ThumbFast
ThumbFast generates on-the-fly thumbnails for mpv and is designed to work alongside an interface script.
About ThumbFast
ThumbFast is a Lua script that generates thumbnails on demand for mpv. It does not display thumbnails on its own and is meant to be used alongside a UI script that calls it, showing previews when hovering on the timeline.
It allows configuration of thumbnail size, interval, cropping, and respects applied video filters. Support for remote files such as YouTube and for audio files is disabled by default, and installation requires placing files in the mpv scripts and script-opts folders.
Key features
- Generates thumbnails on demand without background processing
- Customizable thumbnail size and interval between thumbnails
- Cropping support and respects applied video filters
- Supports web videos such as YouTube when enabled
- Handles videos with mixed aspect ratios
- Settings adjustable through thumbfast.conf file
Best for: mpv users who use a supported interface script and want hover thumbnails on the timeline.
Good for
- No dependencies and no background generation using CPU
- Works with several listed UI scripts and mpv frontends
- Respects applied video filters and mixed aspect ratios
Watch out for
- Cannot display thumbnails alone; requires a supported UI script
- Network and audio file support are disabled by default
- Linux support for mpv below 0.33.0 requires socat
ThumbFast at a glance
- Website
- github.com/po5/thumbfast
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Media Players & Servers
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, Windows
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Media Players & Servers
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ThumbFast FAQ
Does ThumbFast display thumbnails by itself?
No, it must be used alongside a UI script that calls ThumbFast.
How is it installed?
Place thumbfast.lua in the mpv scripts folder and copy thumbfast.conf to the script-opts folder to customize.
Does it work with online videos?
Yes, it supports web videos such as YouTube, but network support is disabled by default.
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