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How to make thumbnail on instagram


How to Change Instagram Video Thumbnail & Cover with Preview App?

Alexandra | Mar 5, 2021

As you might have noticed, you cannot change the Instagram video thumbnail after posting on Instagram.

But can use your Preview App to check if your video thumbnail and cover image look fine in your grid.

You can upload different thumbnails and cover images.

You can see which one looks the best or catches people’s attention the most – before you post on Instagram.

Ready?

Here’s how to change Instagram video thumbnail in Preview.

1. Upload your Instagram video

The first thing you want to do is upload a video in Preview.

You can upload a normal video, IGTV or an Instagram Reels.

To upload your video:

  • Press on the “+” button
  • “Library”
  • Choose your video

Done!

Your video will appear in your Preview feed.

Click here to use it

2. Open the caption

Now press on the video and open your caption.

3. Press on “Edit” to change the Instagram video thumbnail and cover

Press on the “Edit” button that is on your cover image. 

This will allow you to change your Instagram video cover frame.

4. Choose “Set Cover Image”

Now choose “Set Cover image”.

5. Change Instagram video thumbnail

You have 2 options.

Option 1:

Slide the slider to choose a video clip as your cover image.

Let’s look at option 2.

6. Upload your custom video thumbnail

Press on “Upload image” to upload a cover image from your camera roll.

This is to upload your own custom cover image for your IGTV videos and Instagram Reels.

As you can see you have different options:

  • Library: Upload a photo from your camera roll / gallery
  • Repost: Repost an image from Instagram
  • Free Photos: Don’t have an image? Choose any of these beautiful photos for free
  • Take Photo: Take a photo
  • Other: Upload an image from Google Drive or Dropbox

7.

Post on Instagram

Once you’re happy with your video thumbnail, you can post your video on Instagram.

Here is how to post:

  • Press on your video
  • Press on the “Share” button
  • Your video and cover image will automatically be saved to your camera roll by Preview (along with your prepared caption if you added one)
  • Post on Instagram!

And you’re done!

That’s it!

Now you know how to change your Instagram video thumbnail and cover image!

Let me know if you have any questions.

And have fun planning your posts!

– Alex

You might also like:

  • Download Preview
  • How to schedule Instagram Reels?
  • How to Save Instagram Reels in Gallery with Audio, and Without Posting

Click here to use it

How to add a thumbnail to an Instagram video

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that a thumbnail is your video’s deal maker or breaker. It not only conveys the video’s gist in a few seconds but also encourages viewers to see it.

By default, Instagram sets the first video frame as its thumbnail. To gain traction, you may want to customize it. Fortunately, it’s not challenging to do! Let me show you how to add a thumbnail to your Instagram video.

1. Using Instagram app’s Cover Feature

  1. Go to Instagram and tap the plus icon at the top.
  2. Select the video you want to post and tap Next.
  3. Tap Cover at the bottom right.
  1. Slide using a finger on the video strip and choose the desired thumbnail.
  2. Tap Next, write the video caption and hit Share.

You can only choose a thumbnail from the video you are going to upload in the above steps. But what if you wish to have a completely different cover image that is not a part of the video? Well, for that, you can use Instagram’s Creator Studio or third-party editing apps. Let’s see how.

2. Using Instagram Creator Studio

If you edit photos/videos on your Mac or PC, this is the most straightforward method. To use Instagram Creator Studio:

  • You must have an Instagram business or creator account. For this, go to your Instagram profile → Tap Edit Profile → Switch to Professional account. This is free and easily reversible.
  • You should have a Facebook page that is connected to your Instagram account. If you haven’t, create a Facebook page (even if it is of no use). Next, open Instagram → tap Edit Profile → Page.

Once you satisfy the above conditions, here is how to use the Instagram Creator Studio to post videos with a custom thumbnail.

  1. Visit Creator Studio on your computer. Click the Instagram icon at the top and log in. If you see Connect Your Account, do that.
  2. Once logged in, click Create Post and choose Instagram Feed.
  3. Click Add Content and upload your video.
  4. Click Add cover from the right side.
  5. Now, click Custom Upload and choose the desired thumbnail image.
  6. Finally, click Publish.

