Answered · How to
Why can't I upload a custom thumbnail on YouTube?
Usually because the channel has not been verified. YouTube requires phone verification, part of its intermediate features, before custom thumbnails unlock. Other causes are an active Community Guidelines strike, an image that is too large or the wrong format, or uploading from an app version that hides the option. Verification takes a few minutes in Studio.
YouTube par custom thumbnail ka option kyun nahi aa raha?
The longer answer
New channels start with basic features only. To unlock custom thumbnails, longer uploads and live streaming, YouTube asks you to verify the channel, typically by entering a phone number and a code sent by SMS or a voice call. Go to YouTube Studio, open Settings, then Channel, then Feature eligibility, and follow the steps under intermediate features. A Pakistani mobile number works for this. Once verified, the custom thumbnail option appears when you edit a video's details.
If you are already verified and the option is still missing or greyed out, check the channel's standing. An active Community Guidelines strike can restrict features, and custom thumbnails are among the things that can be withdrawn. Studio's Feature eligibility page tells you which features are on or off and why. The fix there is to wait for the strike to expire and avoid another, not to create a new channel, which breaks YouTube's rules on circumventing restrictions.
Sometimes the problem is the file. An image larger than the limit Studio states, an unusual format like WebP or HEIC from an iPhone, or a design in the wrong shape will fail to upload or look wrong. Export as JPG or PNG at 1280 × 720. And some mobile app versions bury or omit the option, so if you cannot find it on your phone, open studio.youtube.com in a browser. Also remember a thumbnail must follow the same community guidelines as the video; a thumbnail that breaks them can be removed even when the video is fine.
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