YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Download any YouTube thumbnail in HD (1280×720), SD, HQ or MQ. Works with Shorts, live streams and youtu.be links.
Paste your link
Preview
YouTube thumbnail sizes and resolutions
Every YouTube video stores its thumbnail at five fixed sizes. This tool checks which ones exist for the video you pasted and hides the rest, so you never download a broken or placeholder image.
| Name | Resolution | Filename | Best used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max resolution (HD) | 1280 × 720 | maxresdefault.jpg |
Blog headers, design reference, print |
| Standard definition | 640 × 480 | sddefault.jpg |
Slide decks, documents |
| High quality | 480 × 360 | hqdefault.jpg |
Playlists, embeds, social previews |
| Medium quality | 320 × 180 | mqdefault.jpg |
Sidebars, list views |
| Default | 120 × 90 | default.jpg |
Icons, small previews |
Can you download a YouTube thumbnail in 4K? No — and no tool can.
YouTube caps thumbnail storage at 1280 × 720, which is the maxresdefault image.
Any site advertising 4K or 1080p YouTube thumbnails is either upscaling that 720p file,
which adds no real detail, or describing the video resolution rather than the thumbnail.
If you need something larger, download the 1280 × 720 version and upscale it yourself. You get the same result, without the misleading claim.
Not every video has a max-resolution thumbnail. If the creator uploaded a
low-resolution custom image, or the video is old, maxresdefault won't exist.
Use the 640 × 480 standard definition version instead.
How to download a YouTube thumbnail
- Copy the video link. On desktop, copy it from the address bar. On mobile, tap Share, then Copy link.
- Paste it into the box above. The video ID is detected automatically — timestamps, playlist and tracking parameters are stripped for you.
- Pick a size. Each available resolution is listed with its exact pixel dimensions.
- Download. The image saves as a
.jpg, or copy the direct link to use it elsewhere.
Supported link formats
You don't need to clean the link up first. All of these work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
https://youtu.be/VIDEO_ID
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID
https://www.youtube.com/live/VIDEO_ID
https://www.youtube.com/embed/VIDEO_ID
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
VIDEO_ID (the bare 11-character ID)
Frequently asked questions
Is this YouTube thumbnail downloader free?
Yes. No account, no signup, no watermark and no daily limit.
What is the highest resolution available?
1280 × 720, stored by YouTube as maxresdefault.jpg. That is YouTube's maximum — it does not store thumbnails at 1080p or 4K.
Does it work with YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste the Shorts URL exactly as you copied it and the thumbnail is fetched the same way as a standard video.
Can I download the thumbnail of a live stream?
Yes, for public live streams and past broadcasts, using the same /live/ or /watch?v= link.
Can I use a downloaded thumbnail on my own video?
Only with permission. Thumbnails are the copyright of the video's creator. Downloading for reference, research or study is fine, but republishing someone else's thumbnail as your own can trigger a copyright strike.
Do you store the videos or images I look up?
No. The tool builds direct links to YouTube's image servers inside your browser. Nothing is uploaded to us and nothing is logged.
Why is the HD version missing for some videos?
The creator never uploaded a high-resolution thumbnail for that video. The 640 × 480 version is the next best option.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. On Android the image saves to your gallery. On iPhone, if Safari blocks the download, long-press the preview and choose Save to Photos.
