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YT thumbnail grabber

Paste a YouTube URL to grab its thumbnail in every quality, from default up to maxres HD. Preview each size, then open or save the one you need.

Video URL

Paste any YouTube video link.

Available qualities

Thumbnails appear here after you submit a URL.

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Where thumbnails live

YouTube stores every video's thumbnails at predictable URLs: i.ytimg.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg. No API key needed. The qualities are fixed rungs from 120px default up to 1280px maxres, and this tool simply renders each rung for the ID you provide.

When maxres is missing

Older or low-resolution uploads never got a 1280px thumbnail, so maxresdefault returns a gray 404 placeholder. The tool dims failed images automatically; just use hqdefault instead, which exists for every public video.

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YT Thumbnail Grabber FAQs

Can I use someone else's thumbnail?
Thumbnails are copyrighted by the video owner. Grabbing them for reference or commentary thumbnails is common, but reusing them commercially without permission risks a copyright strike.
Why is the maxres image gray?
That video has no HD thumbnail uploaded. YouTube serves a gray placeholder that still returns HTTP 200, so the tool shows it dimmed. Pick the HQ version instead.
What size should I download for my own video?
Download maxresdefault at 1280x720. YouTube's recommended upload size is exactly 1280 by 720, so maxres is the original file in most cases.
Do thumbnails work for private videos?
No. Thumbnail URLs only resolve for public and unlisted videos. Private video thumbnails require the owner's authenticated session.
Can I hotlink the thumbnail URL on my site?
Technically yes, and YouTube tolerates it for embeds and previews. For high-traffic sites, download and self-host the image so you are not dependent on their CDN.
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