Practical guides

Channel banners: displayed crop versus uploaded artwork

A wide banner download may be a device-specific crop rather than the full design.

Why banners look different

YouTube displays channel artwork in several layouts. The public header can contain multiple widths of the same cropped design. Our result cards show the actual files available in that header.

Two files with different dimensions are not necessarily two different designs. Compare the content near the top and bottom edges before selecting a version.

Avoid a false original claim

The tool does not expand source URLs or upscale small banner files to manufacture an original. A missing banner or a changed source produces an error rather than a placeholder success.

If you own the channel and need the complete uploaded artwork, keep your source design or use the owner’s tools. A public page cannot guarantee recovery of that source file.

Working with the saved file

Choose the card whose crop suits your layout. Preserve the aspect ratio and leave essential text away from edges. Check the actual file in an image editor before republishing, with the necessary permission.