YouTube iOS app. Sign In to YouTube and click the Camera icon at the top of the Home page. Select your iPhone Photo Library file and set the video Title, Description, Size, Tags, and Privacy. Then, hit the Upload button to confirm.

Part 2: The Best iMovie Export Settings for YouTube Videos

As we all know that iMovie consists of a bit long procedure to export projects. Here are some tips on the best iMovie export settings to avoid an unnecessary headache.

  1. Set small resolution: Small resolution plays a more significant role, especially while uploading. Thus, you can set the smallest resolution in the Email tab of the Export button.

2. Change Export settings in the File tab: There is a File tab under the Export button. Click it and find various settings that you need to change to get the best export settings for YouTube 2021. Make the Title of the video as small as possible. Set the resolution at 1080P than 4K.

However, it isn’t going to upgrade the resolution if your video is already in the 1080P definition. Now, the last setting that will crazily offer you the best quality and lots of space-saving. You have to select Best (ProRes) in quality settings for this purpose. These settings also take less time to upload to YouTube.

3. Compress is not for speed: Various options you see in the Compresstab are not for speed. They are for how you save the video on a desktop. Thus, always choose the Better Quality tab than Faster.

  1. Do not export directly to YouTube: iMovie is pretty basic and doesn’t offer great settings to upload your video instantly. You may have to make changes to the uploaded video even if you do this as per our step-by-step guide mentioned above.

Part 3: How to fix the “Failed to Upload to YouTube” Error on iMovie?

The “iMovie to YouTube failed” problem occurs when you directly upload a YouTube video from iMovie. The issue will result if you upload from any third-party uploader. That is why the direct upload doesn’t work, especially in iMovie. You can opt to share your video to the desktop first and then drag it to upload to the YouTube platform.

Part 4: Upload Videos to YouTube with the Best Alternative to iMovie - Wondershare Filmora

“What can I use instead of iMovie to overcome its limitations?”

When you see that iMovie is not uploading to YouTube or iMovie upload to YouTube got stuck, go for a better alternative. In this section, we’d like to recommend Wondershare Filmora that offers the best export settings compared to iMovie. It is the go-to solution if you can’t upload video from iMovie to YouTube directly. Filmora further provides intuitive editing tools that professionally make your YouTube video projects.

Export Key Aspects of Wondershare Filmora in comparison to iMovie:

  • It offers a long list of export resolutions to choose from.
  • You get separate video and audio settings such as Encoder, Channel, Frame Rate, Bit Rate, Resolution, etc.
  • It is further compatible with export to various devices including the iPhone, Samsung, iPod, Apple TV, iPad, Google Pixel, PSP, Smart TV, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube via Wondershare Filmora

Step 1: Click the Export button and select resolution

After your project in Wondershare Filmora is over, click the Export tab and select video resolution from the Local tab, as shown below.

It has a list of formats. You can also edit the Name and saving location here.

Step 2: Select Quality

Select the Settings button and choose from three quality levels of Best, Better, and Good. You can also adjust video and audio parameters, including the Encoder, Frame Rate, Resolution, Bit Rate, etc.

Step 3: Select platform

Select the YouTube tab, Sign In to your YouTube account, and hit the Export button after modifying the Title and Quality if needed. Also, make sure to check the Enable GPU accelerated video encoding tab.

Select Wondershare Filmora as the ultimate solution even if iMovie upload to YouTube not showing up.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve informed you of the relevant facts on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We have also examined the number of troubleshooting issues involved in the iMovie video editor. Well, you will get to face similar kinds of export difficulties in the iMovie editor. Also, the entire procedure to end the exporting task is a bit long in iMovie compared to any other video editing software. Thus, it’s crucial to check out what other alternatives the technological world has today. We can’t state to you a better beginner-friendly yet advanced editing option than Wondershare Filmora that rightly outtakes the iMovie video editor in all aspects.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Aug 18, 2022• Proven solutions

“Is iMovie good for YouTube?”

