A Reel lives or dies on its first frame. Left to the platform, the cover is whatever frame happened to be at the start — often a blurred face or a half-finished title. Choosing it takes ten seconds and is the cheapest thing you can do for the reach of a video.
How do I choose the cover?
- Open the post in Social Media > Planner and load the video in Visual Assets.
- Check that the format is Reel / Video or Feed / Post: the Cover card only shows up on video posts in those two formats.
- Click the Cover card. The Video cover panel opens with two tabs.
- In Video frame, drag the slider until the preview shows the moment you want.
- Or switch to Image and use Upload image or Choose from library to use your own graphic.
- Look at the chips at the bottom: each one tells you what that channel is going to receive.
- Click Apply and save the post.
Which channel receives which?
Not every network accepts both options, and MB Suite doesn't hide that: the chips inside the panel show it channel by channel, with the platforms you selected for this post.
| Channel | Image | Video frame |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram (Reels) | Yes | Yes |
| TikTok (Business connection) | Yes | Yes |
| TikTok (Login Kit) | No | Yes |
| Facebook (video) | Yes | No |
| Stories, LinkedIn, Google Business, X | Not supported | Not supported |
What image works as a cover?
Vertical 9:16, the same shape as the video, in JPG, PNG or WebP. The Requirements list inside the panel shows the exact sizes and maximum weight accepted — it's the source of truth, because each network sets its own limits.
The panel validates the image as soon as you load it. A message in red is an error and keeps Apply disabled until you replace the image; a message in amber is a warning —for example, an image that isn't 9:16 and could get cropped— and lets you continue.
What happens if I don't choose one?
Nothing breaks: the card shows Automatic · chosen by the platform and each network picks the cover on its own, exactly as it did before. The cover is optional — it's there for when the automatic one doesn't do the video justice.
Still have questions?
Ask MIA, the MB Suite AI assistant: open it with the MB AI button (⌘J) in the top bar. MIA knows the section you're in, so you can ask it about what you see on screen — and it can also answer how-to questions about using MB Suite.