---
title: 'How to Create Viral YouTube Shorts Thumbnails in Seconds'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=UEqOwPY_Wa0'
video_id: 'UEqOwPY_Wa0'
date: 2026-08-12
duration_sec: 42
---

# How to Create Viral YouTube Shorts Thumbnails in Seconds

> Source: [How to Create Viral YouTube Shorts Thumbnails in Seconds](https://youtube.com/watch?v=UEqOwPY_Wa0)

## Summary

This video demonstrates how to create custom thumbnails for YouTube Shorts using a new AI-powered thumbnail generator from ContentBuddy. The creator claims that using custom thumbnails has consistently contributed to their viral success on Shorts, and explains the simple workflow of generating, downloading, and adding the thumbnail to the video.

### Key Points

- **Custom thumbnails drive viral Shorts** [00:00] — The creator states that every time they've gone viral on YouTube Shorts, it was because they used a custom thumbnail.
- **AI thumbnail generator** [00:13] — ContentBuddy's new YouTube Shorts thumbnail generator lets you describe your video or desired thumbnail style, and it automatically creates a thumbnail for you.
- **How to use the thumbnail** [00:26] — Download the generated thumbnail and add it to the first or last 0.5 seconds of your Short, or use it as the video cover, to help increase views.
- **Where to find the tool** [00:38] — The generator is available at contentbuddy.ai under YouTube Shorts > Content Creation, labeled as the Thumbnail and Cover Generator, with a free trial.

### Conclusion

The video is a brief promotional tutorial for ContentBuddy's AI thumbnail generator, positioning custom thumbnails as a key factor for Shorts virality and offering a free trial to get started.

## Transcript

Do this if you want to make viral thumbnails for your YouTube Shorts in seconds. Because every single time I've gone viral on Shorts, it's always because I used a custom thumbnail. So what you want to do is use this brand new YouTube Shorts thumbnail generator,
where you could tell it exactly what your video is about or what kind of thumbnail you want to make. And then this literally goes off and makes a thumbnail for you. From here, you're able to download the thumbnail, and then you could add it to the first 0.5 seconds or last 0.5 seconds of your video,
grab it as the cover, and this will help increase your views. And if you want to try this thumbnail generator for free, simply just come over to contentbuddy.ai, get started today with a free trial, because under YouTube Shorts,
and then Content Creation, you're going to see the Thumbnail and Cover Generator.