How to Copy an Image's Web Address (URL)

Every image on the web has a unique address; copy it into your browser, and you can include the image in an email.

An Image, Is It Worth 2,000 Letters?

How many letters is an image worth? This, in a sense, depends on the URL's length.

The URL, of course, is the address that points to the image on the net. With that address, you can insert the image in emails, for example. Fortunately, identifying and copying an image's URL is easy if you already see the picture, graphic, chart, sketch or drawing in your browser.

Using Images from the Web in Email

Once you have the URL, inserting those images in an email is, typically, not difficult either. You can do it, for example, in Gmail and in Mozilla Thunderbird

You can also open the URL in a new browser window to select and copy the image easily so you can insert it in an email message.

Copy an Image's Web Address (URL)

To copy the URL of an image that appears on a page follow the instructions for your email client:

Microsoft Edge

• ›› Step-by-step screenshot walkthrough

1. Click on the image whose address you want to copy with the right mouse button.
2. Select Copy (not Copy picture) from the menu that has appeared.
   • If you do not see Copy in the menu:
     1. Select Inspect element from the menu instead.
     2. Look for the next <img> tag under DOM Explorer.
     3. Double-click the URL that appears under the src attribute for that <img> tag.
     4. Press Ctrl-C.

Internet Explorer

• ›› Step-by-step screenshot walkthrough

1. If the page is open in Windows 8 (full screen) mode:
   1. Bring up the address bar.
      • You can right-click on an empty area of the page, for example.
   2. Open the Page tools wrench menu.
   3. Select View on the desktop from the menu that comes up.
2. Click on the desired picture with the right mouse button.
3. Select Properties from the menu.

1. Highlight the address appearing under Address (URL):.
2. Press Ctrl-C.
   • If the Properties window is not for the image but a link, for example, instead:
     1. Click Cancel.
     2. Click on the image with the right mouse button again.
     3. Select Inspect element from the menu.
     4. Look for the following <img> tag, usually, under DOM Explorer.
     5. Double-click the URL that is the src for that <img> tag.
     6. Press Ctrl-C.

Mozilla Firefox

• ›› Step-by-step screenshot walkthrough

1. Click on the image with the right mouse button.
2. Choose Copy Image Location from the menu.
   • If you do not see Copy Image Location in the menu:
     1. Select Inspect Element from the menu instead.
     2. Look for, usually, the next <img> tag under Inspector; as you hover over it with the mouse, the image will be highlighted in the browsing pane.
     3. Double-click the URL that appears for the src attribute of that <img> tag.
        • The image will pop up as you hover the mouse cursor over the URL.
     4. Press Ctrl-C (Windows, Linux) or Command-C (Mac).

Opera

• ›› Step-by-step screenshot walkthrough

1. Click on the desired image with the right mouse button.
2. Select Copy image address from the menu.
   • If you do not see Copy image address in the menu:
     1. Select Inspect element from the menu.
     2. Look for, most typically, the next <img> tag under Elements; the image will be highlighted in the browsing pane with img as you hover over it with the mouse.
     3. Double-click the URL that is that <img> tag’s src attribute.
        • The image will show as you hover the mouse cursor over the URL.
     4. Press Ctrl-C (Windows) or Command-C (Mac).

Safari

• ›› Step-by-step screenshot walkthrough

1. Click on the desired image with the right mouse button (or holding down Ctrl while clicking the left or only button).
2. Select Copy Image Address from the menu.
   • If you do not see Copy Image Address in the menu:
     1. Make sure the Develop menu is enabled in Safari; if you do not see Develop in your Safari’s menu bar:
        1. Select Safari | Preferences… from the menu.
        2. Go to the Advanced tab.
        3. Make sure Show Develop menu in menu bar is checked.
     2. Click on the image again with the right mouse button.
     3. Select Inspect Element from the menu that has popped up.
     4. Look for, typically, the next <img> tag; as you hover over it with the mouse, the image will be highlighted in the browser area.
     5. Click the (underlined) URL that appears for the src attribute of that <img> tag with the right mouse button.
     6. Select Edit Attribute from the menu.
     7. Press Command-C.
        • Make sure the image’s URL is highlighted.

Google Chrome

• ›› Step-by-step screenshot walkthrough

1. Click on the image with the right mouse button.
2. Select Copy image address (or Copy Image URL) from the menu that comes up.
   • If you do not see Copy image address in the menu:
     1. Select Inspect instead from the menu.
     2. Look for the next <img> tag under Elements; as you hover over it with the mouse, the image will be highlighted in the browsing pane.
     3. Double-click the URL that appears under the src attribute of that <img> tag.
        • The image will show up as you hover the mouse cursor over the URL.
     4. Press Ctrl-C (Windows, Linux) or Command-C (Mac).