--- title: Is it mandatory to upload a thumbnail for each video file? description: While it is recommended to upload a thumbnail along with the video file upload, it is not mandatory of course. You can just upload the media files and add thumbnail graphics later, or you can use the --- ![company logo](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/hs-fs/hubfs/test-header.png?height=120&name=test-header.png) [Support Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/) - [Open a Support Ticket](https://mediacloud.dev.lightcast.com/support-center/open-ticket) - - [Go to Customer Portal](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tickets) Miscellaneous - [Getting Started](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/getting-started) - [Video Guides](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides) - [Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#subtitles) - [Audio Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#audio-archive) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#sub-channels) - [Watermarks](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#watermarks) - [Video Minutes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-minutes) - [Account Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#account-settings) - 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Miscellaneous - [Getting Started](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/getting-started) - [Video Guides](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides) - [Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#subtitles) - [Audio Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#audio-archive) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#sub-channels) - [Watermarks](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#watermarks) - [Video Minutes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-minutes) - [Account Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#account-settings) - [Workflow Presets](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#workflow-presets) - [App Builder](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#app-builder) - [Player Customization](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#player-customization) - [Pay-Per-View](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#pay-per-view) - [Media Stats Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-stats-center) - [Revenue](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#revenue) - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-groups) - [Video Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-archive) - [Platforms](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#platforms) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#miscellaneous) - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#24-7-cloud-scheduler) - [Live Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#live-channels) - [VOD Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#vod-channels) - [Video on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#miscellaneous) - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#sub-channels) - [Facebook Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#facebook-video-publishing) - [Trailers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#trailers) - 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[AppleTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#appletv) - [WebApp](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#webapp) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#general) - [Roku](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#roku) - [App Ownership](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#app-ownership) - [Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming) - [LIVE-to-VOD](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-to-vod) - [Simulated Live](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#simulated-live) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#miscellaneous) - [Toubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#toubleshooting) - [VOD-to-LIVE](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#vod-to-live) - [Facebook Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#facebook-live-streaming) - [YouTube Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#youtube-live-streaming) - [Live Encoder / Encoder Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-encoder-encoder-settings) - [Multi-Bitrate Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#multi-bitrate-streaming) - [Pay-per-View (PPV) for Live Events](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#pay-per-view-ppv-for-live-events) - [Livestream DVR](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#livestream-dvr) - [24/7 Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming) - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#24-7-cloud-scheduler) - [Linear Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#linear-streaming) - [Lightcast DRM](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-drm) - [Code Authentication](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/code-authentication) - [Payment & Billing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/payment-billing) - [Video Advertising (AVOD/ALIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive) - [Publishers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#publishers) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#general) - [Advertisers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#advertisers) - [Lightcast EasyPay](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay) - [Lightcast EasyPay for Subscription Content (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-subscription-content-svod-slive) - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#miscellaneous) - [Lightcast EasyPay for Donations](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-donations) - [Lightcast Academy](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy) - [Account Training](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy#account-training) - [Subscription System (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/subscription-system-svod-slive) - [Pay-Per-View (PPV)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/pay-per-view-ppv) - [Media Player](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player) - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#general) - [Player Embed Tool](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-embed-tool) - [Player Sharing Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-sharing-feature) - [Player Configurator](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-configurator) # Is it mandatory to upload a thumbnail for each video file? While it is recommended to upload a thumbnail along with the video file upload, it is not mandatory of course. You can just upload the media files and add thumbnail graphics later, or you can use the auto-generated thumbnails instead. Please note, that while thumbnail graphics are a great way to promote content visually, your ConnectedTV apps and all your publishing properties will work without thumbnails, too.   [![company logo](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled-2.png?height=120&name=Untitled-2.png)](https://mediacloud.lightcast.com) - [![facebook_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/facebook_circle_color.png)](https://www.facebook.com/lightcastinc) - [![twitter_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/twitter_circle_color.png)](https://twitter.com/lightcast_inc) - [![linkedin_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/linkedin_circle_color.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightcast/) - [Open a Support Ticket](https://mediacloud.dev.lightcast.com/support-center/open-ticket) - - [Go to Customer Portal](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tickets)