URL → thumbnail
YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Paste a YouTube URL or 11-character video ID and download the official thumbnail images (including maxres when available). Useful for competitive research, mood boards, and redesign tests.
Quick answer
YouTube Thumbnail Downloader is a free browser tool on Knowlify. Use it below with no signup. Your inputs stay in the browser session. For narrated training videos from documents, use https://create.knowlify.com.
How it works
Three steps, no account
01
Paste the YouTube link
Watch, Shorts, or youtu.be URLs work. You can also paste the video ID alone.
02
Pick a resolution
Open or download maxres, HQ, medium, or SD images from YouTube’s CDN.
03
Use it ethically
Thumbnails are YouTube assets. Use them for analysis or redesign drafts, not as your own creative without rights.
FAQ
Questions people ask about YouTube Thumbnail Downloader
Is this YouTube thumbnail downloader free?+
Yes. YouTube thumbnail downloader on Knowlify is free to use with no signup, no watermark, and no account required.
How do I download a YouTube thumbnail?+
Paste the video URL on this page, then open or download the image sizes listed. Max resolution only exists when the channel uploaded one.
Why is maxresdefault missing?+
Not every video has a maxres thumbnail. Fall back to hqdefault.jpg when maxres returns a placeholder.
Does this download the video itself?+
No. This tool only fetches publicly available thumbnail images. It does not download YouTube video files.
Is downloading thumbnails allowed?+
Thumbnails are publicly served by YouTube. Respect copyright and platform terms if you reuse imagery beyond personal analysis.
Do I need an account?+
No. Open the tool, use it in your browser, and download or copy the result.
Need a full video, not just a utility?
Building your own channel assets? Pair strong thumbnails with document-to-video explainers from Knowlify.