How to use YouTube's AI thumbnail generator
YouTube Studio can generate a thumbnail for you. Open the video, then below Thumbnail select Get suggestions, or ask Ask Studio to create one.
3 min read ThumbnailsYouTubeGuidesIn YouTube Studio on a computer, select **Content** from the left menu and open the video you want to edit. Below "Thumbnail," select **Get suggestions** to generate a thumbnail. Then click **SAVE**.
You can also open **Ask Studio** and enter a prompt like "Create a thumbnail." In the chat box, click **Add** to select your video for suggestions. Both routes are below, step by step.
Generate one below Thumbnail
This route works from the video's edit page in YouTube Studio.
It may take time for your thumbnail change to appear on YouTube. Help shows **Get suggestions** in the steps for videos.
Generate one with Ask Studio
**Ask Studio** works through a chat box inside YouTube Studio. The button is on the top right corner of the page.
You can also add a video by typing it in the chat box instead of clicking **Add**.
Refine it with follow-up prompts
You don't have to take the first set of suggestions. Use follow-up prompts to make changes. For example, you can prompt Ask Studio to make the text on your thumbnail larger.
If the result still isn't what you want, try different phrasing or another follow-up question.
You can guide the look with reference images, too. In the chat box, click **Add** to upload them. Help says you can upload up to 10 images via **Add**, drag-and-drop, or pasting.
Why you don't see it
YouTube Help covers who can use Ask Studio. It says: "Ask Studio is available to most YouTube creators globally."
It also says: "It is available only on web browsers on your computer. If you don't see Ask Studio in the top corner within YouTube Studio, that means that you don't have access to the feature."
Help adds this note: "Official Artist Channels, Made for Kids channels, and creators under the age of 18 do not have access to Ask Studio."
What it builds from
Here is how Help describes it: "Ask Studio analyzes your video's transcript and themes to suggest thumbnails that are tailored to your video." So the suggestions start from your video itself.
Help also says you can choose from auto generated suggested options, or upload your own if your account is verified. If you'd rather upload your own design, see [how to enable custom YouTube thumbnails](/blog/how-to-enable-custom-youtube-thumbnails).
Whatever you pick still has to follow YouTube's Community Guidelines. Our [YouTube thumbnail policy](/blog/youtube-thumbnail-policy) guide covers what that means for thumbnails.
What YouTube announced
At Made on YouTube, YouTube announced new Studio tools for thumbnails. From [YouTube's post](https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/made-on-youtube-new-tools-power-creation-journey/): "You can even generate channel-matched thumbnails or use dynamic thumbnails to have YouTube recommend the best of three options to different segments of your audience."
Before you hit Save
A thumbnail that looks clear on the edit page can be hard to read in the feed. Shrink the pick to feed size and check that the text and faces still read. Keep both clear of the corners. Our [YouTube thumbnail safe zones](/blog/youtube-thumbnail-safe-zones) guide shows where.
Then test it against your own design with YouTube's A/B testing. Our guide to [A/B testing thumbnails in YouTube Studio](/blog/youtube-studio-thumbnail-ab-testing) walks through the setup.
You can also run the AI pick through [Thumbly Score](/blog/how-to-use-thumbly-score) before you save it.
