Tech Desk 
Jul 01, 2024
YouTube, a video-streaming platform, is expected to let users upload thumbnails for custom playlists created by them.
YouTube currently lets users upload thumbnails for videos published by them, but the same option isn’t offered for playlists curated by them. However, this might change with an option to upload thumbnails for playlists on Android devices.
The presence of a code hints at a feature that might allow users to upload thumbnails for playlists. The feature was reported following an APK teardown of the YouTube for Android beta app version 9.26.33.
It is reported that it includes a code specifying “CustomThumbnailCreationActivity”, which certainly hints at the capability to generate custom thumbnails for playlists.
Read more: How to enable picture-in-picture YouTube mode on iPhone?
Moreover, it is reported to add strings for “upload failure”, informing the user that they might have to try again. The feature is also expected to have dimension requirements, with one of the strings indicating small dimensions as one of the reasons for the upload failure of the thumbnail image.
Currently, users can upload custom thumbnails for videos uploaded on YouTube for Android, but not for playlists. However, the thumbnail is normally based on the first video saved in the playlist. While it can be set to another video, thumbnails cannot be custom-uploaded.
With this change, it may bring more ways to edit the playlist, with the user being able to set any picture as the thumbnail, instead of restricting it to the thumbnails of the videos.
Sleep timer on YouTube
Additionally, YouTube is expected to develop a sleep timer for its Android app. It may allow users to set a sleep timer, letting them set the video playback before it automatically stops. In addition, the sleep timer may also show as a notification on the smartphone's home screen.
The feature was reported during an APK teardown of the YouTube app for Android version 19.25.33. Although this option already exists in YouTube Music, it is anticipated to arrive in the video-streaming app soon.
