If you work with videos, you know the importance of a thumbnail. Not only can it describe what’s your video about in an image, more often than not, but a thumbnail is also a reason people might see your video.
If you’re uploading videos on Instagram, you must have noticed that it automatically takes your video’s first frame as the thumbnail uses it. However, there are ways you can get around this and add a custom thumbnail to your video.
In this article, we’re going over a few ways you can change the thumbnail on Instagram.
Also read: How to fix ‘Instagram Won’t Let Me Login’ error?
Change Instagram thumbnail using the Cover feature
When you’re uploading a video on Instagram, you can actually specify a frame from your video to be used as the thumbnail using the Cover feature. Here’s how.
- Upload your video to Instagram and tap the next arrow in the top right.
- Once on the Filters page, tap on Cover on the bottom-right.
- You’ll see a timeline of your video. Scrub along until you find the desired frame and tap the next arrow again.
Now all you have to do is type in a caption and upload your video. Your selected frame will now be used as the thumbnail.
Change Instagram thumbnail by adding a still frame in the video
This is more of a workaround rather than a solution, but it’s really simple to do and doesn’t hamper the quality of your video.
All you need to do is add your thumbnail to your video for the first five seconds or so. When you’re uploading the video, you can the thumbnail from those first five frames using the aforementioned Cover feature.
This way, viewers see a proper thumbnail, not just a still from the video, and you get to add a thumbnail without much fuss.
Also read: How to fix ‘Sorry there was a problem with your request on Instagram’ error?
Change Instagram thumbnail using the Instagram Creator Studio
Another thing that you can use to add a custom thumbnail is the Instagram Creator Studio. This is a handy tool that lets you monitor your Instagram account from your browser, view stats, reply to messages and even post content.
The only restriction here is that your account needs to be either a business or a creators account.
Step 1: Head over to the Instagram Creator Studio and connect your account.
Step 2: Once logged in, click on the Create Post button and choose the kind of post you want to upload.
Step 3: Upload your video by clicking on the Add Content button.
Step 4: Once your video is uploaded, you’ll see a Cover Image option on the right. Click it to proceed.
Step 5: Under Custom upload, click upload and select the thumbnail you want.
Now your video will be posted along with the thumbnail that you picked.
Also read: How to fix ‘Instagram Signup Blocked’ error?
