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.
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:
Done!
Your video will appear in your Preview feed.
Click here to use it
Now press on the video and open your caption.
Press on the “Edit” button that is on your cover image.
This will allow you to change your Instagram video cover frame.
Now choose “Set Cover image”.
You have 2 options.
Option 1:
Slide the slider to choose a video clip as your cover image.
Let’s look at option 2.
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:
Post on InstagramOnce you’re happy with your video thumbnail, you can post your video on Instagram.
Here is how to post:
And you’re done!
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
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Click here to use it
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.
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.
If you edit photos/videos on your Mac or PC, this is the most straightforward method. To use Instagram Creator Studio:
Once you satisfy the above conditions, here is how to use the Instagram Creator Studio to post videos with a custom thumbnail.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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 :)
To do this, go to your Instagram profile → click "Edit Profile" → "Switch to Pro Account". It's free and easily reversible. Once you meet the above conditions, here's how to use Instagram Creator Studio to post a custom thumbnail video.
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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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:
If you post a video to the feed, subscribers will see it. More details can be found in the SMM courses.
There are 4 ways to open the Reels editor:
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:
And two on top:
First things first.
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.
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.
If you are shooting in selfie mode, the screen will increase the brightness to the maximum and illuminate the face. 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.
Once you have selected or captured a video, you can add stickers, effects, text, and draw or overlay text tools, Instagram stickers are available.
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.
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".
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.
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:
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)
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)
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.