---
title: "thumbnailImage(atTime:timeOption:)"
framework: mediaplayer
role: symbol
role_heading: Instance Method
path: "mediaplayer/mpmovieplayercontroller/thumbnailimage(attime:timeoption:)"
---

# thumbnailImage(atTime:timeOption:)

Captures and returns a thumbnail image from the current movie.

## Declaration

```swift
func thumbnailImage(atTime playbackTime: TimeInterval, timeOption option: MPMovieTimeOption) -> UIImage!
```

## Parameters

- `playbackTime`: The time at which to capture the thumbnail image. The time value represents the number of seconds from the beginning of the current movie.
- `option`: The option to use when determining which specific frame to use for the thumbnail image. For a list of possible values, see doc://com.apple.mediaplayer/documentation/MediaPlayer/MPMovieTimeOption.

## Return Value

Return Value An image object containing the image from the movie or nil if the thumbnail could not be captured.

## Discussion

Discussion This method captures the thumbnail image synchronously from the current movie (which is accessible from the MPMovieSourceType.unknown property). note: This method is not successful when the source URL is an HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) content source. The returned value for an HLS source is an empty UIImage object. See HTTP Live Streaming Overview.

## See Also

### Generating thumbnail images

- [requestThumbnailImages(atTimes:timeOption:)](mediaplayer/mpmovieplayercontroller/requestthumbnailimages(attimes:timeoption:).md)
- [cancelAllThumbnailImageRequests()](mediaplayer/mpmovieplayercontroller/cancelallthumbnailimagerequests().md)