3. Using third-party video and photo editing apps

In addition to the above methods, you can create the perfect thumbnail for your video using video editing apps. After this, upload the video and choose the thumbnail following method one.

It is recommended to add the thumbnail at the starting of the video (the first 5 frames). But even if it’s not, you can select it manually.

If you already use a photo editing app like Canva, go ahead and design your thumbnail. If you need some recommendations, check out our list of the best photo editing and video editing apps for iPhone and iPad.

Once you have the thumbnail, you can use the free iMovie app to add the thumbnail to the video.

I understand that each of the three methods has its caveats. But unless Instagram officially rolls an option in the inbuilt app, you will have to depend on these.

FAQs

Q. Can you change the thumbnail on an Instagram video after posting?

No. You cannot change the thumbnail after posting. You will have to delete and repost the video.

Q. What is a thumbnail on Instagram?

A thumbnail is the first screen a user sees before he watches the Instagram video post. It is to give an idea about the video. Thumbnails on YouTube and other video platforms do the same thing.

You may also like to read:

  • How to recover deleted Instagram posts on your iPhone
  • Best Instagram Collage Maker Apps for iPhone
  • How to turn on post and story notifications on Instagram for iPhone
  • How to use Instagram Remix Reels on iPhone
  • Instagram

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Author

I have been an Apple user for over seven years now. At iGeeksBlog, I love creating how-tos and troubleshooting guides that help people do more with their iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch. In my free time, I like to watch stand up comedy videos, tech documentaries, news debates, and political speeches.

How to Add a Thumbnail to an Instagram Video

It would be wrong to say that a thumbnail is a deciding factor or an obstacle to your video. It not only conveys the essence of the video in a few seconds, but also encourages viewers to see it.

By default, Instagram sets the first video frame as the thumbnail. To get traction, you can tune it. Luckily, it's not difficult! Let me show you how to add a thumbnail to your Instagram video.

1. Using the Instagram app cover function

  1. Go to Instagram and tap the plus icon at the top.
  2. Select the video you want to publish and click Next.
  3. Click Cover in the lower right corner.
  1. Slide your finger across the videotape and select the desired thumbnail.
  2. Click "Next", write a caption for the video and click "Share".

You can only select a thumbnail from the video you are about to upload in the above steps. But what if you want to have a completely different cover image that is not part of the video? Well, you can use Instagram Creator Studio or third-party editing apps for that. Let's see how.

2. Use Instagram Creator Studio on Mac or PC.

If you edit photos/videos on your Mac or PC, this is the easiest way. To use Instagram Creator Studio:

Windows programs, mobile applications, games - EVERYTHING is FREE, in our closed telegram channel - Subscribe :)

  • You must have a business account on Instagram or an author account. To do this, go to your Instagram profile → click "Edit Profile" → "Switch to Pro Account". It's free and easily reversible.
  • You must have a Facebook page connected to your Instagram account. If not, create a Facebook page (even if it's useless). Then open Instagram → click "Edit Profile" → "Page".

Once you meet the above conditions, here's how to use Instagram Creator Studio to post a custom thumbnail video.

  1. Visit Creative Studio on your computer. Click the Instagram icon at the top and sign in. If you see "Connect your account", do so.
  2. After logging in, click Create Post and select Instagram Feed.
  3. Click "Add Content" and upload your video.
  4. Click Add Cover on the right.
  5. Now click "Custom Upload" and select your desired thumbnail image.
  6. Finally, click Publish.

3. Using third-party video and photo editing applications.

In addition to the above methods, you can create the perfect thumbnail for your video with video editing apps. After that, upload the video and select the thumbnail by the first method.

It is recommended to add a thumbnail at the beginning of the video (first 5 frames). But even if it is not, you can choose it manually.

If you're already using a photo editing app like Canva, create a thumbnail. If you need recommendations, check out our list of the best photo and video editing apps for iPhone and iPad.

Once you have the thumbnail, you can use the free iMovie app to add the thumbnail to your video.

I understand that each of the three methods has its drawbacks. But unless Instagram officially adds the option to the built-in app, you'll have to rely on them.

