The present invention provides a method and a system for setting a video cover. The method includes: receiving, by a codec service cluster, a cover creation request carrying cover parameters of a target video, and obtaining, by the codec service cluster, a video file of the target video, wherein the cover parameters at least include a video segment identifier, a video segment rewind demand, and a video segment playback speed; according to the cover parameters of the target video and the video file of the target video, generating, by the codec service cluster, a cover video file of the target video; and feeding back, by the codec service cluster, the cover video file of the target video to enable a feedback receiver to set the video cover for the target video based on the cover video file.