How to Add a Preview Image to WordPress Videos
WordPress makes adding videos easy. However, many WordPress users don’t realize that they can make their videos more attractive.
In particular, it often helps to add a preview image to your videos. An eye-catching preview image can really draw attention to your video. If you allow the preview image be chosen automatically, you can often end up with a snapshot taken at a bad moment in the video.
Please note, this will only work with videos that you have directly uploaded and stored in WordPress. This won’t work with WordPress YouTube, WordPress Vimeo, or WordPress Wistia videos.
This tutorial will show you how to add a custom preview image to your WordPress videos.
The WordPress Poster Image
The name that WordPress uses for video preview images is the “Poster Image”. This name is slightly confusing and may be why a lot of people don’t know this feature exists.
When you first add your video, you’re not given an option to add the poster image. By default, WordPress simply displays a still image from the beginning of your video.
To add your own image, go to edit your Post or Page:
- Click on the video.
- Click the edit icon.
- Click on “Select Poster Image” in the left column.
- Upload a new image, or select it from the Media Library.
- Click the “Select Poster Image” button in the bottom right corner.
- Click “Update”.
- You’ll now be presented with a preview of the video showing the new Poster Image:
- Finally, preview your Post or Page to check the final result. Congrats! You’ve just created your first WordPress Poster Image.
Pro Tip: Optimize Your Image
You can use the following two tutorials to optimize your image to your video’s height and width:
Also, if you want to force your WordPress authors to use a featured image on their posts, try the PublishPress Content Checklist.
Does this work for embedded YouTube videos? I don’t see the Poster Image option when I click Edit on one.
Hey Chad. I don’t believe so – only self-hosted videos.
I have the same issue! How to change cover image in case of an embedded YouTube video? Thank you!
Hi Dear, actually am using WordPress 4.9.1 to upload home page video from YouTube for our website, but after I uploaded the video and access the website from the laptop I noticed that the poster image that it supposed to be displayed only when access via Phone it’s appearing in the home page for 3 seconds and this causes the first 3 seconds of the uploaded video not to be seen then can watch the video.
Please I need your help and suggestion to solve this issue. Thank you so much
This is so hidden! Thank you : )
Thanks Nick! This made a big difference for my school’s website!
Thank you Nick! Very helpful! How do I make the poster image clickable? A user can play the video by clicking on the video controls at the bottom of the block, but I want to make the [i]poster image itself[/i] clickable. Any tips greatly appreciated.