Source: https://mindstamp.com/help/how-do-i-change-my-videos-thumbnail
Generated from the Help Center records: 2026-10-05

# How do I change my video thumbnail?

Topic: [Design, branding and languages](https://mindstamp.com/help/design) · Updated: 2026-09-25

## Short answer

Open the video, select **Design**, and go to the **Branding** section. Under **Thumbnail**, select **Add Thumbnail** or **Change**, then pick a suggested frame or an image from your library. The thumbnail shows before playback only when **Use Looping Preview** is off.

## Steps

1. Open the video and select **Design** in the left menu.
2. Scroll to **Branding** and find **Thumbnail**.
3. Select **Add Thumbnail**, or **Change** if the video already has one.
4. In **Choose image**, pick a frame on the **Suggested** tab, or open **Library** to upload an image or pick one you used before.
5. In the **Player** section, check that **Use Looping Preview** is off. When it is on, viewers see a short moving loop instead of the thumbnail.
6. Test: open the share link in a private browser window. Expected result: your thumbnail shows before you press play.

![Mindstamp Design page, Branding section, with the Thumbnail image and the Change and Remove links](https://cdn.mindstamp.com/website2026/help/design-branding-thumbnail.webp)

_Design > Branding: the Thumbnail shows before playback and in link previews._

![Mindstamp Choose image dialog on the Suggested tab with frames from the video and a Library tab for uploads](https://cdn.mindstamp.com/website2026/help/thumbnail-choose-image.webp)

_Choose image: pick a frame on Suggested, or open Library to upload an image._

## Where the thumbnail appears

- Before playback, in the player, on the share link and in embeds (when **Use Looping Preview** is off).
- In your video library in Mindstamp.
- As the preview image when the link is shared in chat, email and social apps. Sites cache this image, so an old image can stay for a while after you change it.

## Choose a good image

- Match the shape of the video, such as 16:9 for most videos or 9:16 for vertical video.
- Use an image at least 1600 pixels wide so it stays sharp on large screens.
- Use one clear subject with strong contrast. Small text becomes hard to read in a message preview.
- Leave space in the corners. The play button and your logo can sit on top of the image.

## Thumbnails and shared designs

Each video keeps its own thumbnail. **Apply to videos…** and design resets do not change it. **Suggested** frames are available for videos uploaded to Mindstamp.

## If the old image still shows

- Check that **Use Looping Preview** is off.
- Reload the page in a private window to skip your browser cache.
- For social and chat previews, the other site may keep the old image until its own cache expires.

## Go further

- [Design tutorial](https://mindstamp.com/tutorials/design)
- [Sharing tutorial](https://mindstamp.com/tutorials/sharing)

## Related answers

- [How do I change my social share image?](https://mindstamp.com/help/how-do-i-change-my-social-share-image)
- [Can I change a video’s social title, image and description?](https://mindstamp.com/help/how-do-i-control-how-my-video-appears-when-shared-socially-can-i-change-the-generated-title-image-and-description)
- [How do I show or hide the video player controls?](https://mindstamp.com/help/how-to-set-video-player-controls)

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