> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.sendspark.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Upload a Custom Video Thumbnail

> Learn how to upload custom video thumbnails in Sendspark and replace auto-generated GIFs with your own branded images for emails.

To use a custom video thumbnail in Sendspark, add your own image to your email draft, copy your Sendspark video share link, and hyperlink that image to the share page. Because the video thumbnail and the video landing page are two separate entities, you can link **any** image to your video. When recipients click your custom thumbnail, the full video opens in their browser.

## Key takeaways

* The video **thumbnail** and the video **landing page** are two separate entities, so you can link any image to your Sendspark video.
* Sendspark auto-generates an animated GIF thumbnail, but you can replace it with your own custom image in email.
* The setup is three steps: add your image to the email, copy the video share link, and hyperlink the image to the share page.
* Clicking the custom thumbnail takes recipients to the Sendspark video page to watch in their browser — just like the default GIF.

## Thumbnail options

| Thumbnail          | How it's created                                                                                                           | Best for                                         |
| ------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Auto-generated GIF | Sendspark creates an [animated GIF thumbnail](https://www.sendspark.com/video-platform/video-gif-thumbnails) automatically | A quick, motion-based preview with no extra work |
| Custom image       | You add your own image and hyperlink it to the video share page                                                            | Branded or designed thumbnails you control       |

Sendspark automatically generates [animated GIF thumbnails](https://www.sendspark.com/video-platform/video-gif-thumbnails) to embed videos in email — but you don't have to use them!

You can easily add your own custom video thumbnails to your emails.

The important thing to know here is that **the video thumbnail and the video landing page are 2 separate entities.**

This means that you can link **any image** to your Sendspark video landing page!

## How to use a custom video thumbnail in email

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DvJVmhE-jb0?rel=0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; encrypted-media" allowFullScreen />

1. Add your custom thumbnail to your email draft (as an image)
2. Find the share link to your video <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sendspark/nv8j_x-HhJc1mi6Z/images/5898638/0d542e9f-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=nv8j_x-HhJc1mi6Z&q=85&s=c7424c1b7d052ef7c2dc5c972b5740e6" alt="Copy Video Share Link" width="2056" height="248" data-path="images/5898638/0d542e9f-image.png" />
3. Hyperlink your custom thumbnail to the Sendspark video share page

Now, when recipients receive the email, they will see the custom video thumbnail, and be able to click to view the video in their browser.

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I add a custom thumbnail to a video email?">
    Add your own image to your email draft, copy your Sendspark video share link, then hyperlink the image to the video share page. When recipients click the image, the full video opens in their browser.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use my own image instead of the Sendspark GIF thumbnail?">
    Yes. Sendspark auto-generates an animated GIF thumbnail, but you don't have to use it. Because the thumbnail and the landing page are separate, you can link any image to your video.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do custom thumbnails show on the video landing page?">
    No. Thumbnails only appear in email. The video landing page shows the video itself, so your custom thumbnail is what recipients see in their inbox before they click through.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I edit the auto-generated thumbnail instead of uploading my own?">
    If you'd rather customize Sendspark's built-in thumbnail (add a text overlay, pick a different frame, or change colors), use the thumbnail editor described in [How to edit video thumbnails](/how-to-edit-video-thumbnails).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

*Updated July 2026.*