Unfortunately, you cannot directly change the cover (thumbnail) of a video on your iPhone. However, you can trim the video to select a different starting point, which will then display as the cover. Here’s how:
Trimming Your Video to Change the Cover
While you can't choose a static image as a cover, the first frame of your video serves as the thumbnail. Trimming the video lets you change this starting frame, thus effectively changing what displays as the video's cover.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Photos app and select the video you want to adjust. |
| 2 | Tap Edit at the top right corner. |
| 3 | You’ll see a frame viewer at the bottom of the screen. Drag either end of the frame viewer to trim the video to a new beginning. |
| 4 | Tap Done in the lower-right corner to save your trim. |
| 5 | Choose from: Save Video to save only the trimmed video, or Save Video as New Clip to save both the trimmed version and the original. |
This method, available since iOS 13.3, effectively lets you choose a new frame to act as the cover of your video.
- Important Note: The new "cover" is always the very first frame of the trimmed video.
Additional Tips
- Be aware that trimming the video is a destructive process unless you specifically choose to "Save Video as New Clip", in which case you would have the edited version and your original.
- For more flexibility in choosing a cover image, you will likely need to use a third-party video editing app that offers this feature. Most of the advanced video editors will allow you to choose and set a thumbnail, these features are not available within the Apple Photos app.
