How to Copy a YouTube Thumbnail URL
Sometimes you do not need the file, only the address of the image. Here is how to copy a YouTube thumbnail URL for any video and where to use it.
Copy the link in three steps
- Copy the video's link from the browser bar or the Share menu.
- Paste it into the box on this page: paste your link here.
- Press the copy button next to the size you want. Its direct image URL is now on your clipboard.
What the link looks like
A thumbnail URL points to a file on YouTube's image servers and ends with a file name such as maxresdefault.jpg or hqdefault.jpg. The part before the file name contains the video ID. You can read the exact pattern in the guide to the thumbnail URL from a video ID.
Only copy sizes that exist
If you copy the link for a size that was never generated, for example maxresdefault on an old video, it returns an error. Because ThumbGrab lists only the files that exist, the links it gives you are safe to use. When the HD file is missing, hqdefault is the file that exists for every video.
Where to use a thumbnail URL
- In a spreadsheet or a database that shows a preview of an image.
- In a notes app, a slide deck or a research document, as a source link.
- In a web page, where the same address can be placed in an image tag, as shown in the guide to embedding a YouTube thumbnail.
Prefer the file?
If you would rather keep a copy of the image, use the download button instead of the copy button. The file arrives with a name that includes the title and the resolution, and it does not depend on YouTube's servers afterwards.
A habit that saves time
If you collect many thumbnail links for a project, copy them one at a time and note the video each one belongs to. A column with the video title and a column with the image URL is enough to rebuild a gallery later, and ThumbGrab's filenames keep the downloaded copies in the same order.
Frequently asked questions
How do I copy a YouTube thumbnail URL?
Paste the video link into ThumbGrab and press the copy button next to the size you want.
Is the thumbnail URL permanent?
It points to a file on YouTube's image servers, so it works as long as the video and its thumbnail exist. If the creator changes the thumbnail, the file behind the address changes too.
Why does my thumbnail link show an error?
The file for that size may not exist for the video, which often happens with maxresdefault on older uploads. Use a size that is listed.
Can I use the link on my own website?
Technically yes, but the image belongs to its creator, so check the rules on reuse before you publish it.
Do I need an account or an extension?
No. ThumbGrab is a web page that works in any browser.
Keep reading
- The tool for this topic: get a YouTube thumbnail from a URL
- Back to the paste your link here