The iMovie is not only good for YouTube but various other social media platforms. The thing is, you have to compromise with the quality offered by Apple’s video editor iMovie. Well, iMovie is perfect for getting started for beginners. But, the professionals and ones who want a bit high features than basic ones should look elsewhere. Thus, we always recommend alternatives to a particular software for our audience. In this article, there is a mention of Wondershare Filmora to overcome the drawbacks of iMovie.

Without further ado, let’s begin with how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We want to lead with the best iMovie export settings, specific troubleshooting issues, and our alternative intro section to overcome iMovie’s limitations.

Part 1: How to Upload a Video from iMovie to YouTube?

iMovie is ideal for making YouTube videos if you are too basic and are not looking for advanced features. Remember that professionalism pays in these platforms and helps you stand better among others. If you’re still interested in making introductory videos, here is a step-by-step guide on uploading a video to YouTube from iMovie on Mac first and leading with iPhone.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube on Mac

Step 1: Create a Project

On the first step, go to iMovie on Mac and click the Create New tab below.

Step 2: Import Media

Click the Import Media button and browse the files on your computer, as shown below.

Step 3: Edit Clips

It’s time to edit video footage. Drag your video to the timeline, as shown below.

Then, you can trim and drag the edges of video clips to allow editing.

Step 4: Add Titles

You can add titles by clicking the Title tab and further drag the Title’s template into the timeline.

Step 5: Export the Video

Click the Export button as follows after editing is over.

Select YouTube to upload your video over the platform directly.

Step 6: Save

After selecting the desired platform, click the Next tab to proceed with saving the file.

At last, save your video as shown below.

Step-by-Step Tutorial on how to upload iMovie to YouTube from iPhone

Step 1: Share the iMovie Project

Go to iMovie on your iPhone. Open the iMovie project on your iPhone and tap the Share button to select YouTube. Enter the information of Title, Description, Size, Tags, Privacy, and Location (optional).

Step 2: Upload iMovie Files

For ease of use, you can upload saved videos in Photo Library on your iPhone. Then, you can upload iMovie videos via the YouTube iOS app. Sign In to YouTube and click the Camera icon at the top of the Home page. Select your iPhone Photo Library file and set the video Title, Description, Size, Tags, and Privacy. Then, hit the Upload button to confirm.

Part 2: The Best iMovie Export Settings for YouTube Videos

As we all know that iMovie consists of a bit long procedure to export projects. Here are some tips on the best iMovie export settings to avoid an unnecessary headache.

  1. Set small resolution: Small resolution plays a more significant role, especially while uploading. Thus, you can set the smallest resolution in the Email tab of the Export button.

2. Change Export settings in the File tab: There is a File tab under the Export button. Click it and find various settings that you need to change to get the best export settings for YouTube 2021. Make the Title of the video as small as possible. Set the resolution at 1080P than 4K.

However, it isn’t going to upgrade the resolution if your video is already in the 1080P definition. Now, the last setting that will crazily offer you the best quality and lots of space-saving. You have to select Best (ProRes) in quality settings for this purpose. These settings also take less time to upload to YouTube.

3. Compress is not for speed: Various options you see in the Compresstab are not for speed. They are for how you save the video on a desktop. Thus, always choose the Better Quality tab than Faster.

  1. Do not export directly to YouTube: iMovie is pretty basic and doesn’t offer great settings to upload your video instantly. You may have to make changes to the uploaded video even if you do this as per our step-by-step guide mentioned above.

Part 3: How to fix the “Failed to Upload to YouTube” Error on iMovie?

The “iMovie to YouTube failed” problem occurs when you directly upload a YouTube video from iMovie. The issue will result if you upload from any third-party uploader. That is why the direct upload doesn’t work, especially in iMovie. You can opt to share your video to the desktop first and then drag it to upload to the YouTube platform.

Part 4: Upload Videos to YouTube with the Best Alternative to iMovie - Wondershare Filmora

“What can I use instead of iMovie to overcome its limitations?”

