Custom thumbnails are a great way to grab a viewer's attention, but when it comes to YouTube Shorts, this process has been a bit tricky. In the past, we shared a workaround to create custom thumbnails for Shorts, but the good news is that YouTube has made this much easier with some recent updates.

Before we dive in, it’s important to note that these updates are currently only available through the YouTube mobile app. Also, custom thumbnails for Shorts will appear only on your channel page, in YouTube search results, and on hashtag and audio pivot pages.

So, what’s new? YouTube has added a custom thumbnail editor directly into the Shorts upload process. Now, when you’re uploading a Short on your mobile device, you'll have the option to select any frame from your video to feature as the thumbnail. You can also enhance this with new text, filter, and emoji options—no extra software needed. This makes it quick and simple to create eye-catching thumbnails, and if you’re familiar with TikTok’s in-app editor, the functionality is pretty similar.

The best part? You can still edit and update your thumbnail even after your Short is live. Just go back into the app and make changes anytime.

If you’re looking for more advanced ways to create custom thumbnails using third-party tools, check out our full guide on How to Hack YouTube Shorts for a detailed walkthrough.