Changing the thumbnail image for a video you’ve already posted on Facebook is easy to do. The thumbnail is the still image that represents your video in the News Feed and on your Page. Selecting an eye-catching and relevant thumbnail can help get more views of your video.
Can you change the thumbnail after posting a Facebook video?
Yes, you can change the video thumbnail after posting on Facebook. The thumbnail image is generated automatically when you first post the video, but you can override it with a different image at any time.
Steps to change Facebook video thumbnail after posting:
- Go to your Facebook Page and click “Photos” in the left menu.
- Click the “Albums” tab at the top.
- Locate the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click on it.
- Hover over the video thumbnail and click the camera icon that appears in the bottom right corner.
- Select “Change Thumbnail” from the pop-up menu.
- Upload a new thumbnail image from your computer.
- Crop the image if needed and click “Save.”
The new custom thumbnail will now be displayed on your video wherever it appears on Facebook. You can repeat these steps to change the thumbnail again at any time.
Why change the video thumbnail on Facebook?
Here are some common reasons you may want to change your video thumbnail after posting:
- The automatically generated thumbnail is blurry, dark or off-center.
- You want an image that is more eye-catching or better represents the content.
- You want to test different thumbnails to see which one gets more engagement.
- The video content changed from your original thumbnail concept.
- You simply want a more appealing, higher quality image.
Selecting the right thumbnail can make a big difference in the number of people who click to watch your video. An updated, customized thumbnail can help boost views and engagement.
Thumbnail size and dimension requirements
When creating a custom thumbnail for Facebook, it’s important to use an image that meets the correct specifications:
- Dimensions: 1280 x 720 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio)
- File size: Less than 4MB
- File format: JPG or PNG
Images with those technical specs will display properly across Facebook and maintain quality on high-resolution displays. Other requirements include:
- The image should be representative of the video content
- Text like titles should be minimized
- The image should be eye-catching and compelling
Follow those best practices for great looking, optimized Facebook video thumbnails.
Tips for creating effective Facebook video thumbnails
Here are some top tips for designing fantastic custom thumbnails that help your Facebook videos stand out:
Highlight faces
Thumbnails featuring people grab attention and help humanize your brand. Prioritize faces and make them large in the frame.
Use contrasting colors
Bold, contrasting colors like red and yellow catch the eye on Facebook. Avoid lighter shades that can blend together.
Include text sparingly
Text distracts from central visuals. Use only essential text like branding and limit it to 20% of the image.
Consider emotions
Evoke a strong emotion like joy, surprise or curiosity. This makes the thumbnail more click-worthy.
Focus on a central element
Anchor the image around one strong, compelling focal point instead of multiple competing elements.
Use high-quality images
Invest in professional photos and graphics for maximum visual impact at small sizes.
Create multiple options
Produce several thumbnail options to test and optimize based on performance.
Do Facebook video thumbnails change on mobile?
The image you select as your custom thumbnail will remain consistent across desktop and mobile. However, the look of the thumbnail area does change slightly on mobile:
- Mobile thumbnails have rounded corners instead of angled square corners.
- The play icon and video length appear below thumbnails instead of overlayed.
- Thumbnails are enlarged when tapped to highlight the active video.
So the image itself does not change, but the surrounding thumbnail interface and sizing adjusts for the mobile experience. Check how your custom thumbnails look on mobile and make any tweaks to maximize visibility.
Can you crop a video thumbnail on Facebook?
Yes, when you upload a new custom thumbnail you have the ability to crop and zoom the image within Facebook. To crop:
- After selecting a new thumbnail image, click on the cropping tool in the lower left.
- Use your mouse or trackpad to drag and scale the cropping frame.
- Adjust until you isolate the portion of the image you want.
- Click “Save” to apply the cropped thumbnail.
Cropping is handy for honing in on the most important part of an image and cutting out unnecessary background area. This can help focus attention on your main subject.
Tips for cropping Facebook thumbnails
- Use the rule of thirds to position your subject off-center for dynamics.
- Crop tightly around focal points like faces or products.
- Cut out distracting or extraneous background elements.
- Adjust the angle for diagonal lines and movement.
- Leave extra room in the direction your subject is facing.
Do Facebook video thumbnails have to match the video?
Facebook does require your custom thumbnail to be closely relevant and representative of the actual video content. However, the thumbnail does not need to be an exact match to a single frame from the video.
Some best practices for consistency include:
- Depicting the same setting or visual theme
- Featuring the prominent people or products in the video
- Using relevant and recognizable imagery
- Portraying similar colors and lighting
- Evoking the overall emotion, topic and story
Having imagery that mirrors the video itself helps set viewer expectations and prevent false impressions. But you have creative license to stylize the thumbnail within those guidelines.
Can you use stock photos for Facebook video thumbnails?
Using stock photos for your Facebook video thumbnails is perfectly acceptable, provided that the imagery accurately reflects the content of your video.
Stock photos can be a quick and cost-effective way to create custom thumbnails, as long as you follow certain guidelines, including:
- Choose stock images that mirror your actual content
- Use stock photos relevant to your niche and audience
- Ensure people fit naturally and aren’t overused generic models
- Blend seamlessly with any other custom visual elements
- Modify stock images to create a cohesive aesthetic
The right stock photo that encapsulates your brand and content can make designing stunning video thumbnails easy. Just take care not to choose overused generic images that look disconnected from your videos.
Can you use Canva to make Facebook video thumbnails?
Yes, Canva is a very popular and user-friendly graphic design platform commonly used to create Facebook video thumbnails.
Benefits of using Canva include:
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
- Professional templates designed for social media
- Easy access to fonts, graphics, and illustrations
- Ability to resize images to needed dimensions
- Tools for cropping and editing photos
- Large library of stock photos and graphics
- Animated elements and backgrounds
When designing in Canva, just choose a 16:9 layout and resize to 1280 x 720 pixels. Finish thumbnails can be downloaded in JPG or PNG format. The platform makes it simple for anyone to create stunning graphics, no design expertise required.
Can you make Facebook video thumbnails on your phone?
It is possible to customize and upload new thumbnails for your Facebook videos right from your iOS or Android phone.
Options for mobile thumbnail creation include:
- Facebook mobile app – Use built-in editing tools to crop and select thumbnails
- Adobe apps – Like Photoshop and Illustrator for robust editing
- Instagram – Design in Stories and save images to use
- Canva – Mobile app with templates and easy tools
- PicMonkey – Touch up photos with many creative options
- Snapseed – Powerful photo editing with an intuitive interface
The key is having an app that allows you to precisely edit image dimensions and export high-quality files. This makes producing gorgeous, optimized thumbnails possible on the go.
Should Facebook video thumbnails include text?
Including text like titles, captions, or branding on your Facebook video thumbnails can be beneficial, but should be done with restraint.
Here are some tips for effective use of text on thumbnails:
- Keep text minimal – no more than 20% of the image
- Make sure text is easy to read at small sizes
- Use contrasting colors for legibility
- Combinesans-serif fonts like Arial for clarity
- Add descriptive captions to contextualize images
The goal should be concise, readable text that enhances but doesn’t distract from your eye-catching imagery. Avoid large blocks of text that obscure visuals. Strategically placed words can reinforce your branding, highlight key information, and intrigue viewers.
Conclusion
Customizing the thumbnail image for your Facebook videos is one of the best ways to maximize views and engagement. Take advantage of the ability to change thumbnails after posting to refine them based on performance data and dial in the visual factors that resonate most with your audience.
With compelling, high-quality thumbnail images that perfectly represent your content, you can expect to see greater numbers of people clicking, watching, and sharing your videos across Facebook.