When you see that iMovie is not uploading to YouTube or iMovie upload to YouTube got stuck, go for a better alternative. In this section, we’d like to recommend Wondershare Filmora that offers the best export settings compared to iMovie. It is the go-to solution if you can’t upload video from iMovie to YouTube directly. Filmora further provides intuitive editing tools that professionally make your YouTube video projects.

Export Key Aspects of Wondershare Filmora in comparison to iMovie:

  • It offers a long list of export resolutions to choose from.
  • You get separate video and audio settings such as Encoder, Channel, Frame Rate, Bit Rate, Resolution, etc.
  • It is further compatible with export to various devices including the iPhone, Samsung, iPod, Apple TV, iPad, Google Pixel, PSP, Smart TV, etc.

Step-by-Step Guide on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube via Wondershare Filmora

Step 1: Click the Export button and select resolution

After your project in Wondershare Filmora is over, click the Export tab and select video resolution from the Local tab, as shown below.

It has a list of formats. You can also edit the Name and saving location here.

Step 2: Select Quality

Select the Settings button and choose from three quality levels of Best, Better, and Good. You can also adjust video and audio parameters, including the Encoder, Frame Rate, Resolution, Bit Rate, etc.

Step 3: Select platform

Select the YouTube tab, Sign In to your YouTube account, and hit the Export button after modifying the Title and Quality if needed. Also, make sure to check the Enable GPU accelerated video encoding tab.

Select Wondershare Filmora as the ultimate solution even if iMovie upload to YouTube not showing up.

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve informed you of the relevant facts on how to upload a video from iMovie to YouTube. We have also examined the number of troubleshooting issues involved in the iMovie video editor. Well, you will get to face similar kinds of export difficulties in the iMovie editor. Also, the entire procedure to end the exporting task is a bit long in iMovie compared to any other video editing software. Thus, it’s crucial to check out what other alternatives the technological world has today. We can’t state to you a better beginner-friendly yet advanced editing option than Wondershare Filmora that rightly outtakes the iMovie video editor in all aspects.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Secure & Simple: Grab Your Desired YouTube Cover at No Charge

Best Free Downloaders: Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free[Online/Win/Mac]

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

youtube thumbnail image tool

Steps to Download:

  • Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
  • Copy the link from your youtube video
  • Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
  • You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
  • As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
  • Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

youtube thumbnail save tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
  • Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
  • Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
  • Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

youtube thumbnail grabber

Steps to Download:

  • Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
  • Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
  • Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
  • Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

download thumbnail tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
  • Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
  • Choose the picture size among the results displayed
  • Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
  • Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
  • Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

  • The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
  • The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
  • The minimum size 640*360 px
  • The aspect ratio 16:9
  • The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

color hue

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

youtube thumbnail image tool

Steps to Download:

  • Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
  • Copy the link from your youtube video
  • Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
  • You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
  • As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
  • Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

youtube thumbnail save tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
  • Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
  • Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
  • Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

youtube thumbnail grabber

Steps to Download:

  • Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
  • Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
  • Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
  • Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

download thumbnail tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
  • Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
  • Choose the picture size among the results displayed
  • Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
  • Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
  • Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

  • The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
  • The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
  • The minimum size 640*360 px
  • The aspect ratio 16:9
  • The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

color hue

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

youtube thumbnail image tool

Steps to Download:

  • Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
  • Copy the link from your youtube video
  • Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
  • You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
  • As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
  • Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

youtube thumbnail save tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
  • Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
  • Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
  • Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

youtube thumbnail grabber

Steps to Download:

  • Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
  • Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
  • Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
  • Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

download thumbnail tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
  • Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
  • Choose the picture size among the results displayed
  • Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
  • Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
  • Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

  • The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
  • The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
  • The minimum size 640*360 px
  • The aspect ratio 16:9
  • The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

color hue

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

What is a YouTube thumbnail?

