Have you ever been watching a YouTube video and wanted to easily share it with a friend, or save it to watch later? Copying the video link is an incredibly useful trick that allows you to do this in just a few seconds.
In fact, a recent study found that over 120 million YouTube links are shared every single day. People copy and paste video URLs to social platforms, messaging apps, emails, and anywhere else across the internet.
This guide will teach you how simple it is to copy a YouTube link on both desktop and mobile. We‘ll cover:
- Quick desktop browser methods
- Mobile copying on iPhone & Android
- Sharing links to precise timestamps
- Grabbing channel URLs
- Advanced tips and hacks
Let‘s get started!
Section 1: Copying YouTube Links on Desktop
Accessing YouTube through your Mac, Windows, or Linux internet browser gives you a pair of options for snagging video links.
Method 1: Use the Address Bar
This technique copies the link from the browser‘s address field in just a few clicks:
- Launch and play the desired video in your YouTube tab.
- Click on the address bar to highlight the URL.
- Keyboard shortcut: F6
- Right click within the bar and select Copy from the menu.
- Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command + C (Mac).
- Paste the link wherever you want!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very fast to access | Need to re-find your place in the video |
| Uses handy keyboard shortcuts | Doesn‘t let you specify a timestamp |
This method is quick if you just need to grab the URL without any special formatting. Now let‘s look at accessing the share menu…
Method 2: Use the Share Options Under the Video
Every YouTube video page has a Share button just under the video player on desktop:
- Launch and play the target video
- Scroll down below the video frame
- Click Share
- Keyboard shortcut: S
- The video URL appears in a box – click Copy
- Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + C or Command + C
- Paste the link where needed!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Don‘t lose your place in the video | An extra click compared to address bar |
| Access timestamped links |
The share method places the link right in front of you without having to find the address bar, at the cost of an extra click.
Both options get the job done! Now let‘s examine copying links on mobile…
Section 2: Copying YouTube Links on iPhone & Android
The process works very similarly on the YouTube mobile app across platforms:
On iPhone & iPad
- Launch the YouTube app and open the desired video
- Tap the Share button under the video title
- Usually looks like an arrow pointing upward
- Select Copy Link in the share menu
- Paste the link wherever needed!
On Android Devices
- Open the target video in the YouTube Android app
- Scroll down and tap Share
- Icon resembles a bent paperclip
- Tap Copy Link
- Paste the URL where you want!
The apps provide the same core functionality, with only small UI differences in labels and icons between operating systems.
Top Tip: If you want to paste the link into another app, long press on the target text field and select paste.
Now let‘s tackle more advanced techniques…
Section 3: Sharing Links to Precise Video Timestamps
By default, copied YouTube links will open the video right from the beginning. However, you can grab a link that starts playback from any timestamp:
- In your desktop browser, play the video and pause it at your desired start time
- Right click and select Copy video URL at current time
- The generated link will open the video queued up to that exact spot!
For example, you could share a link that starts 11 minutes and 35 seconds into a video by following the steps above.
Unfortunately timestamped link copying isn‘t possible on mobile devices due to app limitations. But it‘s an incredibly useful trick on desktop!
Section 4: Copying Your YouTube Channel Link
In addition to individual videos, you‘ll probably want to copy and share the main URL of your YouTube channel itself:
On Desktop
- Click your account icon and go to YouTube Studio
- In the left sidebar, click Customization
- Under Basic Info find the Channel URL field
- Right click > Copy this link!
Now anyone visiting your channel URL will reach your content. Helpful for promotion on social media, websites, etc.
On Mobile
- In the YouTube app, go to your channel page
- Tap More Info below the header
- Long press > Copy Link on the channel URL
Same outcome, delivered on mobile!
Conclusion
As you can see, copying YouTube links is an easy process whether you‘re on desktop, iPhone, Android, or any other device.
With these helpful methods, you‘ll be able to easily share cool videos with friends, collaborate on projects by exchanging links, or bookmark your favorite YouTube channels.
The next time you want to copy a video or channel URL, just follow the quick steps for your platform outlined above. Happy link sharing!
