Running a YouTube channel requires multiple skills. One of them is making thumbnails that get clicks. Plenty of AI tools promise eye-catching results, but we found something that is free and creates great thumbnails. Did you know ChatGPT’s built-in image generation can create YouTube thumbnails right inside the chat? Here’s how to use that prompt.
Note: You can now generate images in ChatGPT using a free account, though you’re limited to 3 images per day. ChatGPT Plus and Pro users can generate up to 50 images every three hours.
To generate YouTube thumbnails in ChatGPT:
- Open the GPT-4o model.
- Select the Create image option.
- Enter prompt to generate images and thumbnails.
Table of Contents
1. Generate a YouTube Thumbnail from a Prompt
This is the most straightforward method. Just describe the kind of thumbnail you want, and ChatGPT will create it. Mention the text you need, the type of facial expression, object placement, background, etc. The more details you provide, the better the generated result will be.
For example, here’s one prompt I gave ChatGPT:
Create a YouTube thumbnail (16:9) for a video titled 'iPhone 17 Leaks: What Apple Isn’t Telling You'. Use a dark tech-themed background with a glowing iPhone 17 concept on the left—highlighting a hidden camera or new design. On the right, add a shocked YouTuber-style face reacting dramatically. Include bold yellow and white text: 'iPhone 17 Leaks' (big) and 'What Apple Isn’t Saying!' (smaller), with a black outline. Add glowing arrows pointing at the phone, light streaks for motion, and subtle question marks near the face. Make it dramatic, clean, and high-contrast for strong click appeal.And here’s what ChatGPT gave me:
You can also upload your own photos—like a picture of yourself, a specific background, or any object you want in the thumbnail—and ask ChatGPT to include them. Once it’s generated, you can even tweak the result by saying things like, “Add more contrast,” or “Use a dark background.” ChatGPT will regenerate the image accordingly.
2. Draw a Rough Sketch and Let ChatGPT Turn It Into a Thumbnail
Maybe you have a general idea of what you want. It could be text at the top, a person on the right, and some icons on the left. You can simply draw it out. Literally, on paper or in a drawing app. Then take a photo of the sketch and upload it to ChatGPT. Provide a prompt with additional details, and that’s it. ChatGPT will bring your sketch to life and generate a YouTube thumbnail within seconds.
For example, here’s an example prompt sketch by Nick Grey:
Turn this sketch into a hyper realistic youtube thumbnail with 1920x1080 resolution, the only text that should be there is the “stinky” and an arrow pointing to the trashcan.
And here’s the result from ChatGPT:
This method is perfect when you have a clear picture in your head but can’t design it yourself. Also, once generated, you can adjust and make edits by providing additional prompts.
3. Upload an Existing Thumbnail for Inspiration
Maybe you want to take inspiration from an existing YouTube thumbnail. Download that thumbnail, upload it to ChatGPT, and prompt it to make the required changes. For example, “Change the text to smart work” or “replace that face with my face,” etc.
For example, here’s the prompt thumbnail I have uploaded:
Change the text from Wait to "Finally Here!!!". Also make the background green and pinkish.
Here is the final result from ChatGPT:
You’ll see the edited version from ChatGPT. But as you may have noticed, Prtaik’s face is changed completely. While it tries to replicate the facial features, the overall face changes a bit compared to the original
You can refine the image further through conversation. For instance: “Hmm, make the glow softer,” or “Use a more professional font.” You can even replace the person in the thumbnail with you by uploading your photo. However, ChatGPT is not good at faces and can change your facial features a bit.
However, use only the existing thumbnails as inspiration and make enough creative changes to them to generate a fresh thumbnail that does not sound “Copied”.
4. Use ChatGPT as an Image Editor
Beyond all this, you can also use ChatGPT as an image editor to handle tasks that are normally tricky in traditional editors. For example, you can remove backgrounds or objects, change specific details like the color of a shirt, or add some glow around your face, and more.
ChatGPT can make the changes for you and also supports transparency. So if you ask it to remove the background, you get a clean subject that you can use anywhere. Once you get the output, you can refine it with further prompts.
You can still use your regular image editor, but think of ChatGPT as a professional assistant that helps with those small but time-consuming edits in your workflow.
Generating YouTube Thumbnails Using ChatGPT
What used to take 30 minutes (or more) in Canva or Photoshop now takes just a few lines of text. You don’t need to be a designer — you just need an idea and a few words to describe it. So the next time you’re stuck on a thumbnail, just open ChatGPT and start talking. It’s like having a thumbnail designer in your pocket — minus the back-and-forth emails.
