How to Fix SharePoint Changing the First Frame of an Uploaded MP4 Video
Question details
The user needs to know how to stop SharePoint from automatically changing or incorrectly displaying the first frame or thumbnail of uploaded MP4 videos.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Uploading an MP4 video file to a SharePoint online document library.
- Observed behavior
- SharePoint automatically selects a representative frame from the middle of the video as the thumbnail instead of the actual opening frame, even though the video plays correctly locally.
Ensure you have edit permissions for the SharePoint document library where the MP4 video is stored, as you will need access to modify the media settings of the file.
Customize the Video Thumbnail in SharePoint Video Settings
Manually set the correct thumbnail frame using SharePoint's built-in video settings to override the auto-generated preview.
By default, SharePoint online automatically selects a representative frame from the video to serve as the thumbnail. This can make it appear as though the first frame was changed, even if the video file itself is unmodified.
Navigate to your SharePoint online document library and click on the specific MP4 video to open it in the SharePoint media player.
In the upper-right corner of the player interface, click on 'Video settings' to open the configuration pane.
Select 'Thumbnail' from the settings menu. You can either click 'Upload an image' to use a custom picture or click 'Choose a frame from video' to scrub the timeline to the exact opening frame you want to display.
Apply your selection. The video will now correctly display your selected frame as its thumbnail across SharePoint.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my uploaded MP4 thumbnail show the middle of the video in SharePoint?
SharePoint's media engine is designed to auto-generate a thumbnail by selecting a frame it considers representative of the video's content, which is often from the middle. It does this to give viewers better context about the video before they click play.
Can I prevent SharePoint from automatically changing the first frame of my uploaded videos globally?
Currently, SharePoint automatically extracts a representative frame for the thumbnail by default. You cannot disable this auto-extraction globally across the entire library; you must manually update the thumbnail via Video Settings for each affected file.
Does SharePoint alter my original MP4 file when I change the video settings?
No. Changing the thumbnail or modifying video settings in SharePoint only updates the display metadata within the SharePoint and Microsoft Stream environment. The original MP4 file you uploaded remains completely untouched and retains its original quality and frames.
