How to Change Video Thumbnail in Windows 10

Can't change video thumbnails in Windows 10? Here's why.

If you have many videos on your PC with Windows 10Sorting them by thumbnail can help you find what you're looking for quickly. The downside? Windows 10 doesn't allow you to change a video file's thumbnail directly. But don't worry! There are some interesting methods and third-party tools you can use to change those video thumbnails and make your collection look much more organized and attractive.

In this guide, we'll go over a few different ways to change video thumbnails in Windows 10We'll cover using third-party software, how to modify some metadata, and how to tinker with your system settings.

What is a video thumbnail?

Before continuing with the steps, let's talk a little about what a video thumbnail actually is. Basically, a thumbnail is a small image that offers a sneak peek into the video file. It's usually just a single frame from the video and helps you quickly discover what's inside without opening it. Windows 10 automatically creates a thumbnail of the first frame of the video, but it doesn't always select the best or most eye-catching part.

Why bother changing the video thumbnail?

You might be wondering why you'd want to change your video thumbnail. Here are some good reasons:

Improved organization: Using custom thumbnails, you can easily distinguish your videos, making it easier to find what you need in your library.

Look more professional: If you're working on a project or creating a video collection, custom thumbnails can make everything look much sharper—perfect for presentations or your portfolio.

Personal Touch: Lets you show off your style by choosing the frame that truly captures what your video is about.

How to change video thumbnails in Windows 10

So, while Windows 10 doesn't offer an easy option to change video thumbnails, there are some clever workarounds you can try.

Method 1: Get third-party software

One of the easiest ways to change a video file's thumbnail in Windows 10 is through third-party software. There are several out there, but one of the favorites among users is Icaros.

Icaros: The Windows 10 Media Preview Tool

Icaros is a lightweight tool that adds some interesting features to Windows 10, such as changing video thumbnails. It works with several video formats and can even improve the way thumbnails are generated in Windows.

Here's a quick guide on how to use Icaros to change your video thumbnails:

Step by step instructions:

Download and install Icarus:

Go to Official Icarus website and get the software.

Run the installer and follow the instructions to install Icaros.

Configure Icaros to change thumbnails:

Once Icaros is installed, open it from the Start menu.

In the settings window, select the option to enable thumbnail for different video formats like MP4, AVI, MKV, etc.

Make sure to check the box that says “Enable thumbnails for all files.”

Click "Apply" to save your changes.

Clear cache:

After setting up Icaros, you'll want to clear the Windows thumbnail cache so the new thumbnails will appear.

Open Disk Cleanup by typing "Disk Cleanup" in the Start menu search bar.

Select the drive where your videos are (usually C:) and press OK.

In the Disk Cleanup window, select “Thumbnails” and click OK to clear the cache.

Choose your custom thumbnails:

Now, when you right-click on a video file, you'll see the option to change its thumbnail.

You can choose a frame from the video or upload a custom image (such as PNG or JPG).

If you're using Icaros with a media player like VLC, you can even preview and choose a frame directly from the video.

Method 2: Use a video editing program

If you're looking for more control over your thumbnail, try using a video editing program like Adobe Premiere Pro or a free option like Shotcut. These tools allow you to take a specific frame from your video and save it as an image that you can use as a thumbnail.

Step by step guide:

Open the video in a video editing program:

Simply launch your video editing software and open the video you want to edit.

Extract a frame from the video:

Find the frame you want to use for your thumbnail.

In most video editing programs, pause the video at the frame you like and look for an option called "Export Frame" or "Capture Frame" to save it as an image.

Save the image:

Save that frame as an image file (such as PNG or JPG).

Use the image as a thumbnail:

Now that you have your image, you can use it as a thumbnail. To set this up, you can use a tool like Icaros (mentioned in Method 1) or simply set it manually in Windows 10's properties.

Method 3: Use Windows File Properties (for MKV files only)

If you're working with MKV (Matroska Video) files, good news! Windows 10 lets you set a custom thumbnail directly from the file properties. Unfortunately, this trick doesn't work for most other video formats, but it's very useful for MKV files.

Step by step guide:

Right click on the MKV video file:

In File Explorer, right-click the MKV video file you want to change.

Select "Properties":

From the context menu, choose Properties.

Go to the “Details” tab:

In the Properties window, switch to the Details tab.

Change thumbnail:

Look for an option that says Video or Thumbnail. If it's an MKV file, you should see a thumbnail option that allows you to change it. Simply upload a custom image or choose a frame from the video.

Apply the changes:

Once you have selected or uploaded your new image, click Apply and then OK to save your changes.

Method 4: Use VLC Media Player

While VLC Media Player doesn't allow you to directly change thumbnails in Windows 10, it can help you set the first frame or a selected image as a custom thumbnail by linking the video file with VLC. This isn't as flexible as using tools like Icaros, but it's a simple solution to give your videos a better thumbnail.