To get a video’s URL from Google, open the video from the search results and copy the link from your browser’s address bar, or use the video site’s Share > Copy button. Google Search doesn’t host videos itself, so the link points to wherever the video lives, usually YouTube.
The sharing and download steps below come from YouTube Help: Share videos and channels, Watch videos offline with YouTube Premium, and Download your own videos. The rules on what you may download come from YouTube’s Terms of Service.
How to copy a video’s URL on a computer
- Search on Google and select the Videos tab if you want only video results.
- Click the video. It opens on the site that hosts it, such as YouTube.
- Click the address bar at the top of the browser and press Ctrl + C (Cmd + C on a Mac) to copy the URL.
- Or, on YouTube, click Share under the video, then click Copy.
You can also skip opening the video: right-click the result on Google and choose Copy link address (the wording varies slightly by browser). That copies the link Google shows for the result, which may pass through a Google redirect before reaching the video.
YouTube Help explains that the Share window has a start-time checkbox. Check it and enter a time, such as 2:30, before you click Copy. Whoever opens the link starts at that point instead of the beginning.
How to copy a video’s URL on a phone
- Tap the video in the Google results.
- If it opens in the YouTube app, tap Share, then Copy link.
- If it opens in a browser, tap the address bar and copy the link, or use the browser’s share button.
Saving a video to watch offline
Copying a URL doesn’t download the video. YouTube’s own offline downloads need a YouTube Premium membership. On a computer, they work on youtube.com in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera.
- Open the video while signed in to Premium and click Download below it.
- Watch it later from Downloads in the left menu on youtube.com, or in the app from your profile picture. For iPhone details, see how to download a YouTube video on an iPhone.
Skip “video URL downloader” sites. YouTube’s Terms of Service don’t allow downloading unless YouTube shows a download button or the owner gives permission, and these sites often push pop-ups and malware. You can download your own uploads in YouTube Studio (Content > your video > Menu > Download), or videos whose creator or license allows it.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the link I copied from Google look long and strange?
Links copied straight from a search result can include Google tracking or redirect parts. Open the video first and copy the address from that page, or use the site’s Share button, for a cleaner link.
Can I download YouTube videos on Windows 11?
With YouTube Premium, yes, through youtube.com in a supported browser. See how to get the YouTube app on Windows 11 for setup.
Where do files I download from the web go?
Files you download from other sites (not YouTube Premium downloads) go to your browser’s download folder. See how to see recent downloads in Google Chrome.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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