How do Designer credits work?

Microsoft says you get a fresh set of credits at the start of each month, and 1 credit is deducted each time you use Designer's AI features, like creating an image from a description. Microsoft doesn't publish how many free credits you get.

How to make a YouTube thumbnail with Microsoft Designer (free)

Have Microsoft Designer make the scene, then add your real photo and a few big words. Here's how to do it for free, what credits are, and what the license says.

2026-10-29 3 min read ThumbnailsYouTubeGuides

Microsoft Designer can make a thumbnail scene for free with a Microsoft account. We have it build the background only, then add our real photo and a few big words on top. If you'd rather use another AI tool, see [How to make a YouTube thumbnail with ChatGPT](/blog/how-to-make-a-youtube-thumbnail-with-chatgpt) or [How to make a YouTube thumbnail with Gemini](/blog/how-to-make-a-youtube-thumbnail-with-gemini).

Is it free?

Yes. Microsoft's FAQ says: "Yes, Designer is free to use. A subscription may be required for those who want to create more frequently." You need a Microsoft account to sign in, and Microsoft says those are free too.

Step 1: Start with YouTube's size

YouTube recommends 3840 x 2160 pixels for video thumbnails, with a minimum width of 640 pixels, at a 16:9 aspect ratio. Microsoft says you can resize your design into a size that works for you. Aim for a 16:9 size before you add anything. If your design ends up a different size, our guide to [resizing a YouTube thumbnail](/blog/how-to-resize-youtube-thumbnail) can fix it.

Step 2: Let the AI make the scene

Describe the background in plain words and pick the version you like best. Ask for the scene only, with no people and no text, and leave open space where you'll go. Here's a prompt we'd start with: "A dramatic desert road at sunset, wide shot, empty space on the left, no people, no text."

Step 3: Add your own face

This part is our advice. We don't ask the AI to draw us or redo our photo, since an AI image tool can change your face so it no longer looks like you. Upload a real photo of yourself and place it in the open space.

Step 4: Add big, readable text

Also our advice: use a few large words, not a sentence. Thumbnails show up small in a phone feed, so pick a bold font and strong contrast against the background.

Step 5: Blur or remove the background

Microsoft says Designer can help with "blurring or removing backgrounds." Removing the background from your photo lets you place just yourself on the scene. Blurring the scene behind you helps your face and words stand out.

How credits work

Designer's AI features use credits. Microsoft says: "You will receive a fresh set of credits at the start of each month, and 1 credit will be deducted from your balance each time you interact with Copilot (e.g., having Copilot in Word draft a document) or Designer's AI features (e.g., creating an image based on your description)." Microsoft doesn't publish how many free credits you get. So we write good prompts up front instead of regenerating over and over.

Can you use it on a monetized channel?

Microsoft's FAQ says: "Designer is licensed for personal, non-commercial use with your Microsoft account." Our read is that a monetized channel counts as commercial use, so free Designer may not fit there. That's our read, not legal advice. Check Microsoft's terms yourself before you use it on a channel that earns money.

Step 6: Download and upload it in YouTube Studio

Download your finished design to your device. YouTube asks for an image format such as JPG or PNG. Then sign in to YouTube Studio, open your video, and upload the image as its thumbnail. The full spec is in our [YouTube thumbnail size guide](/blog/youtube-thumbnail-size).

One last check

Shrink it down to about the size it shows in a phone feed. If you can't read the words or see your face, make the text bigger and cut the clutter. Then run it through [Thumbly Score](/blog/how-to-use-thumbly-score) for a quick second opinion before you upload.