When Shorts first launched, YouTube allowed custom thumbnails for a limited time. Then they removed it altogether for a few years. Later, they brought it back but only if you uploaded through the YouTube mobile app.

Now, they've finally allowed creators to upload custom thumbnails on desktop... with yet another catch. You need to be in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

If you're not in the YPP, you can still get a similar effect by exporting your thumbnail and embedding it as the first frame of the Short.

You don't need to pay for a design software to create great looking thumbnails. In fact, you can do it all in TubeSpanner.

1. Head into the TubeSpanner Dashboard
2. Open Produce on the left of the Dashboard, then select Create a Thumbnail
3. Choose Thumbnail Templates to start from a pre-built layout, or New Thumbnail to start from scratch
4. Filter templates to Shorts to see layouts built for the vertical format
5. Turn on the Shorts grid overlay at the top of the editor and check that your text and key elements sit inside the safe zone
6. Restyle it as your own. Swap colors, gradients, and assets so it doesn't read as a template. Then save

Saved thumbnails live in your TubeSpanner library, so they're ready to attach the next time you're publishing. 

In the Upload Assistant, your title, description, thumbnail, and tags all go up together in one click. You don't have to download and reupload.