YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Downloader

How to download a Shorts thumbnail

Copy the Short's link. In the YouTube app, tap Share then Copy link. On desktop, copy the youtube.com/shorts/ URL from the address bar.
Paste it above. ThumbDL finds the vertical cover and every landscape size YouTube made.
Download the size you need. Choose Vertical (Shorts) for the full 9:16 cover as it appears in the Shorts feed.

Vertical vs landscape Shorts thumbnails

YouTube keeps two kinds of thumbnail for a Short:

Vertical, 1080 × 1920 (9:16). This is the cover shown in the Shorts feed, the Shorts shelf and on the channel's Shorts tab. Most thumbnail downloaders miss it, and it's the one you usually want.
Landscape, up to 1280 × 720 (16:9). This is used where Shorts show up next to regular videos, such as search results and some embeds. It's often a cropped or letterboxed version of the vertical frame.

If a Short doesn't show a vertical option, YouTube hasn't created one for it yet. That's common with very new or very old uploads. The landscape sizes will still be available.

Can you set a custom thumbnail on YouTube Shorts?

The options are more limited than for regular videos. When you upload or edit a Short in the YouTube mobile app, you can pick a frame from the video as its cover. Depending on your account and app version, you may also be able to upload your own image. Either way, it's worth making one clear, readable still moment in the Short that works as a cover. Remember it will be shown in 9:16 in the Shorts feed and cropped toward 16:9 elsewhere.

For regular video thumbnails, see the YouTube thumbnail size guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I download a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?

Copy the Short's link from the Share button or the address bar, paste it into ThumbDL and press Get Thumbnail. Click Download next to "Vertical (Shorts)" to save the full 1080×1920 cover.

What size is a YouTube Shorts thumbnail?

The vertical Shorts cover is 1080×1920 pixels (9:16). YouTube also stores a landscape version up to 1280×720 for places where Shorts appear alongside regular videos.

Why doesn't my Short have a vertical thumbnail?

YouTube generates the vertical cover separately, and it isn't always available, especially for very new or older Shorts. When it's missing, ThumbDL still shows every landscape size that exists.

Does this work on my phone?

Yes. Open this page in your mobile browser, paste the link from the YouTube app and tap Download. On iPhone you can also press and hold the preview image and choose Save to Photos.

Can I use someone else's Shorts thumbnail?

Thumbnails belong to the creator who made the video. Downloading one for personal reference, research or commentary is generally fine, but don't re-upload it as your own or use it commercially without permission.