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Download YouTube thumbnails and video covers

Paste a video link and get its cover image at the largest size available. YouTube thumbnails appear instantly; for TikTok, VK, Rutube, Dzen and other sites we look the cover up through our downloader.

How to download a YouTube thumbnail

1

Copy the link

Open the video on YouTube (or a Short) and copy the address from the browser bar, or use “Share → Copy link”.

2

Paste the link

Paste it into the field above and press “Show thumbnail”. For YouTube the image appears at once — it comes straight from YouTube servers.

3

Save the picture

Pick a size and press “Download”. Most videos have the 1280×720 version; older ones top out at 640×480.

Download YouTube thumbnails and video covers

A thumbnail is the cover YouTube shows before a video starts. Creators upload it separately, so the frame usually is not in the video itself — you cannot simply capture it. Skachok builds the direct link to the thumbnail file and serves the largest size that exists for the video: 1280×720, 640×480, 480×360 or 320×180.

Why people need it: to keep a reference for their own channel art, collect covers, put the picture into a presentation or an article with a link to the source, or check how a thumbnail reads at different sizes. For TikTok, VK Video, Rutube, Dzen, Odnoklassniki and other sites the cover is found through the downloader and opens in a new tab.

FAQ

What quality can I get a YouTube thumbnail in?
Up to 1280×720 (maxresdefault). Most videos uploaded after 2010 have it; older ones offer 640×480 or 480×360.
Does it work with Shorts and youtu.be links?
Yes: youtube.com/watch?v=…, youtu.be/…, youtube.com/shorts/…, m.youtube.com and links with a timestamp all work.
Can I download a cover from TikTok, VK, Rutube or Dzen?
Yes: paste the link and we find the cover the same way we find the video. The image opens in a new tab — save it with a right-click or a long press.
Is it legal?
A thumbnail is part of a public video. Personal use (a reference, a collection) is fine; publishing it in your own material needs the author's permission.
Do I need an account?
No. YouTube thumbnails do not count against download limits and need no sign-in.

Download the video itself

Need the whole video, not just the cover? Skachok downloads YouTube up to 4K, TikTok without a watermark, VK, Rutube and 20 more sites.

Download YouTube videos