How to get HQ youtube thumbnails?
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/0.jpg
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/1.jpg
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/2.jpg
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/3.jpg
That works for small thumbnails.
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/mqdefault.jpg
That works for HQ but only 1 image. Question is how to get 4 HQ thumbnail images?
Solution 1:
Are you referring to the full resolution one?:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/maxresdefault.jpg
I don't believe you can get 'multiple' images of HQ because the one you have is the one.
Check the following answer out for more information on the URLs: How do I get a YouTube video thumbnail from the YouTube API?
For live videos use
https://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/maxresdefault_live.jpg- cornips
Solution 2:
YouTube resolutions and images
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<video-id>/<resolution><image>.jpg
Resolution
- lowest resolution
sd - Standard Definition
mq - Medium Quality
hq - High Quality
maxres - MAXimum RESolution
Image
default - Default image (1, 2, 3 shot from video, or custom uploaded)
1 - First shot from video
2 - Second shot from video
3 - Third shot from video
Solution 3:
You can simply get HQ youtube thumbnails..
http://img.youtube.com/vi/YOUTUBE_VIDEO_ID/hqdefault.jpg
Solution 4:
Depending on the resolution you need, you can use a different URL:
Default Thumbnail
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/default.jpg
High Quality Thumbnail
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/hqdefault.jpg
Medium Quality
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/mqdefault.jpg
Standard Definition
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/sddefault.jpg
Maximum Resolution
http://img.youtube.com/vi/<insert-youtube-video-id-here>/maxresdefault.jpg
Note: it's a work-around if you don't want to use the YouTube Data API. Furthermore not all videos have the thumbnail images set, so the above method doesn’t work.