Ensuring Your Shorts Video's Thumbnail Shows Up

Ensuring Your Shorts Video’s Thumbnail Shows Up

Video thumbnails are important since they encourage people to click and watch the video. But what if your set YouTube Shorts thumbnail is not showing? YouTube will use a random part of the video as the thumbnail. It may be an unflattering or uninteresting shot. Then, your Shorts video is doomed.

That said, it is a problem you want to solve. Here are 7 FAQs about YouTube Shorts thumbnails. They may help you with fixing this issue.

Q1. Can I Customize YouTube Shorts Thumbnails?

Yes, you can. YouTube did allow short-form video creators to upload custom thumbnails for their Shorts. However, they aren’t that optimized. For instance, some people may not see them on the Shorts shelf. Also, if you share a link to the video somewhere else, the old video thumbnail may show instead of the new one.

Adding a custom thumbnail for YouTube Shorts is the same as adding one for long-form videos on the platform. Follow these steps:

Open the YouTube mobile app. Click the “Plus” icon at the bottom center > “Create Short.” Upload, edit, and post your video.

Get to your desktop computer or laptop. Open your channel’s YouTube Studio.

On the left navigation menu, click “Content.”

Click the “pencil” icon next to the Shorts you just uploaded. This video should be at the top of the list.
Navigate to the Thumbnail section. Click “Create Thumbnail.”

Q2. Why Are YouTube Shorts Thumbnails Not Showing?

It’s not you who’s the only one with Shorts thumbnails not showing. Many short-form content creators on the platform are also facing this issue. A YouTuber took to Reddit to complain about how he uploaded custom thumbnails for all his videos. The thumbnails are correct in the editor. However, YouTube still displays a random frame as the thumbnail on the Shorts shelf.

“They ALL have randomly selected different parts of each video I have uploaded & somehow generated a new/unknown thumbnail that was neither what I uploaded as the custom option nor 1 of the 3 that YouTube auto populated.”

YouTuber on Reddit

The reason behind this is the difference in the thumbnail size. Regular YouTube video thumbnails are in the ratio of 16:9. Meanwhile, Shorts uses a ratio of 9:16. The thing is that YouTube does not yet allow you to upload 9:16 thumbnails. Thus, the thumbnail for Shorts may show correctly on the video section but not on the Shorts shelf.

Q3. How to Fix YouTube Shorts Thumbnail Problem?

Unfortunately, there is no reliable fix to this problem yet. YouTubers have tried different things in hopes that YouTube will display the correct thumbnail for their Shorts.

Some YouTubers have tried using different images. Others have experimented with changing the aspect ratio of the thumbnail or using Adobe editor for ratios. Clearing histories and cache, using different browsers, resizing, and changing the images’ resolution have also been done. Sadly, these are all failed attempts.

Q4. How To Boost Views When I Have no Control Over YouTube Shorts Thumbnails?

Attracting viewers on Shorts is the same as attracting viewers on the main YouTube. You use interesting thumbnails and video titles. Since thumbnails are out of the options, selecting great video titles has become even more important.

Here are some pointers. Your title should be at most 40 characters. Also, it should be concise and irresistible. And forget about SEO since no one is searching for YouTube Shorts anyway. People consume what they see in their feeds. So instead, the title should be “snappy.” It should intrigue, entertain, or enlighten the viewers. That will net you some views for your Shorts content.

Q5. How To Get More Views on YouTube Shorts?

Forgoing the intro is the way to go. An intro will just prolong the video when people are in Shorts to find bite-sized videos. So jump right into the video content. You can also start the video with a still frame instead. Using hashtags, captions, and text effects are also recommended. And interacting with your audience through comments and pinned comments will keep them coming back to your Shorts channel.

Of course, ensuring that the video quality is high is key to getting more views. For that, you need a good video editor. You can try Wondershare Filmora , a powerful and easy-to-use video editor.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

The best thing is that you don’t need to transfer the video from your phone to your computer and back. Wondershare Filmora is available on mobile. And it’s one of the best tools for enhancing a short-form video.

Short-form video watchers love filters, transitions, and effects. And Filmora gives you access to all of that. It provides you with fun and amazing filters, effects, transitions, and stamps that can add a wow factor to your short-form video.

Q6. Do YouTube Shorts Make Money?

Making money from YouTube Shorts was challenging. The platform pays content creators who are doing well through the Creator Fund. However, as Shorts grew, the payout became smaller.

Luckily, that’s going to change. Starting this year, Shorts will be a part of the YouTube Partner Program. This means that you can make money from the ads that people watch on Shorts. According to YouTube, creators will keep 45% of the revenue. It will be distributed based on your share of total Shorts views.

