Tech Desk 
Oct 22, 2024
YouTube Music has finally introduced custom playlist thumbnails, a feature users have been eagerly awaiting. Following a limited test, the music streaming app is now rolling out support for personalised playlist images globally.
To utilise this feature, users must verify their accounts by confirming their phone numbers.
What are custom playlist thumbnails?
Custom playlist thumbnails allow users to upload their images to represent their playlists. Previously, YouTube Music users were limited to artificial intelligence (AI)-generated thumbnails, restricting their ability to fully customise their experience.
This update brings YouTube Music in line with rival music streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music.
Read more: Google Chrome's ‘Listen to this page’ feature now available for Android
How to use custom playlist thumbnails
To upload custom images:
- Verify your account by confirming your phone number.
- Access the YouTube Music web client.
- Select the playlist you want to customise.
- Click the pencil icon on the playlist thumbnail.
- Choose an image from your local storage.
- Preview and save your changes.
YouTube Music's custom playlist thumbnails bring three key benefits. They enable enhanced personalisation, allowing users to reflect their unique style. Custom thumbnails also improve visual organisation, making playlists easily identifiable. Additionally, this feature gives YouTube Music a competitive edge, matching rival music streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music.
While YouTube Music has introduced web client uploads, it remains unclear whether the feature will expand to support uploads from iOS and Android apps.
