How to Download a YouTube Thumbnail in HD (and When You Can Reuse It)
By Technophile ·
Quick answer: paste the video's link into the Thumbnail Downloader and click Download on the Full HD version. Or build the address yourself: take the 11-character video ID from the link and open https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg.
You can download any public video's thumbnail. Whether you can reuse it is a different question, covered below.
How to download a YouTube thumbnail
- Copy the video's link. Any format works:
youtube.com/watch?v=…,youtu.be/…, Shorts, live streams and embed links. - Paste it into the Thumbnail Downloader.
- Choose JPG or WebP, then Download, Copy image or Copy link for the size you want.
What are the YouTube thumbnail URLs?
Every public video's thumbnails sit at predictable addresses. Replace VIDEO_ID with the ID from the link (the part after v= or youtu.be/):
| Size | Dimensions | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Full HD | 1280×720 | i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg |
| Standard | 640×480 | i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/sddefault.jpg |
| High | 480×360 | i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/hqdefault.jpg |
| Medium | 320×180 | i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/mqdefault.jpg |
| Small | 120×90 | i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/default.jpg |
For WebP, which is smaller at the same quality, use i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.webp.
The Standard, High and Small sizes are 4:3, so a 16:9 thumbnail gets black bars at the top and bottom. Medium and Full HD are 16:9.
Why is there no HD thumbnail for some videos?
YouTube only creates the 1280×720 version for videos uploaded in HD. Older or low-resolution uploads stop at 640×480 or 480×360. Asking for maxresdefault.jpg on those returns a grey placeholder image instead of an error, which is confusing. The downloader checks which sizes really exist and only shows those.
Can I reuse a YouTube thumbnail?
Thumbnails belong to the people who made them, just like the videos. This isn't legal advice, but as a rule of thumb:
- Usually fine: saving one for reference or inspiration, studying what works in your niche, or keeping a copy of your own thumbnails (for example, when the original file is lost).
- Ask first: republishing someone else's thumbnail, using it in your own video or thumbnail, or using it to promote something.
- Commentary and reviews may count as fair use in some countries, but that depends on how you use it and where you are.
When in doubt, ask the creator. Most are happy to say yes when credited.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download the thumbnail of a private or deleted video?
No. Once a video is private or deleted, YouTube stops serving its thumbnails, so there's nothing to download.
Can I get the thumbnail of a Short?
Yes. Paste the Shorts link the same way. Shorts thumbnails use the same addresses as regular videos.
I lost the original file of my own thumbnail. Can I get it back?
Yes, up to 1280×720. Paste your video's link and download the Full HD version. YouTube recompresses uploads, so it won't be identical to your original file, but it's usually close enough to reuse or edit.