How to Download an Instagram Reel Thumbnail
Copy the Reel link
Open the Reel or video in Instagram, tap Share and choose Copy link.
Paste the URL
Paste the link above and select Get thumbnail.
Save the thumbnail
Check the cover image and its size, then select Download thumbnail to save it as a JPG.
The cover Instagram serves, not a screenshot
The thumbnail is the cover image Instagram serves for the Reel: the frame or custom cover the creator chose, in the largest size available.
What the thumbnail is
A Reel thumbnail, or cover, is the still image Instagram shows in the profile grid and in feeds before the video plays. Creators can pick a frame or upload a custom cover.
ig.tools saves that image as Instagram provides it. It is not a screenshot, and it is not regenerated from the video.
Size and quality
Instagram usually provides Reel covers at the Reel’s 9:16 ratio, often 1080 × 1920 or 640 × 1136. The result shows the exact dimensions before you save.
The file is not upscaled, recompressed or watermarked, so its quality matches the source Instagram returns.
When a thumbnail is unavailable
Private accounts, removed posts and content that requires an Instagram sign-in cannot be read. Photo posts have no separate cover; the photo itself is the image.
Instagram links are temporary. If saving stops working after a while, paste the link again to get a fresh one.
Instagram Thumbnail Downloader FAQ
Back to the downloaderHow do I download an Instagram Reel thumbnail?
Copy the Reel link, paste it above and select Get thumbnail. Then select Download thumbnail to save the cover image.
Is the thumbnail in HD?
It is the largest cover image Instagram provides for that Reel, often 1080 × 1920. ig.tools does not upscale it.
Can I get the thumbnail of a video post or IGTV?
Yes. Paste the post or IGTV link; video posts return their cover image the same way as Reels.
Do I need an Instagram account?
No. You do not sign in to ig.tools. Results depend on what Instagram makes available for public content.
Can I download a thumbnail from a private account?
No. Private and restricted content is not supported.