How to Get a Vimeo Thumbnail Image
Vimeo does not offer a Download thumbnail button for viewers, but the preview image is public for open videos.
Method 1: use a thumbnail downloader
Paste the video link in our Vimeo thumbnail downloader. It returns three sizes and lets you save the file.
Method 2: from your own video settings
If the video is yours, open it in your Vimeo library, choose Settings and then Thumbnail. You can pick a frame or upload a custom image, and the thumbnail you choose is what viewers see.
Method 3: oEmbed data
Developers can request https://vimeo.com/api/oembed.json?url=VIDEO_URL. The response contains a thumbnail_url field. Changing the size at the end of that address returns larger or smaller versions.
Why a thumbnail may be missing
Private videos, videos hidden from the vimeo.com site and videos restricted to certain domains do not expose their preview image to others.
Reuse responsibly
As with YouTube, the thumbnail belongs to the creator. Get permission before using it commercially. Our copyright guide explains the basics.