How to Download a Cover Image (Thumbnail)

You can quickly create and download a cover image (thumbnail) from any moment in your video by saving a frame directly from the video preview.

Step-by-step Instructions

• Open your project in the editor.
• Play the video until you reach the frame you want to use as the cover.
• Pause the video at the exact moment you want.
• Right-click directly on the video preview.
• Select “Save Image As…”,** **choose a folder on your computer and save the image.

✅ That saved image can now be used as your cover image.

Upload Thumbnail in YouTube Studio

When uploading a video to YouTube, you can upload a custom cover image instead of using an auto-generated thumbnail. In YouTube Studio, go to the Thumbnails section and upload your image there.

​YouTube Studio uploader

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Tips for Best Results

• Pause on a frame where the screen is clear and readable.

• Avoid motion blur—pause on a moment where nothing is moving quickly.
• If you want a specific frame, use the timeline to scrub slowly and pause precisely.
• Use your keyboard arrow keys for precision: After pausing the video, press the Left Arrow (←) or Right Arrow (→) keys to move frame-by-frame, so you can select the exact moment you want.​

FAQ

What format will the downloaded image be?

Most browsers save it as PNG by default.

Why don’t I see “Save Image As…”?

Some browsers restrict it depending on the video playback method. Try:

• Using Chrome
• Opening the video editor in a new tab
• Playing the video first and pausing it
• Right-clicking after pausing the playback directly on the video preview area (not the narration editor)