How to Copy a Link From YouTube (Every Method, Every Device)

Sharing a YouTube video starts with one small action: grabbing the link. But depending on where you are — the YouTube app, a browser, a Smart TV, mid-video at a specific timestamp — the steps change. Here's a clear breakdown of every method, so you always know exactly what to do.

Why YouTube Has More Than One Way to Copy a Link

YouTube runs across browsers, iOS, Android, desktop apps, and embedded players. Each environment surfaces different menus and options. The core result is the same — a URL pointing to the video — but the path to get there varies. Understanding which context you're in is the first step.

Copying a YouTube Link on a Desktop Browser

This is the most flexible environment. You have two quick options:

Option 1 — From the address bar:

1. Open the video in any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge).
2. Click the address bar at the top of the browser window.
3. The URL highlights automatically. Press Ctrl+C (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+C (Mac) to copy.
4. Paste it anywhere with Ctrl+V or Cmd+V.

Option 2 — Using the Share button:

1. Below the video, click the Share button (arrow icon).
2. A dialog box appears with the video URL displayed.
3. Click Copy — the link is now on your clipboard.

The Share dialog also offers a useful bonus: a checkbox labeled Start at, which lets you set a specific timestamp. When checked, the copied link will jump viewers directly to that point in the video.

Copying a YouTube Link on the Mobile App 📱

The YouTube app on iOS and Android works slightly differently from a browser, but the Share button is still your friend.

Standard link copy:

1. Open the video in the YouTube app.
2. Tap the Share button beneath the video (the arrow pointing right).
3. A share sheet appears. Tap Copy link.
4. The URL is now on your clipboard, ready to paste into a message, email, or note.

On Android, you may also see the option to long-press the video thumbnail from the home feed or search results — this often surfaces a Share or Copy link shortcut without opening the video first.

On iOS, the system share sheet appears after tapping Share, and Copy is typically listed among the first options.

What the Mobile Link Looks Like

Mobile YouTube share links usually use the shortened format: https://youtu.be/[videoID]. This is functionally identical to the full https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[videoID] URL — both take the recipient to the same video.

Copying a YouTube Link With a Timestamp

If you want someone to land at a specific moment — say, the 2-minute mark of a tutorial — you can generate a timestamped link.

On desktop:

• Pause the video at the moment you want.
• Right-click directly on the video player.
• Select Copy video URL at current time.
• This generates a link with a ?t= parameter (e.g., ?t=120 for 2 minutes).

Alternatively, use the Share → Start at checkbox method described above and manually type or confirm the timestamp.

On mobile:

• Tap Share while the video is playing (paused or not).
• Look for a Start at [timestamp] toggle or checkbox in the share sheet — availability depends on your app version and OS.

Copying a YouTube Link From Embedded Videos

Sometimes you're watching a YouTube video embedded on another website — a news article, blog post, or forum. The video player still shows the YouTube interface, including a YouTube logo in the corner.

• Click the YouTube logo or the video title — this opens the video directly on YouTube.com.
• From there, use any of the desktop browser methods above to copy the link.

You won't be able to right-click and copy a meaningful URL from the embed itself, since the page URL belongs to the host site, not the video.

Copying a Playlist or Channel Link

The same principles apply, but the URL structure differs:

For playlists, open the playlist page and copy from the address bar. For channels, navigate to the channel homepage and do the same.

A Note on Link Formats and Compatibility 🔗

The shortened youtu.be format and the full youtube.com/watch format are interchangeable in virtually all contexts. Both work in messages, emails, social platforms, and documents. Some platforms or tools — particularly link preview generators or analytics trackers — may handle one format differently than the other, so it's worth knowing both exist.

If you need a link to behave in a specific way (auto-play, embed parameters, privacy-enhanced mode for embeds), those require additional URL parameters beyond what the standard Share button produces. That's a separate layer of YouTube URL customization that depends on where the link will be used.

The Variables That Affect Your Specific Situation

The "right" method depends on several factors that vary by user:

• Which device you're on — desktop browser, iOS, Android, Smart TV
• App version — YouTube updates its mobile interface regularly; menu labels and toggle positions shift
• What type of link you need — plain video, timestamped, playlist, or channel
• Where you're pasting it — some apps strip or reformat URLs; some require the full youtube.com format
• Whether you need embed code vs. a plain link — the Share dialog on desktop offers both

The mechanics are consistent enough that knowing the Share button is your anchor point covers most situations. What changes is which step in the process looks different on your screen — and that depends entirely on your setup.