How to Download Private or Unlisted YouTube Video Thumbnails

Private and unlisted YouTube videos are often used for client previews, course content, internal training, or drafts that are not ready for public release. Even though the videos themselves are hidden, their thumbnails are sometimes still accessible if you have the link and the video owner’s permission.

In this guide, we’ll explain when you can (and can’t) download thumbnails from private or unlisted videos, how the thumbnail URLs work, and how to use tools like TubeThumb Tools to get the best available version.

Unlisted vs Private: What’s the Difference?

Unlisted Videos

  • Not shown in search, related videos, or on your channel page.
  • Anyone with the direct link can view the video and its thumbnail.
  • Thumbnails are generally accessible by anyone who has the URL.

Private Videos

  • Only visible to accounts explicitly granted access.
  • Not viewable, embeddable, or shareable without permission.
  • Thumbnail access is much more restricted.

You should always respect the creator’s privacy and only download thumbnails for content where you have a legitimate reason and, ideally, explicit permission.

How Thumbnails Work for Unlisted Videos

Unlisted videos behave almost identically to public videos—YouTube still generates and stores thumbnails in the same way. That means if you have the video URL, you can usually:

  • View the video page
  • See the thumbnail in the player
  • Download the thumbnail via its internal URL

The simplest way to do this is with TubeThumb Tools:

  1. Copy the unlisted video URL.
  2. Paste it into the TubeThumb Tools input box.
  3. Click Get Thumbnail.
  4. Download the HD version that appears.

What About Private Videos?

Private videos are different. Without access, the video page and thumbnail may be fully restricted. In many cases, even if you guess the thumbnail URL pattern, YouTube will not serve the image for external requests.

If you are the channel owner or have access to the video via your account, you can still download the thumbnail from within your own workflow:

  • Open YouTube Studio and navigate to the video.
  • If you originally uploaded the thumbnail, you may already have the file on your computer.
  • Open the video page while signed in, and use a tool like TubeThumb Tools in the same browser where you are authenticated.

Do not try to bypass access controls for private content you do not own. That violates YouTube’s terms and potentially copyright law.

Manual Thumbnail URL Method (When Allowed)

When you have permission and the video is at least unlisted or visible to you, you can sometimes get the thumbnail via its standard URL pattern:

https://img.youtube.com/vi/VIDEO_ID/maxresdefault.jpg

Replace VIDEO_ID with the ID from the video URL. If maxresdefault doesn’t exist, try:

  • sddefault.jpg
  • hqdefault.jpg
  • mqdefault.jpg

Again, this should only be done when you are allowed to access the content.

FAQ

Can I download thumbnails from any private video?

No. If you don’t have access to the video, you shouldn’t—and often can’t—download its thumbnail. Respect the creator’s privacy and YouTube’s policies.

Is downloading thumbnails from unlisted videos allowed?

If you have the link, you likely have been given access intentionally. Using the thumbnail for internal presentations, mockups, and design work is generally fine. Public reuse should always respect copyright and permissions.

Does TubeThumb Tools store any of these thumbnails?

No. TubeThumb Tools simply retrieves images from YouTube’s servers and presents them in your browser so that you can download them directly.

If you have permission to download a thumbnail from a private or unlisted video, you can paste the URL into the TubeThumb Tools downloader and grab the best available version.