---
title: Generate Video Thumbnail Job API
slug: generate-video-thumbnail-job
url: https://apyhub.com/apyhub/service/generate-video-thumbnail-job
provider: ApyHub
categories: [File Conversion, File Manipulation]
auth: api_key
---

# Generate Video Thumbnail Job API

Clip a video file or video URL into a short output. Set start time, duration, and optional size, then poll for a job_id and output URL.

## Endpoints

| Method | Path | Description | Atoms |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| POST | `/job/generate/video-thumbnail/file` | What it does Submits a video file to start an asynchronous video thumbnail generation job. The endp… | 400 |
| GET | `/job/generate/video-thumbnail/status/:job_id` | What it does Checks the status of a submitted video thumbnail generation job by job ID. It returns… | 5 |
| POST | `/job/generate/video-thumbnail/url` | What it does Submits an async job to generate a thumbnail from a source video URL. The request body… | 400 |

## About

## What it does
Video Thumbnail Generator clips a source video into a short output video and lets you set the starting point, clip length, and optional output size.

Send either a video file or a `video_url`, then choose `start_time` in seconds, `duration` in seconds, and an optional `size` in `WIDTHxHEIGHT` format. `duration` is capped at 20 seconds, and `start_time` defaults to 0. The file upload endpoint accepts a multipart `video` field; the URL endpoint downloads the video from an HTTP(S) source and processes it asynchronously.

When the job is accepted, you get back a `job_id` for polling. Use `GET /jobs/:job_id` to check status: `pending`, `successful`, or `failed`. On success, the job response includes a `url` to the clipped video output. If the job is still running or fails, the response includes the job status and a human-readable `message`.

Use Video Thumbnail Generator when you need short preview clips for media libraries, upload workflows, content moderation queues, or sharing a specific segment of a longer video.

## Usage

Authenticate with an ApyHub API key in the `apy-token` header.
Full docs and a live playground: https://apyhub.com/apyhub/service/generate-video-thumbnail-job