Have you ever seen stunning visuals in a YouTube video and tried to take a screenshot, only to be disappointed by the low-quality results? Thankfully, with Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, or Brave, you can easily capture high-quality screenshots from YouTube videos, even in 4K or 8K resolution – perfect for setting as your wallpaper. This was made possible with a recent update released by Google and announced with a blog post.
Table of Contents
Prerequisite
Before we move to the actual process, we would recommend you update your web browser to the latest version. Here’s how to check for updates:
Chrome:
- Option 1: Navigate to Settings > About Chrome.
- Option 2: Enter the URL in the address bar: chrome://settings/help
Microsoft Edge:
- Option 1: Go to Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
- Option 2: Enter the URL in the address bar: edge://settings/help
Brave:
- Option 1: Navigate to Settings > About Brave.
- Option 2: Enter the URL in the address bar: brave://settings/help
Capture High-Quality Screenshots From YouTube Videos
Now that you have updated your browser, let’s proceed with capturing screenshots from the YouTube videos.
1. Launch the YouTube website in your preferred web browser (in this guide, we’ll use Chrome).
2. Next, open the video you’d like to capture a screenshot from and then navigate to the specific frame you’d like to copy.
3. After that, click on the Gear/Cog icon (Settings icon) and select the Quality option.
4. Now, select your desired video resolution, as the screenshot will be saved based on the chosen resolution.
5. Once done, double right-click on the video to bring the context menu. From there, select the Copy video frame option.
Since we can’t directly save the video frame as an image on a Windows or Mac computer, we will use different image editing tools to accomplish this.
Windows Users:
1. Launch the Paint app on your PC and paste (Ctrl + V) the video frame into the app. If the keyboard shortcut is not working, you can click on the Edit tab and select the Paste option.
2. Once the image is loaded, click on File > Save as and then select your preferred image format.
3. Now choose the screenshot location and then hit the Save button.
As you can see from the screenshot below, the image is saved in 4K resolution.
Tip: If the Paint app is not working on your PC, here’s how to fix it.
Mac Users:
1. Search and open the Preview app using the Spotlight (Command + Space) or Launchpad.
2. Once the app is open, navigate to the top menu bar and click on the File tab. Then, select the New from Clipboard option.
This action will open the video frame that you copied from the YouTube video within the Preview app.
3. Now, once again, click on the File tab, and this time, choose the Save option. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Command + S to achieve the same result.
4. A dialog will appear, allowing you to enter a name, choose a save location, and select the image format.
Once you’re done with that, click the Save button to save your screenshot.
That’s it! The screenshot you have taken from the YouTube video will be saved on your Mac, and that too in high resolution.
Tip: Learn how to take and highlight screenshots on Mac
Why Use Copy Video Frame Method for YouTube Screenshot
The problem with conventional screenshot-taking apps is that the quality of your screenshots depends on the resolution of your PC or Mac.
For instance, if you have a Windows PC with a Full HD display, the screenshots taken from that will have a maximum resolution of 1080p. However, with the Copy Video Frame method, you don’t need to worry about your PC’s screen resolution. You can easily capture screenshots from any YouTube video at any standard resolution, including 8K if the video has it.
For better understanding, we’ve captured screenshots using both the regular screenshot tool (Snipping Tool on Windows) and Chromium’s Copy Video Frame tool.
As you can see in the right screenshot, the image quality is highly detailed, and even after zooming in, there is no distortion, unlike the left screenshot.
FAQs
1. Can I capture video frames from YouTube Shorts, live streams, or YouTube Kids?
Yes, you can, and the method is similar to that on the regular YouTube video.
2. Can I copy the video frame from YouTube videos using my mobile device?
Unfortunately, there is no native solution to capture high-quality screenshots from YouTube videos using your phone. The ‘Copy Video Frame’ feature is currently exclusive to Chromium-based desktop browsers.
3. Is it possible to copy video frames from video streaming platforms other than YouTube?
As of writing this article, YouTube is the only video streaming platform where you can copy video frames. We tried on other platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Prime Video, but no luck there.
4. Is it legal to use a screenshot from a YouTube video?
Using a screenshot from a YouTube video for personal or educational purposes is generally considered legal, as long as you don’t infringe on copyright or violate YouTube’s terms of service. However, using screenshots for commercial purposes or without proper attribution may raise legal issues, so it’s essential to be mindful of copyright and platform guidelines.
5. What file format are the screenshots saved in, and can I change it?
You can save the screenshot in various formats, including JPEG, PNG, HEIC, PDF, and more.
6. Can I take multiple screenshots at once from a YouTube video?
There is no way to take multiple screenshots at once from a YouTube video. You must perform the same step for each screenshot you capture.
Crafting YouTube Screenshots Like a Pro
Now you no longer have to settle for low-quality screenshots from YouTube videos. Thanks to the ‘Copy Video Frame’ feature, you can effortlessly capture high-quality screenshots from any YouTube video. Since we’re discussing screenshots, why not also explore the process of capturing scrolling screenshots on Windows 11?
