Uploading YouTube Shorts with Custom Thumbnails

We will be using the YouTube app and the desktop.

1. Upload Shorts and Choose Thumbnail
First, open the YouTube app on your mobile device. Then, click on the ‘+’ icon at the bottom center to initiate the upload process. Assuming you’ve already created and saved your Short video to your device’s gallery, select the video you wish to upload. After selecting your video, click “Done” to confirm your choice. Now, click on the checkmark icon to proceed. You’ll be prompted to add a caption, but for this step, you can use a PC. Click “Next” to continue. Unfortunately, selecting a custom thumbnail isn’t available from the PC. However, you can choose a thumbnail from your video. Pick the one that best represents your content, then select “Unlisted” for your video, and click “Upload Short.”

2. Add Title and Description
Log in to your YouTube account and go to YouTube Studio. Locate your Short video and click on it. You will then be able to add the title, description, tags, etc., for the video. The thumbnail will be the same as the one you selected on the mobile.