Is this YouTube thumbnail downloader free?

Yes. Looking up and downloading thumbnails is completely free and needs no account. Only the optional AI summary requires a free SocialSnap login.

Why is the max resolution version missing for some videos?

YouTube only generates the 1280×720 thumbnail for videos uploaded at that resolution or higher. Older or lower-resolution uploads stop at 640×480 or 480×360, so we show you only the sizes that genuinely exist.

What sizes can I download?

Up to five: 1280×720 (max resolution), 640×480 (SD), 480×360 (HQ), 320×180 (MQ), and 120×90 (small). Which ones appear depends on the video.

Does it work with Shorts and live streams?

Yes. Shorts, live and premiere URLs, embed links, and bare 11-character video IDs all resolve to the same thumbnails.

Can I download thumbnails from private videos?

No. Only public and unlisted videos serve thumbnails. Private, deleted, or region-blocked videos return nothing, which is why a valid-looking link can still come back empty.

Can I reuse a downloaded thumbnail?

Thumbnails are the copyright of whoever uploaded the video. Referencing, commentary, and research are usually fine, but republishing someone’s thumbnail as your own artwork is not — check the rules that apply where you are.

Free tool

YouTube Thumbnail Downloader

Paste any YouTube link to see every thumbnail size the video has — then save the one you need in full resolution, straight to your device.

How to download a YouTube thumbnail

1
Paste the YouTube link
Copy the URL of any public YouTube video — watch links, youtu.be short links, and Shorts all work.
2
See every available size
Press Get Thumbnails. We check which resolutions YouTube generated for that video and preview each one.
3
Download the size you want
Hit Download to save the image as a .jpg, or copy its direct URL to embed it somewhere else.

Why use this thumbnail downloader

Full HD when it exists

Up to 1280×720 — the original file YouTube stores, not a re-compressed screenshot. We only list the sizes actually available for that video.

No signup, no watermark

Paste a link and save the file. No account, no email capture, and nothing stamped onto the image.

Real downloads, not new tabs

Files are served as proper attachments with clean filenames, so they land in your downloads folder instead of opening in a tab.

Built for research and remixing

Study what covers work in your niche, build swipe files, or mock up designs — then summarize the video itself with SocialSnap.

Frequently asked questions

Is this YouTube thumbnail downloader free?: Yes. Looking up and downloading thumbnails is completely free and needs no account. Only the optional AI summary requires a free SocialSnap login.
Why is the max resolution version missing for some videos?: YouTube only generates the 1280×720 thumbnail for videos uploaded at that resolution or higher. Older or lower-resolution uploads stop at 640×480 or 480×360, so we show you only the sizes that genuinely exist.
What sizes can I download?: Up to five: 1280×720 (max resolution), 640×480 (SD), 480×360 (HQ), 320×180 (MQ), and 120×90 (small). Which ones appear depends on the video.
Does it work with Shorts and live streams?: Yes. Shorts, live and premiere URLs, embed links, and bare 11-character video IDs all resolve to the same thumbnails.
Can I download thumbnails from private videos?: No. Only public and unlisted videos serve thumbnails. Private, deleted, or region-blocked videos return nothing, which is why a valid-looking link can still come back empty.
Can I reuse a downloaded thumbnail?: Thumbnails are the copyright of whoever uploaded the video. Referencing, commentary, and research are usually fine, but republishing someone’s thumbnail as your own artwork is not — check the rules that apply where you are.

Got the thumbnail — now get the takeaways

SocialSnap turns any YouTube video into key takeaways, chapters, a glossary, and notable quotes, and does it automatically for every new upload from the channels you follow.

Get started free Get the transcript