Google has introduced a slick feature in Chrome that makes capturing high-quality stills from videos a breeze. Dubbed "Copy Video Frame," this tool lets users grab clean, full-resolution frames directly from a video’s source by pausing and right-clicking to select the option.
While Google’s Keyword blog markets it as a student-friendly tool for snagging lecture notes, its potential reaches far beyond the classroom, offering creators and casual users a sharper alternative to traditional screenshot methods.
The feature shines brightest on YouTube, where it captures frames at the video’s streaming resolution—think crisp 4K stills even if the video is displayed at a lower resolution on your screen.
In testing, Copy Video Frame outperformed older methods like screen captures or YouTube’s Enhancer extension, delivering vibrant colors and no pesky overlays like captions or player controls.
It also works on Google Photos videos, which leverage YouTube’s player, but you’ll need to right-click twice to bypass YouTube’s menu and access the browser’s native right-click options.
Below image is from Save Video Frame as option on Google Chrome browser.
Beyond Chrome, the feature is available in other Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge and Arc, provided they’re updated to the latest version. However, don’t expect universal compatibility. Testing revealed it doesn’t work on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Vimeo, where the browser’s right-click menu is suppressed.
The feature’s functionality outside YouTube and Google Photos remains limited, and further exploration is needed to uncover other compatible video players.
One quirk: the feature copies frames to your clipboard rather than saving them directly, making it ideal for pasting into notes or documents but requiring an extra step to save as an image file. For those needing to resize captured images, check out the top image resizers for Mac for free tools to perfect your visuals.
Still, its simplicity and quality make it a standout for students compiling study materials or creators needing pristine video stills.
As browsers continue to evolve, Copy Video Frame sets a new standard for screenshot utility, blending ease of use with impressive results.
