Getting the Full-Size Image Without URL Tricks

YouTube has no button for saving a video's thumbnail, and a right-click on the player only gets you a small preview. The usual workaround is to build an image address from the video ID by hand and hope the largest version exists, which is slow and often comes up empty.

Thumbnail Downloader does the looking for you. It lists every thumbnail size a video has, from the smallest preview to the 1280x720 maxresdefault image, each with a resolution label, and saves the one you choose with a click. The file is named after the video title, so it's easy to recognise later.

Coverage

• Platforms: YouTube at every available resolution, plus Vimeo and Dailymotion preview images
• Page types: individual video pages, embedded player addresses, and listing pages such as playlists, channels and search results
• Bulk saving: on listing pages, batch mode collects the thumbnails of every visible video in one go
• Browsers: desktop Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera
• Operating systems: Windows, macOS and Linux
• Regions: Worldwide

A YouTube video typically comes in 120x90, 320x180, 480x360 and 640x480, with 1280x720 maxresdefault at the top when it exists.

Typical Workflow

Open a YouTube, Vimeo or Dailymotion video, or a channel, playlist or search results page. Click the extension icon and it scans the page for thumbnail images, showing them with their resolution labels. Choose a size and it's saved under the video's title; on a playlist or channel page, batch mode takes care of the whole set.

What It Can't Do

• Not every YouTube video has a 1280x720 maxresdefault image.
• It saves images only and never downloads the videos themselves.
• Other video platforms aren't currently covered.
• Custom thumbnails that aren't hosted by the video platform are out of reach.
• Private or age-restricted videos need a logged-in session, and thumbnails of videos you can't access can't be saved.
• Safari and mobile browsers aren't supported.
• Batch mode only works when video listings are visible on the current page.

Permissions and Privacy

Everything happens on your own machine: no browsing or usage data is collected, stored or sent anywhere.

• activeTab: scans the video or listing page in your current tab for thumbnail images and their resolutions.
• downloads: saves the images to your local downloads folder using the video titles as file names.
• storage: remembers your default resolution and batch progress between sessions.
• scripting: reads video details and thumbnail addresses from the page, including listings that load dynamically.

FAQ

Which YouTube thumbnail sizes are on offer?

It varies by video. You'll usually find 120x90, 320x180, 480x360 and 640x480, and many videos also have 1280x720 maxresdefault, though not all of them.

Is it possible to grab all of a channel's thumbnails at once?

Yes. On channel, playlist and search result pages, batch mode finds every visible video listing and saves all of their thumbnails together.

Is it only for YouTube?

YouTube is the main focus, and Vimeo and Dailymotion thumbnails are supported too. Other platforms aren't covered at the moment.

What will the image files be called?

Each image takes the title of its video, so you can find it by name instead of by a random string of characters.

Does it keep track of what I browse?

No. It works locally in your browser and doesn't collect, store or send any browsing or usage data.

Is this legal?

DISCLAIMER: We are not attorneys and do not offer legal advice. Laws vary by country and platform. For any legal question please consult a qualified legal professional.

We give you full control over download speeds because we believe users should decide how they use their software.

That said, here are a few widely accepted best practices for safe, responsible downloading:

• Only download content you created, own, or have explicit permission from the rights holder to access.

• Protect your personal data by respecting platform rules and rate limits with reasonable download speeds to avoid automated abuse systems putting your account at risk.

• Protect your privacy by using a reputable VPN for IP protection before initiating downloads — this is the VPN we recommend & use.