FAQs

Q. Can I change the thumbnail of an Instagram video after posting it?

No. You cannot change a thumbnail after it has been published. You will have to delete and re-post the video.

Q. What is an Instagram thumbnail?

The thumbnail is the first screen a user sees before viewing an Instagram video post. This is to give an idea of ​​the video. Thumbnails on YouTube and other video platforms do the same.

You can also read:

Programs for Windows, mobile applications, games - EVERYTHING is FREE, in our closed telegram channel - Subscribe :)

what it is, how to create and what to shoot

In 2020 Instagram announced a new feature — Reels. It works in countries where Instagram music is available. With the help of Reels create short creative videos. This is an analogue of TikTok, where it is also possible to add music from a large database, apply effects and mount everything right in the application.

Where to find Reels

Click on the Play button, which is located in the center of the bottom menu. You will see the Reels feed, which contains videos of other users.

When you post your first video, a separate tab will appear. As long as the blogger does not have Reels in their account, this tab will not exist either.

What you need to know about Reels

When TikTok gained popularity, everyone wrote about how easy it is to get followers on this platform. At the same time, Instagram complained that it was necessary to pay the site for displaying posts even among subscribers. Now Reels is the TikTok of the past couple of years. It's less likely to wake up popular the day after a viral video is posted, but right now it's a good channel to get free followers and account attention.

Here's what it says about the display of Reels in the official Instagram summary:

Some more important facts:

  • Users can shoot or upload videos up to 60 seconds.
  • The Reels feed algorithm does not rely solely on your Instagram following. It takes into account your interest in specific topics.
  • The entire database of effects, presets and masks is available in Reels, just like in stories.
  • Popular Reels videos also show up on the Explore page.
  • Reels has a large base of audio tracks, it is possible to upload your own tracks and sounds.
  • Every user with an open account can share their Reels with other Instagram users. If you post a video to the feed, subscribers will see it.
  • Reels videos are divided into tags: hashtags, music, effects. When you click , you can see all videos with this tag. For example, if you click on an audio track, you'll see all the videos that use it.
  • If the profile is private, the platform will take into account the privacy settings - only your subscribers will see the video. No one will be able to use your video and audio.

More details can be found in the SMM courses.

How to create Reels on Instagram

There are 4 ways to open the Reels editor:

  • From the Instagram home screen.
  • On the profile page.
  • In the Reels tab.
  • In camera for Stories.

Let's go from the profile page. To do this, click the "+" in the upper right corner and select "Video Reels". The video editor will open.

When creating Reels, you can choose between shooting a new video clip (the Play icon in the center) or loading a pre-made file from the camera album (a square with a plus in the corner):

in one frame. You can also mix recorded and downloaded clips. In total, the duration of all parts cannot exceed 60 seconds. If you upload a longer video, it will automatically be cut off.

There are eight basic functions on the main screen. Of these, 6 on the side menu:

  • audio;
  • duration;
  • speed;
  • effects;
  • retouching;
  • timer.

And two on top:

  • flash;
  • night mode.

First things first.

  • Audio. Here you can add music for Reels. When clicked, the music library will open. Here you can find audio tracks: trending, recommended and categories. Some songs may not be available for business profiles.

You can also use audio tracks from other users' Reels. Click on the line with music, and then "Use audio track."

Instead of music, you can also use your own sound recording.

  • Duration. Videos can be limited to 15, 30, or 60 seconds. Instagram won't force you to shoot videos to the exact second - it's just a handy feature to help you figure out the length of the video.
  • Speed. The function allows you to speed up and slow down the video, helps you get into the rhythm of a song or record a slow motion video. You cannot change the speed of the added video, the function is only for videos that are shot in the application.
  • Effects. Here you can add all filters, masks, 3D objects and interactive AR content from the same library as you have in Stories, trending, to change the appearance, etc.

  • Retouch. Smoothes the skin. To change the intensity, drag the slider up/down.
  • Timer. Helps when there is no way to hold down the button for recording. You can set the countdown to 3 or 10 seconds. You can also limit the shooting time using this function. The countdown comes with sound - convenient.

