Download YouTube Thumbnails
Get HD and 4K thumbnails from any YouTube video or Shorts URL. All resolutions, one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?
Paste any YouTube video or Shorts URL in the input above and click "Grab". All available thumbnail resolutions will appear. Click the download button on any thumbnail to save it.
What resolutions are available?
YouTube provides thumbnails in Default (120×90), Medium (320×180), High (480×360), Standard (640×480), and Max Resolution (1280×720). Not all videos have the maxresdefault version.
Does this work with YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Paste any YouTube Shorts URL and it works exactly the same way — Shorts use the same thumbnail system as regular videos.
Is it legal to download YouTube thumbnails?
Thumbnails are publicly accessible images hosted on YouTube's CDN. Downloading for personal reference is permitted. Commercial reuse may require the creator's permission.
Why is maxresdefault not available for some videos?
Not all videos have a custom high-resolution thumbnail. Older videos or those with auto-generated thumbnails may only have lower resolutions available.
Can I download thumbnails from private videos?
No. Our tool can only fetch thumbnails from public or unlisted YouTube videos. Private videos restrict access to their metadata and images.
Do I need an account to use this?
No, YouTube Utils's thumbnail downloader is completely free and requires zero signup or registration.
What format are the thumbnails saved in?
All YouTube thumbnails are natively stored and downloaded in the standard JPG/JPEG image format.
Can I use these thumbnails for my own YouTube channel?
While you can download them for inspiration or fair use commentary, directly copying another creator's thumbnail may violate their copyright or YouTube's spam policies. It's best to create original artwork.
Does this tool work on mobile devices?
Yes! Our website is fully responsive and allows you to download thumbnails seamlessly on any iOS or Android smartphone.