TranscriptYTHow to download a YouTube thumbnail
- 1
Copy the video link
From the YouTube app or browser: Share → Copy link. Shorts links work too.
- 2
Paste it above
Every available size appears instantly, from HD 1280×720 down to 120×90.
- 3
Download
Click Download to save the JPG, or open it full size in a new tab.
Need more?
Need transcripts at scale? Use the API
The same transcripts are available through the YouTube Transcript API: timestamped JSON, text, SRT, VTT, CSV, or Markdown, 150+ languages, and AI transcription for videos without captions. Or connect the YouTube MCP server to Claude, Cursor, or Codex and just paste links in chat.
curl "https://transcript-yt.com/v1/transcript?url=5f3Pn-N6yLc&format=text" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer ts_live_..."
Common questions
Is the thumbnail downloader free?
Yes, with no limit, account, or watermark. Images load straight from YouTube's image servers.
Why is there no HD version?
Older or low-resolution uploads don't have a 1280×720 thumbnail. The tool only shows the sizes that exist.
Can I use someone else's thumbnail?
Thumbnails are copyrighted by their creators. Downloading for reference, research, or your own videos is fine; republishing someone else's needs their permission.
Does it work for Shorts?
Yes. Paste a Shorts link the same way.
What size should my YouTube thumbnail be?
1280×720 pixels (16:9), under 2 MB, as JPG or PNG.