A YouTube thumbnail is nothing but the cover image shown on a video file on YouTube. It shows what you are going to talk about in the youtube video. A cool thumbnail will make the viewers want to click your video which in turn will help you to improve the traffic and number of clicks per video. Sometimes you may want to download youtube thumbnail from others. But it is very difficult to download a thumbnail directly from YouTube and many of you might not know that a thumbnail can be downloaded from elsewhere and then added to your content.

Here in this article, we will introduce the best 6 online tools available in the market to download YouTube thumbnail.

6 Online Tools to Download YouTube Thumbnail for Free

Knowing the importance of YouTube thumbnails, you might now be wondering where to download the thumbnails for free. Let us have a look at some of the tools that can help you download YouTube thumbnail for free.

1. YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool

The YouTube Thumbnail Image Tool is a simple and free tool that helps you to download a thumbnail in four dimensions for your video, i.e. MQ 320*180, HQ 480*360, SD 640*480, and HD 1920*1080. Whether you are using a Windows or Mac OS, the thumbnail can be easily be downloaded via any browser.

youtube thumbnail image tool

Steps to Download:

  • Open any browser and open this youtube thumbnail image tool from Here
  • Copy the link from your youtube video
  • Paste the URL link of the video in the box and hit on Search
  • You will be then displayed different qualities of the thumbnail. Choose one (HD is recommended) and hit the Download button

The selected quality of thumbnail will be downloaded to your storage which can later be used while uploading a video to YouTube.

2. Online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

This online YouTube Thumbnail Downloader tool has a lot of features among which creating thumbnail for a YouTube video is one. This free online tool can easily be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS via any browser. This downloader can generate thumbnails for videos in HD, HQ 1080p, and 4K formats and the thumbnails will be available in SD, HD(720), and Full HD(1080).

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of the youtube video you wish to generate the thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this free tool with your browser and paste the link in the box displayed at the top
  • As soon as you paste the link, the available qualities of the thumbnail will be displayed just below the box
  • Choose your desired quality of the image and hit on the Download button on the image you wish to download

The image will be downloaded and saved to your device instantly. You can now use it as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

3. Thumbnail Save Tool

The Thumbnail Save Tool is also a free online tool which you can access from the browser of your Windows or Mac. It is a very simple tool that can generate thumbnails for HQ, HD, 1080P, and 4K videos instantly. Let us see how the thumbnail can be generated

youtube thumbnail save tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL of the video you want to create thumbnail
  • Open this Thumbnail Save Tool from Here via your browser
  • Paste the copied link in the box above Submit and hit Submit. Then the thumbnail will be generated instantly
  • Now, to save the generated image to your device, right-click on the thumbnail and select the Save image as… option

The image will be saved to your device for later use as a thumbnail for your YouTube video.

4. YouTube Thumbnail Grabber

The YouTube thumbnail grabber is an online tool that can help you to download a thumbnail from a YouTube video for free. This tool can simply be accessed both by windows and Mac users through any browser. This tool helps you to download a thumbnail in any quality in some simple steps. Let us see how.

youtube thumbnail grabber

Steps to Download:

  • Open this youtube thumbnail grabber from Here with any browser. Then Copy the link of the youtube video.
  • Paste the link in the box displayed on the page and hit the Get Thumbnails Image tab
  • Five different qualities of thumbnails will be generated among which you can choose your desired quality
  • Hit the Download button below the image you chose

The thumbnail will be downloaded to your device for later use.

5. Thumbnail Download Tool

This thumbnail download tool allows generating thumbnails from video platforms like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and YouTube. It is a free online tool that enables you to download the thumbnail of your video in the best quality. The tool can be accessed both on Windows and Mac OS without any issues. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded for YouTube.

download thumbnail tool

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the URL link of the video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here to open this Thumbnail Download Tool with your browseron any browser of your Windows or iOS.
  • Paste the copied link in the box and press the Download button
  • Choose the picture size among the results displayed
  • Save the picture to your PC

Your thumbnail image is now ready to be used.

6. YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

The YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is an online tool that can help you to create thumbnails for your YouTube videos and blogs. This tool will help you to download full HD 1080*720 images from YouTube for free, irrespective of the operative system you are using. Let us see how the thumbnail can be downloaded

youtube thumbnail downloader

Steps to Download:

  • Copy the link of any YouTube video you wish to generate a thumbnail
  • Click Here in your browser and Paste the link in the box
  • Hit the Find button. Then different qualities of the image will be displayed
  • Select your desired quality and tap on the download icon on the respective image

The image will now be saved to your device

Bonus Tips to Create a Clickable YouTube Thumbnail

Don’t know how to create a clickable youtube thumbnail? Here we will recommend 5 tips for you!

1. Great thumbnail image quality and size

The thumbnail image quality should be good (HD/UHD). It should be bright. No matter what the device (a large TV) the viewers are using, care must be taken to avoid getting blurry thumbnails. The quality and the correct size of the thumbnail will create a positive image of the video in the user’s mind even before viewing the video. The video must be viewed from a variety of devices to test if the quality differs in different devices. Here are some specs for a perfect thumbnail

  • The image formats should be in GIF, JPG PNG OR BMP
  • The maximum size of the image must be 1280*720 px
  • The minimum size 640*360 px
  • The aspect ratio 16:9
  • The maximum file size 2MB

2. Show a person in the Thumbnail image

A human face will get you closer to your audience. Our brain is wired in a way that a human face will draw its attention more than anything. So the users will naturally would an image with a human delivering the content rather than a robot or just a video of nonliving things. People tend to find a connection with the characters displayed on the thumbnail and hence prompting them to click on the video.

3. Use descriptive text in your thumbnail with branding elements

It is not completely possible to deliver a message through a picture and hence try to use descriptive texts. The texts should be clear enough and must be phrased in a manner that increases the curiosity or appeals to the emotions of the viewers. People tend to click a video just because of curiosity, wanting to know what the content is about. The type of font, color, and size also plays an important role in catching the attention of the audience.

4. Make Color Contrast between the text and background

Complementary colors will make your thumbnail stand out to some extent. Combining a yellow background with a purple foreground or green with red will make it easier to draw the attention of the browsers. Also, the use of analogous colors in the thumbnail makes it more attractive and pleasing to the eye.

color hue

Image resource: Pinterest

Analogous colors are the colors that appear next to each other on a color wheel

5. Consistency

Consistency is something most of the people prefer and makes a thing more attractive. A thumbnail video with consistent text font, color tuning, visual effect, etc. will catch the eye of the users as it will stand apart in the whole webpage. Consistency adds to the standards of a video and will make people feel that this video is productive or from an authentic source

Create Your Own YouTube Thumbnail with Filmora for Free

Now that we have learned about how to download YouTube thumbnail for free and the rules you should follows, you may want to create a thumbnail. There are many Youtube thumbnail makers on the market that can help you create a YouTube thumbnail like Canva, PixStudio and more. However, we would like to be different today and recommend Filmora to you.

The benefits of using Filmora to create your YouTube thumbnail is that you don’t need to look for other softwares. You can make a thumbnail while you are editing your video with Filmora easily.

Wondering how can you do it? Here is a video guide for you.

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Conclusion

Getting the proper size and quality of a YouTube thumbnail is very important for activities like blogging, designing, etc. Here in this article, we have described how to download YouTube thumbnail from the best free downloaders available online in simple steps. These Thumbnail downloading tools can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and will help you to download the perfect thumbnail image of your choice within minutes. Please leave your feedback about our suggestions in the comment box below.

author avatar

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Also read:

  • Title: "Bridging Mac & Monetization IMovie Editing to YouTube Success for 2024"
  • Author: Steven
  • Created at : 2024-05-25 18:52:53
  • Updated at : 2024-05-26 18:52:53
  • Link: https://youtube-clips.techidaily.com/bridging-mac-and-monetization-imovie-editing-to-youtube-success-for-2024/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
On this page
"Bridging Mac & Monetization IMovie Editing to YouTube Success for 2024"