Thumbnail Logo
Common Use Cases
- Site cards: a clear tile in lists of sites
- Search results: a recognizable image beside the site
- SharePoint app: identity in the mobile and start experiences
- Hub families: consistent tiles across related sites
- Brand recognition: a square mark people associate with the site
- Professional polish: replacing a generic default tile
Benefits
- Recognizable tiles: sites stand out in card views
- Square format: fits the tile and card layout
- Consistent identity: aligns with the header logo and theme
- Better scanning: users spot the right site faster
- Simple to set: an image upload in site settings
- Everywhere it counts: appears wherever the site is referenced
How It Works
- Square thumbnail: a dedicated image for cards and tiles
- Set in site settings: uploaded from the change the look area
- Separate from header logo: a different image and purpose
- Shown off-site: appears where the site is represented as a tile
- Supported formats: standard image formats are accepted
- Represents the site: the visual stand-in across Microsoft 365
- Change the look: the branding settings area
- Site thumbnail: the square image for cards and search
- Image upload: providing the thumbnail file
- Pair with site logo: keeping header and thumbnail aligned
- Theme alignment: matching colors for a cohesive look
Limits and Nuances
- Square works best: non-square images may be cropped
- Different from header logo: the two are set separately
- Off-site usage: it shows in cards and search, not the header
- Per site: each site has its own thumbnail
- Caching: updates can take time to appear everywhere
- Cosmetic: the thumbnail is branding, not function
Common Questions About the Thumbnail Logo
What is the thumbnail logo in SharePoint?
The thumbnail logo is the square image that represents a site away from the site itself, appearing on site cards, in search results, in the SharePoint app, and wherever the site shows up as a tile. It is how a site presents itself everywhere except its own header, making it easy to recognize among many other sites at a glance.
How is the thumbnail different from the header logo?
The header logo appears in the site header while you are browsing the site, while the thumbnail represents the site externally, in cards and search. They are set separately and often use slightly different images, since the thumbnail needs to read well as a small square tile. A well-branded site sets both so it looks consistent inside and out.
Where does the thumbnail logo appear?
It appears wherever SharePoint shows the site as a tile or card, including the SharePoint start page, search results, and the mobile app. Because these surfaces present many sites side by side, a distinctive thumbnail helps users pick the right one quickly. The header logo, by contrast, only appears once you are actually on the site.
What image works best for a thumbnail?
A clean, square image works best, since the thumbnail is displayed as a square tile and non-square images may be cropped. A simple mark or logo that stays legible at small sizes is ideal. Aligning the thumbnail colors with your site theme and header logo keeps the whole identity cohesive across every place the site appears.
How do I set the thumbnail logo?
Open the change the look or site settings area and upload an image as the site thumbnail. It is a straightforward image upload, separate from the header logo setting. After you set it, the thumbnail begins representing the site in cards and search, though caching means it can take a little time to update everywhere it is shown.
Is the thumbnail logo worth setting?
For any site that appears in lists of sites, yes. Greg Zelfond, the consultant behind LookBook 365, sets a distinct square thumbnail alongside the header logo and theme so a site is recognizable the instant someone scans a page of cards. It is a tiny effort that quietly improves navigation and makes a family of sites feel deliberate and well branded.