YouTube file size limits
YouTube now recommends very large thumbnails, but uploads from a phone are still capped at 2 MB. Okaysize makes thumbnails that work from any device.
Tools for YouTube
Every YouTube limit
| What | Official limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Thumbnail | 16:9, at least 640 px wide; 3840 × 2160 recommended | support.google.com |
| Thumbnail file size | 2 MB from mobile, 50 MB from desktop | support.google.com |
| Channel banner | 2560 × 1440 px recommended, at least 2048 × 1152, max 6 MBKeep text inside the middle 1235 × 338 safe area. | support.google.com |
| Shorts | Up to 3 minutes, square or vertical | support.google.com |
Limits verified Oct 2, 2026 against official sources.
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