The fastest way to copy a YouTube link

On any device, the simplest method is to tap or click the Share button below the video player, then select Copy link. The full URL goes straight to your clipboard — you can then paste it anywhere: email, text message, social media, a document. This works on phones, tablets, and computers.

If you do not see a Share button, you are likely on an older browser or a restricted network. The alternative method — copying the URL directly from your address bar — works everywhere and takes just as long once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • The Share button below the video player copies the link in one tap or click, and this is the fastest method on phones and computers.
  • On a computer, you can also click the address bar, select all, copy, and paste the URL anywhere you need it.
  • On a phone, long-press the address bar to select and copy the URL if the Share button is not visible.
  • YouTube links always start with youtube.com or youtu.be, so you can recognize them if you are pasting into an unfamiliar place.
  • Copied links include the exact timestamp if you paused the video first, so the person who opens it starts at that moment.

Using the Share button on a computer

Open the video you want to share. Look directly below the video player on the right side — you will see a row of buttons including a thumbs-up icon, a comment icon, and a Share button (usually shown as an arrow or a box with an arrow pointing out). Click it once.

A small menu appears with several options. The first option is Copy link. Click that, and YouTube copies the URL to your clipboard. You will see a small confirmation message that says "Link copied to clipboard" or similar. Now you can paste the link anywhere — open an email, a text message, or a document, and use Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste.

Using the Share button on a phone or tablet

Open the video in the YouTube app or in your mobile browser. Below the video player, you will see the same row of buttons. Tap the Share button — it usually looks like an arrow or a box with an arrow pointing outward.

A menu slides up from the bottom showing different ways to share: you might see options to send via Gmail, Messages, WhatsApp, or other apps. At the top of this menu, look for Copy link. Tap it, and the URL goes to your clipboard. You can now open any app and paste the link by long-pressing in a text field and selecting Paste.

Copying the URL directly from your address bar

If the Share button is not working or not visible, you can copy the link from the address bar at the top of your browser. On a computer, click once on the address bar (where the URL is shown). The entire address should highlight in blue. If it does not, use Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all. Then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy.

On a phone, tap the address bar at the top of the screen. Long-press on the URL until a menu appears with a Copy option. Tap Copy, and the link is now in your clipboard. The process is the same whether you are using Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser.

Getting a link that starts at a specific moment

If you want to share a link that starts the video at a particular time — say, 2 minutes and 15 seconds in — pause the video at that exact moment first. Then use the Share button or copy from the address bar as usual. YouTube automatically adds a timestamp parameter to the URL (you will see something like &t=135s at the end, where 135 is the number of seconds).

When someone opens that link, the video will start playing from that timestamp instead of from the beginning. This is useful when you want to point someone to a specific part of a long video without making them watch the whole thing.

Understanding what you are copying

YouTube links come in two main formats. The standard format is youtube.com/watch?v= followed by a string of letters and numbers (the video ID). The shorter format is youtu.be/ followed by the same video ID. Both links point to the same video — YouTube automatically redirects one to the other. When you use the Share button, you usually get the shorter youtu.be version, which is easier to paste into messages or social media.

The video ID is the unique identifier for that video. If you see a YouTube link and want to know if it is the same video as another link, look for the same video ID in both URLs. This matters if you are organizing links or checking whether someone sent you a duplicate.

Troubleshooting when the Share button does not appear

Some videos have sharing disabled by the uploader, or you might be on a restricted network (like a school or workplace that blocks certain features). If the Share button is missing or grayed out, the address bar method will always work. You can also try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the YouTube app.

If you are using an older browser version, update it first — older browsers sometimes do not display the Share button. If you are on a phone and the YouTube app is outdated, open your device's app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) and update YouTube to the latest version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy a YouTube link without opening the video?

No — you need to open the video page to access the Share button or address bar. However, once the page loads, copying takes only a few seconds. You do not need to watch any of the video itself.

Does copying a YouTube link work on all devices?

Yes. The address bar method works on every device with a browser. The Share button works on most modern phones, tablets, and computers, but if it is missing, the address bar method is your backup.

What is the difference between youtu.be and youtube.com links?

They point to the same video. youtu.be is a shorter URL that YouTube created for easier sharing in messages and social media. youtube.com is the full domain. YouTube treats them identically, so it does not matter which one you copy.

Will the link still work if I delete the video later?

No. If you delete the video from your channel, the link will show an error message to anyone who tries to open it. If the uploader deletes it, the same thing happens. The link itself does not change — the video just becomes unavailable.

Can I copy a link to a specific comment or timestamp?

Timestamps work automatically when you pause before copying. For comments, YouTube does not have a built-in copy-comment-link feature, but you can right-click a comment and select "Copy link to comment" in some browsers, or manually copy the video link and add the timestamp of when that comment appears.