The fastest way to copy a YouTube link

Open the video you want to share. Look at the address bar at the top of your browser — it shows the full web address, starting with youtube.com. Click once on the address bar to select it, then press Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on Mac. The link is now copied to your clipboard and ready to paste anywhere.

That is the complete method. You do not need to select the entire address manually — clicking the address bar highlights it automatically in most browsers. From there, copy and paste works the same way it does for any text on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the address bar at the top of your browser, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy the link.
  • YouTube's built-in Share button offers a shorter link format, which is useful if you are pasting into a text message or social media post.
  • The address bar link and the Share button link both point to the same video — choose whichever format fits where you are pasting.
  • If you want to share a link that starts at a specific moment in the video, use the Share button and check the "Start at" option.

Using YouTube's Share button for a shorter link

YouTube provides a built-in Share button that creates a shorter link format. Below the video, you will see a row of buttons including Share (it looks like an arrow pointing outward). Click it, and a small window opens showing a shortened link that starts with youtu.be instead of the full youtube.com address.

Click the shortened link once to highlight it, then press Ctrl+C or Command+C to copy it. This shorter format is handy when you are pasting into a text message, email subject line, or anywhere space is tight. The shortened link works identically to the full address — both take the person to the same video.

Copying a link that starts at a specific time

If you want someone to watch starting from a particular moment — say, 3 minutes and 45 seconds into a 20-minute video — use the Share button instead of the address bar. Click Share below the video, then check the box labeled Start at. A field appears where you can enter the time, or you can drag the video's progress bar to the moment you want and the time fills in automatically.

Once you set the start time, the shortened link in the Share window now includes that timestamp. Copy this link the same way: click it to highlight, then Ctrl+C or Command+C. When someone opens this link, the video begins playing at the exact moment you chose.

What happens when you paste the link

The link you copied works anywhere you paste it — email, messaging apps, social media, documents, chat programs. When someone clicks it, their browser opens YouTube and plays that video. They do not need any special software or account, though YouTube may ask them to sign in depending on their browser settings.

If you used the "Start at" feature, the video will jump to that time automatically when they open the link. If you copied a plain link from the address bar, the video starts from the beginning.

Copying links from mobile YouTube

On a phone or tablet, the process is slightly different because there is no address bar visible in the same way. Open the video, then tap the Share button (the arrow icon below the video). A menu appears with options including Copy Link. Tap Copy Link, and the shortened youtu.be link goes to your clipboard.

From there, paste it the same way you would on a computer — into a text message, email, or any app that accepts text. The mobile Share button is actually faster than hunting for the address bar, so many people use it on desktop too.

Troubleshooting when the link will not copy

If you click the address bar and nothing seems to happen, try clicking it a second time or triple-clicking to make sure the entire address is selected. You should see the text highlighted in blue or another color. Then press Ctrl+C or Command+C.

If the Share button is not visible, scroll down below the video — it is usually in the row of buttons next to Like, Add to Playlist, and other options. On mobile, if you do not see Share, try tapping the three dots (more options) menu and look for Share there. If you are using an older browser or YouTube is loading slowly, wait a few seconds and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the short youtu.be link the same as the full youtube.com link?

Yes. Both point to the same video and work identically. The short version is just a redirect — when someone clicks youtu.be, it sends them to the full youtube.com address. Use whichever format fits your situation.

Can I copy a link to a specific moment without using the Share button?

Yes. In the address bar, the link already includes a timestamp if you paused the video at that moment. Look for ?t= followed by seconds in the address. You can also manually add ?t=225 to the end of any YouTube link (225 = 3 minutes 45 seconds) to make it start at that time.

What if I want to copy a link but keep it private?

YouTube links are public by default — anyone with the link can watch if the video is not private. If the video is private, only people the uploader invited can watch it, and the link will not work for others. Check the video's privacy setting before sharing the link if you want to restrict who sees it.

Does copying a YouTube link count as a view?

No. Copying the link does nothing to the video's view count. A view is only counted when someone actually plays the video in their browser or app.