YouTube also adjusted the requirements to qualify for the YPP. They made it easier for Shorts content creators to get into the program.

Q7. How Do You Make YouTube Shorts Play Normal?

You can watch Shorts like normal YouTube videos where you can rewind when you want to. Follow these steps.

On a Desktop Computer

Open a Shorts video on YouTube.

Pause the video.

Click “Library” on the left panel.

Select the Shorts you just watched. It should be on the top and first on the list.

On a Mobile Phone

Open the YouTube app. Watch a Shorts video.

Like the Shorts video.

Tap “Library”

Scroll down to find “Liked Videos.” Click on it.

Select the Shorts video you just watched. It should be at the top of the list.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, custom thumbnails not showing on Shorts does not have a fix yet. So to attract viewers, you must leverage the things in your control. You must title your videos in a way that will make users click the video. Also, adding effects and filters on the video using an editor like Wondershare Filmora can help.

Users can subscribe to Shorts channels. And if they see that your videos are well-edited and high-quality, they’ll be more likely to do so. Once they are subscribed, they will see and watch your videos more often.

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Q6. Do YouTube Shorts Make Money?

Making money from YouTube Shorts was challenging. The platform pays content creators who are doing well through the Creator Fund. However, as Shorts grew, the payout became smaller.

YouTube also adjusted the requirements to qualify for the YPP. They made it easier for Shorts content creators to get into the program.

Q7. How Do You Make YouTube Shorts Play Normal?

You can watch Shorts like normal YouTube videos where you can rewind when you want to. Follow these steps.

On a Desktop Computer

Open a Shorts video on YouTube.

Pause the video.

Click “Library” on the left panel.

Select the Shorts you just watched. It should be on the top and first on the list.

On a Mobile Phone

Open the YouTube app. Watch a Shorts video.

Like the Shorts video.

Tap “Library”

Scroll down to find “Liked Videos.” Click on it.

Select the Shorts video you just watched. It should be at the top of the list.

Conclusion

Stand Out Strong: Tailoring Templates for Video Gaming Logos

Gaming videos have become increasingly popular on YouTube, especially among young people. It is not uncommon for older folk to enjoy this type of content, especially if they want to unwind after a long day. However, the industry is becoming pretty crowded, making it harder for content creators to stand out from the crowd.

An excellent way to get your target audience to notice you would be to design a killer YouTube banner that will immediately cause anyone scrolling past to click on your video. Stick around to learn how to create a great gaming YouTube banner with templates.

Imagine a scenario where you want to open a brick-and-mortar store. One of the most important things you need to get out of the way is the business name. Once you have settled on a fitting name, you will then move on to create a sign to place outside your shop.

For example, a banner for your YouTube gaming channel plays a similar role to signage for a brick-and-mortar shop.

An excellent banner helps you make a solid first impression on your viewers, some of who is viewing your content for the first time.
Secondly, a well-designed banner reflects positively on your brand and helps you grow your audience at a steady rate.
Thirdly, you can use your banner to give your viewers a rough idea of what your video is about without them clicking to watch. A suitable banner can cause anticipation to build within your viewers. Once the video is over, they won’t resist visiting your channel to see what else you offer.

We can liken a banner for your YouTube video to a book cover to a novel you have been dying to read. Therefore, it would be wise to get the size right if you want to create an excellent first impression for yourself. Ideally, the best size for a YouTube banner is 2560*1440 pixels or an aspect ratio of 16:9.

We urge you not to upload a banner smaller than 2048*1152 pixels, or else the image will appear cropped. Keep your banner within 1235*338 pixels and centered on the screen to be on the safe side.

This YouTube banner dimension is ideal for viewing on any device since your audience might use their smartphones or laptop to watch your videos on YouTube. Lastly, ensure you keep the file to a maximum of 6MB. We believe this file size is pretty generous.

Below are some tips that will help you create beautiful YouTube banners.

Simplicity is key: Contrary to popular belief, a simple banner looks more polished than a complex one. If your YouTube banner has too many elements, your viewers using their mobile phones might have a challenge viewing the image.

Ensure the graphics are high-quality : Nothing is as frustrating to your viewers as seeing a blurry or pixelated YouTube banner. However, high-quality graphics with a resolution of at least 1920*1080 pixels make your work look polished and attract more viewers to your channel.

Leverage the grid system: Some of your viewers might watch your videos from their smartphones, and others on their laptops or tablets. The grid system allows you to ensure the full banner will be visible no matter what device your audience will use to watch your gaming videos.

