---
title: 'YouTube Shorts Custom Thumbnails: How to Go Viral'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=ViQ11aksdUY'
video_id: 'ViQ11aksdUY'
date: 2026-08-12
duration_sec: 37
---

# YouTube Shorts Custom Thumbnails: How to Go Viral

> Source: [YouTube Shorts Custom Thumbnails: How to Go Viral](https://youtube.com/watch?v=ViQ11aksdUY)

## Summary

YouTube Shorts has introduced a new feature that allows creators to add custom thumbnails to their Shorts, which can significantly boost views and virality. The video highlights this update and promotes a tool called ContentBuddy.ai for generating custom thumbnails.

### Key Points

- **New YouTube Shorts Update** [00:00] — YouTube Shorts now allows custom thumbnails when uploading, which can help videos go viral more easily.
- **Personal Success with Custom Thumbnails** [00:12] — The creator claims every time they've gone viral on Shorts, it was because they used a custom thumbnail.
- **ContentBuddy.ai Tool** [00:24] — ContentBuddy.ai offers a thumbnail cover generator that lets you describe your desired thumbnail, and it creates one for you. Example: 'TikTok algorithm update for July of 2026'.

### Conclusion

Custom thumbnails are now available for YouTube Shorts and can be a key factor in increasing views. Tools like ContentBuddy.ai can simplify the process of creating effective thumbnails.

## Transcript

YouTube Shorts just released a brand new update that allows you to go viral on YouTube Shorts way easier. Because now when you're going to upload a short, if you click on this button right here, it'll ask you to add in a custom thumbnail and this allows you to get more views.
In fact, every single time I've gone viral on Shorts, it's because I'm using a custom thumbnail. And if you want to make custom thumbnails for all of your shorts, you'll want to come over to contentbuddy.ai and get started today with a free trial.
Because under content creation, they have this thumbnail cover generator that lets you describe exactly what kind of thumbnail you want to make, for example, TikTok algorithm update for July of 2026, then this made me this perfect custom thumbnail here.