Why Your YouTube Thumbnail Doesn’t Show Up — and How to Fix It

Sometimes, when you open a video link or try to download a preview image, the thumbnail just doesn’t appear. Here are the most common reasons — and what to do about them.

1. The video is set to “Private” or “Unlisted”

YouTube hides thumbnails for private videos. If it’s yours — check the visibility in YouTube Studio.

2. The video was just uploaded

It can take several minutes for YouTube to generate all preview versions (maxres, standard, etc.). Just wait a bit and try again.

3. You copied the wrong link format

Thumbnails are linked to the video ID. Make sure your link is like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID

4. The max resolution thumbnail is not available

Some videos don’t have a maxresdefault.jpg. Try loading:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/hqdefault.jpg

5. The preview is blocked by your browser or extensions

Ad blockers, privacy extensions, or DNS settings may block image loading. Try in incognito mode or another browser.

6. You’re trying to download a Shorts thumbnail

Shorts may not have standard previews. Use a screenshot or read our guide How to get a thumbnail from Shorts.

7. The thumbnail URL is outdated

If the video was re-uploaded or changed privacy settings, the old preview URL may not work anymore. Try refreshing the link or reloading the page.

Conclusion

Most thumbnail problems are temporary. Try a different link format, check video status, or use YouTubeSnap to see all available previews.