Add a CTA: At the end of the day, you are trying to grow your audience on your YouTube channel. You might also have other social media platforms where you post content. Since your banner is one of the first things your audience will see, you could include a short, easy-to-read, and understandable call to action. For instance, you could encourage them to “Subscribe Now!”

Incorporate your unique color scheme: By now, you already have a theme for your YouTube channel that your existing subscribers associate with you. As you design your YouTube banner, ensure you incorporate your theme colors, so new visitors know what colors to look out for as they scroll on the platform.

Why Use Templates To Create Gaming YouTube Banners?

First and foremost, a gaming youtube banner template takes the tedium out of creating a design from scratch. They are also systematized, meaning you can download a template specifically for YouTube that comes in the correct dimensions. Most importantly, templates designed for gaming YouTube banners are optimized to help you generate more organic traffic to your channel.

You probably have other expenses breathing down your neck. No need to add your YouTube banner to the list. A youtube gaming channel banner template a budget-friendly way to create stunning designs for your banner that actually look good. If you are lucky, you might find free programs to help you create gorgeous YouTube banners for your gaming channel.

Make YouTube Gaming Banners With Templates in Filmora

Now that you understand why a gaming channel banner template is essential for your YouTube channel, you might wonder where you can find some good ones to incorporate into your videos. Don’t worry because Filmora is precisely what you need.

Wondershare Filmora has a fantastic template feature that helps you make creative videos effortlessly. You can use the preset templates in the platform, saving you lots of time you would have spent designing your template from scratch. We guarantee you cannot exhaust the 1000+ templates this platform offers, meaning you are spoilt for choice!

If you want to customize your video, you can replace the stock videos that come with the preset templates with footage from your internal storage. In addition, Wondershare Filmora lets you share your favorite templates with other content creators who would also like to try making their own cool videos.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Below is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make a gaming YouTuber banner template with Wondershare Filmora.

Step 1. After creating a project with Filmora, click on the “File” tab, wait for a drop-down menu to appear, and select “Project Settings.”

Step 2. Once a dialogue box appears, go to the “Resolution” tab and adjust the resolution to 2560*1140.

Step 3. Upload your footage or photo from your internal storage by clicking on the logo below.

Step 4. Click on the “Template” tab at the top of the page and click “Game.” Browse the available templates till you see one you like.

Step 5. Drag and drop the template you have chosen to the timeline as shown below.

Step 6. Replace the sample footage in the template by dragging and dropping your own footage into the timeline.

Step 7. Customize the footage and change the settings until you are happy with the outcome. Edit the text using the tools provided in the platform.

Step 8. Take a screenshot of the final result.

Step 9. Specify the snapshot format and choose the storage location before saving a copy to your device.

Step 10. Once the snapshot appears in the Media Panel, right-click on it to open. Select “Reveal in Explorer” to locate the picture in your internal storage. You can now use the photo as your YouTube gaming banner.

Wondershare Filmora is not the only platform you can use to create banner templates for your YouTube channel. Here is a list of 5 more websites you can try and a detailed breakdown of the remarkable features you are bound to enjoy.

1. Canva

The first alternative to Filmora on our list is Canva, which has thousands of professional, ready-made designs to wow your audience. You can work alone or with a dedicated team to ensure you design only the best banner for your channel to attract the masses to the kind of content you create.

2. PosterMyWall

We couldn’t forget to include PosterMyWall to our list, which has pre-made templates you can customize to suit your needs. With PosterMyWall, you can save the time you could have used to design a banner from scratch to think of more content for your channel. The developers suggest various templates you might like, not to mention that you can sign up for free!

3. Freepik

Another suitable alternative to Filmora is Freepik. We guarantee you cannot exhaust all the numerous templates this platform offers. Each template is unique, with different color combinations and fonts to cater to the theme colors on your YouTube channel. You could opt for the free version or sign up for a Premium account and get 30% off.

4. Pickmaker

The fourth alternative on our list is Pickmaker, a sure way to take your gaming channel to the next level. The templates are arranged in broad categories to help you pick the best one based on the type of content you post. In addition, you don’t have to part with your precious monies to start designing YouTube banners with Pickmaker.

5. Placeit

Last but definitely not least is Placeit, which contains picturesque templates fitting for a gaming YouTube channel. We guarantee your audience won’t resist clicking on your videos once you use any of the templates within this platform. All you need to do is create a free account to enjoy the perks. Placeit makes your work easier by allowing you to indicate your favorite templates for use later.

Conclusion

Gaming content is far from boring, and neither should your banner. Remember, your audience will judge you based on your banner, the first content they interact with before they click to watch your video.

The better you can design your banner, the higher your chances of growing an audience that supports you by watching your content regularly. Once you have created an enticing banner, all that’s left is to ensure you have the content to match.