For YouTube and Co: Copy screenshots from videos
A new standard function allows you to create screenshots from YouTube videos with just a few clicks.
Are you watching a video and really want to capture a specific frame as a screenshot, perhaps a funny moment on YouTube? Until now, this has mostly been a bit of a fiddly process, using screenshot tools or extensions like Screenshot Youtube. But now Google has a solution that makes the process much easier. And the best thing about it: The new feature is not only available for Google Chrome, but also appears in other Chromium-based browsers!
Right-click video screenshot
Before you get started, make sure your browser is up to date. For Google Chrome that means yours at least version 116 needed. If necessary, you can install the update via the menu under Help - About Google Chrome. Edge, Brave and Co. should also be up to date.
As of this writing, the screenshot function itself is primarily optimized for YouTube and Google Photos. Unfortunately it doesn't work with Vimeo or Dailymotion, although this may change with future updates. Whether and to what extent the innovation also works on other portals on which you want to create screenshots for whatever reason, I leave it to your research skills ;-)
Technical details
The function uses the streaming resolution of the video to copy the frame. This means that the quality of the screenshot directly depends on the quality of the streamed video. So if you want the best possible screenshot quality, set the streaming quality to the highest possible resolution.
Take screenshots of videos: Here's how
If everything is fine and you are using a compatible browser on a compatible video portal, you can easily create the corresponding screenshots. This is how you do it:
- pause video: Select the frame you want to capture and pause the video.
- right-click: Right-click the video twice. "Twice" because YouTube's internal functions like the Stats for nerds displays.
- Copy frame: Select the point in the context menu that now appears Copy video frame.
- Insert: The copied frame is now in your clipboard. To save the screenshot, all you have to do is insert it into an image editing program of your choice or alternatively into a document in Word etc. .
Small innovation with a big impact
Google's new function for copying video frames is a real help, especially for YouTube fans. It makes taking screenshots from videos child's play and saves you from installing browser extensions. Unfortunately, this function does not work on social media and video hosting sites such as Twitter (um, “X”…), Vimeo and Instagram, as the right-click menu is deactivated there – here you will still have to resort to fiddly solutions… More tips and tricks for Google Chrome you can find here. We'll show you how to create a photo from an iPhone video however here.