  • Flash. When pressed, the flashlight will turn on. If you are shooting in selfie mode, the screen will increase the brightness to the maximum and illuminate the face.
  • Night mode. The icon appears in poor lighting conditions. If the month is crossed out - the picture will be darker, if not crossed out - lighter.

If you want to trim or delete any of the footage you've taken or added, click the back arrow to the right of the record button. Click on the passage you want to edit. When you have selected an excerpt, click on the scissors to cut it, or on the wastebasket to delete it.

Preview/editing functionality

Once you have selected or captured a video, you can add stickers, effects, text, and draw or overlay text tools, Instagram stickers are available.

  • Underline Arrow - Download Reels to device. If you want to download ready-made Reels with music from the library to your phone, then it will be saved without sound
  • Note - select music, adjust audio. You can adjust the volume of audio from the camera and the volume of audio from the library:

  • Microphone - sound recording for video, "voiceover". Handy if you're telling a story or reviewing a product. If you're shooting a video with voice-overs or dialogue, don't forget to add subtitles to your video. This is useful when your video is being watched without sound.
  • Asterisks - apply an effect. In Reels, masks can be applied even to already captured videos:

  • Sticker - add GIF, time, temperature.
  • Arc — draw over the video.
  • Text - overlay text on the video. For overlay, in contrast to stories, this is a detailed functionality. Text can be superimposed on a specific segment of the video. The editor will show all pieces of text as translucent, so that you can understand where and in what gaps to place the following parts of the text.

When adding text to a video, consider its position. When you share Reel on your Instagram feed, it crops it to a 4:5 aspect ratio. To avoid cutting off important text, place it close to the center of the screen.

When you're done, you can edit the title picture with a thumbnail or add cover art from your camera album. If you want to keep the Instagram aesthetic, upload a brand-appropriate picture from the camera album.

You can add or not add a video to the subscriber's feed at your discretion. If you remove the “Also share in the feed” option, Instagram will show the video to random users.

When posting to the feed, the post can be removed from the main page of the account, leaving it only in the Reels section. To do this, click on the three dots and select "Remove from Profile Grid".

How to view Reels statistics

Statistics are available both in the Insights tab and for individual Reels. To see the effectiveness of a particular Reels, open the video, click on the three dots and click on the “Statistics” item. Metrics are standard: coverage, views, comments, likes, saves, reposts.

Reels Business Ideas

Today, Reels is the best free way to build subscribers and increase sales. What to post in Reels for business and experts? Let's consider three successful categories:

  1. Education, life hacks.
  2. Humor.
  3. Original product reviews.

1. Learning

Share educational content. Especially this type of Reels is suitable for experts. Video tutorials will help you establish yourself as an expert, and they will listen to you in your community. Share top five travel tips with your users, teach them how to take the perfect photo, write the perfect headline, or show them how to wear a skirt in five different ways. Choose a topic and discuss:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CROeo3EKmdU/ - the link will open on a smartphone instagram.com/reel/CRUgsh5iPL5/ — the link will open on a smartphone

Describe a successful case:

View this post on Instagram

Post by Katerina, creator (@kornilovakat)

2.

Humor

Suitable for everyone. You can come up with your own joke, or you can beat something from the trends.

For example, make a list of bad advice from an expert area:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRbhY1PKiJj/ - the link will open on a smartphone

Or playfully show how your product solves a problem :

View this post on Instagram

Post by Damir Khalilov (@damirkhalilov)

You can play a funny situation from experience with clients and partners:

View this post on Instagram

Post by Galina Promotion Expert (@galya.melnikova)

Recall something that was super popular in the past:

https://www. instagram.com/reel/CRbgGUfodwR/ - link will open on a smartphone

Or use situational marketing:

View this Instagram post

Publication from Travel | Flights (@aviasales)

3. Product Overview

This type of Reels is ideal for stores, both online and physical.

Show several product options at once to trendy music with interesting transitions:

View this post on Instagram

Show how your product looks like in real life, as if a client was filming for you:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQtuHd5KS6e/ - link will open on smartphone Instagram

Publication from Mail.

Learn more