Why and How to Fix YouTube Not Showing Thumbnails

If you've ever been scrolling through YouTube, excited to check out a video, only to be greeted by a blank or blurry thumbnail, you’re not alone. Many YouTube users experience the frustrating issue of thumbnails not appearing correctly. But why does this happen, and what can you do about it? In this article, we will analyze the possible reasons why YouTube thumbnails aren’t showing, followed by 10 proven ways to fix the issue. Let’s get started and solve this together!

GUIDE LIST

1. The Reasons Why YouTube Is Not Showing Thumbnails

2. 10 Ways to Fix YouTube Not Showing Thumbnails

3. How to Fix a Downloaded YouTube Video Thumbnail Not Showing

4. FAQs

1. The Reasons Why YouTube Is Not Showing Thumbnails

You might see blank or missing thumbnails on YouTube for various reasons. The issue could be related to the app, internet connection, or YouTube servers. Here are some common culprits:

1.1. Slow or Unstable Internet Connection

A frequent reason thumbnails fail to load is due to a slow or unreliable internet connection. Thumbnails are included in the video metadata, so if the connection is bad, they might not download correctly, leading to a blank or absent image.

1.2. App Glitches or Cache Corruption

When you use the YouTube app, problems can happen because of cache corruption. The app saves temporary files to make your browsing faster, but if those files get messed up, you might end up with missing thumbnails.

1.3. Restricted Mode is On

Restricted Mode is a YouTube feature that blocks content that might not be suitable for everyone. This also applies to video thumbnails. When Restricted Mode is activated, you might not see thumbnails for some videos, particularly if YouTube's filters identify the content as potentially inappropriate.

1.4. YouTube-Server Issues

At times, the issue could be with YouTube itself. If their servers are having problems or are super busy, you might not see thumbnails, even if everything else looks good on your device.

1.5. Outdated YouTube App

If you haven’t updated your YouTube app in a while, it may be causing issues like missing thumbnails. Outdated apps often have bugs that affect performance, including thumbnail loading.

1.6. Network Restrictions or VPN Issues

If you're using a VPN or network restrictions are in place, YouTube might have trouble loading thumbnails. This is especially common if the VPN is routing your connection through a country where YouTube servers are having issues.

1.7. Corrupted YouTube Video Files

Lastly, if the problem occurs with a downloaded YouTube video, there may be an issue with the video file itself. This could prevent the thumbnail from appearing correctly, making it seem like the video is broken.

2. 10 Ways to Fix YouTube Not Showing Thumbnails

Now that you know the potential causes of the problem, let’s go over 10 solutions you can try to fix YouTube not showing thumbnails.

2.1. Clear App Cache (Android)

If you're using YouTube on an Android device, you should first try clearing the app’s cache. Cached data can become corrupted, preventing thumbnails from loading correctly. To clear the cache, follow these steps:

1.Open Settings.
2.Go to Apps or Apps & Notifications.
3.Find YouTube and tap on it.
4.Select Storage.
5.Tap on Clear Cache.

This simple step can often solve thumbnail loading issues without doing anything else.

2.2. Use a VPN

You can try using a VPN if YouTube is not loading thumbnails due to network restrictions or server issues. By switching your IP address and routing your connection through a different region, you may bypass any issues preventing thumbnails from loading. Some VPNs even allow you to choose the country from which you connect, which can be helpful if there’s a regional problem with YouTube’s servers. In this way, you can also fix the sound to work when the media player is playing a video.

2.3. Check Restricted Mode

Restricted Mode can hide thumbnails, especially for videos that YouTube considers potentially inappropriate. To check if it’s enabled:

1.Open YouTube.
2.Scroll to the bottom of the page (or tap on your profile picture on mobile).
3.Find Restricted Mode and toggle it off.

This should restore the missing thumbnails for videos that were being hidden due to Restricted Mode.

2.4. Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

If your thumbnails aren't loading while on Wi-Fi, you might want to switch to mobile data or vice versa. A network problem could stop the thumbnails from loading properly, and changing your connection might fix it.

2.5. Switch Accounts or Use Incognito Mode

Sometimes, account-related issues can cause thumbnails to disappear. You can test if the problem is tied to your account by switching to a different account or using YouTube in Incognito Mode. To do this:

1.Tap on your profile icon.
2.Select Use YouTube in Incognito Mode.

This will allow you to test if the issue persists without any account settings interfering.

2.6. Log Out and Log Back In

Signing out of your YouTube account and then signing back in might help reset your settings and could fix the thumbnail problem. It's a simple and fast fix to attempt. Here, you can easily fix YouTube video playback issues like thumbnails not showing, YouTube subtitles not working, and more.

2.7. Uninstall Updates (Android)

If clearing the cache doesn’t help, try uninstalling the updates for the YouTube app. Sometimes, a recent update can cause issues with the app, including missing thumbnails. To uninstall updates:

1.Go to Settings.
2.Open Apps or Apps & Notifications.
3.Tap YouTube.
4.Click on the three dots in the top right corner and choose Uninstall Updates.

This will revert the app to its original version, which may solve the issue.

2.8. Offload the App (iOS)

For iOS users, offloading the YouTube app can help resolve thumbnail loading issues. Offloading removes the app but keeps its data intact, which can fix corrupt app data. Here’s how to do it:

1.Go to Settings.
2.Tap General > iPhone Storage.
3.Select YouTube and tap Offload App.

After offloading, you can reinstall the app.

2.9. Delete Downloaded Videos (YouTube Premium)

If you’re a YouTube Premium user and have downloaded videos, the issue might be related to the downloaded files. Try deleting downloaded videos to see if that resolves the missing thumbnail problem. You can re-download the videos later.

2.10. Ask for YouTube or Google’s Help

If all else fails, you can always contact YouTube or Google Support. They may be able to identify whether the issue is on their end or if there’s a specific setting on your account causing the thumbnails not to load.

3. How to Fix a Downloaded YouTube Video Thumbnail Not Showing

If you’ve downloaded a YouTube video and the thumbnail is not showing up, this could be due to a corrupted video file or an issue with the video metadata. To fix this, you can use a tool like ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate, which helps you convert videos and edit YouTube video thumbnails to let them show normally.

ArkThinker Video Converter Ultimate is a super handy video editing tool that lets you grab a still image from your video and use it as a thumbnail, making sure it shows up right on media players or sites like YouTube. Plus, you can tweak the metadata of your video files, including details like the track, genre, title, year, and other info.

After installation, open the program. Locate the Toolbox tab, and find Media Metadata Editor.

If you want to set the thumbnail from the YouTube video frame, click Snapshot from video to take a screenshot of the YouTube video while previewing it.

Finally, click the Save button to keep your changes.

4. FAQs

Conclusion