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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Best overall for Chrome: Screenshot YouTube (version 3.0.0) adds a button directly to the YouTube player and can save a frame, copy it, or do both. If you also capture Vimeo or embedded players, choose Screenshot for YouTube & Other Video Services. Firefox users should look at YouTube Screenshot Button, but note that its listing explicitly excludes Shorts. Listings and versions change as YouTube changes its player, so check the current store page, permissions and update date before installing.
Quick picks by browser and use case
| Add-on | Browser | Best for | Key capabilities | Listing details checked September 29, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshot YouTube | Chrome | A simple YouTube player button | Save a still, copy to clipboard, or both; optional keyboard shortcuts and playback-rate buttons | Version 3.0.0; updated December 27, 2024; 500,000 users shown in the Chrome Web Store |
| Screenshot for YouTube & Other Video Services | Chrome | YouTube, Vimeo and embedded videos | Player button, shortcut or popup capture; PNG, JPEG or WebP; adjustable quality; native video resolution; clipboard copy | Version 3.1.0; updated July 27, 2026; 8,000 users and 113 ratings shown |
| Video Screenshot | Chrome | Many video services and optional editing | JPG/PNG files and clipboard; paid tier adds subtitles and cropping for letterboxed video | Version 7.0.7; updated August 23, 2026; 100,000 users and 784 ratings shown |
| YouTube Screenshot Button | Firefox | One-click YouTube or OK.ru captures | JPG capture, embedded players; Shorts not supported | Version 0.7.69.0; updated February 9, 2026; 396 users and 52 reviews shown on Mozilla Add-ons |
User counts and ratings are changing store figures, not independent tests of quality or reliability. No published comparative test establishes that one extension produces better images than another.
What to check before installing a YouTube screenshot extension
Browser compatibility
The products above are not interchangeable. The three Chrome listings require Chrome (or a Chromium browser where the same store listing is available); YouTube Screenshot Button is listed for Firefox. An extension that worked in one browser can stop working when YouTube changes its player or the browser changes extension rules.
Player button versus toolbar workflow
A player button is fastest when you are already watching. Toolbar or popup capture is useful on pages containing an embedded player or a service without an injected YouTube control. Keyboard shortcuts can be convenient, but verify the shortcut in the extension’s current options because browser and extension commands may conflict.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
Sites, embeds and Shorts
Screenshot YouTube focuses on YouTube. Screenshot for YouTube & Other Video Services and Video Screenshot advertise support for additional services, including Vimeo, and embedded players. The Firefox YouTube Screenshot Button listing says: “Important: the extension does not support screenshots from YouTube Shorts.” A Chrome listing and the project’s README advertise Shorts support, but treat that as a developer claim that can change.
Output and image quality
PNG is a lossless choice for text or graphics; JPEG is smaller for photographic frames; WebP is offered by Screenshot for YouTube & Other Video Services. That listing says captures use the video’s native resolution and has an adjustable quality setting. Other listings describe PNG/JPG output or clipboard copying without publishing a common benchmark, so do not assume every extension captures at the same resolution.
Detailed comparison of the leading listings
Screenshot YouTube (Chrome)
Choose this when your requirement is a visible Screenshot button in the YouTube player. The listing says one click can save a still as a file, copy it to the clipboard, or perform both actions. Optional keyboard shortcuts and playback-rate buttons reduce trips to the menus. Its Chrome Web Store page displayed 500,000 users in 2026, but that figure is neither independently verified adoption nor a performance rating. The listing reported no data collection or use in its privacy panel.
Screenshot for YouTube & Other Video Services (Chrome)
This is the broadest fit when you move between YouTube, Vimeo and embedded video. The description covers a player button, keyboard shortcut, popup capture on other pages, native video-resolution output, PNG/JPEG/WebP, quality adjustment and clipboard copy. Its listing says page access is granted only when you click the capture shortcut or popup. Version 3.1.0 was shown as updated July 27, 2026. The developer says it does not collect or use user data.
Video Screenshot (Chrome)
Video Screenshot advertises YouTube and multiple other services, JPG or PNG files, and clipboard copying. A paid tier adds subtitles and cropping for letterboxed content. Version 7.0.7 was listed as updated August 23, 2026. Its privacy disclosure lists personally identifiable information and authentication information; read the current privacy policy and permissions carefully before granting access. The disclosure is the developer’s statement, not an independent audit.
YouTube Screenshot Button (Firefox)
Firefox users get a focused one-click JPG workflow for YouTube and OK.ru, including embedded players. Shorts are explicitly unsupported. Mozilla’s listing requires access to data for all websites, so weigh that broad permission against the narrow task. The displayed count of 396 users and 52 reviews can change.
Rank #4
Lower-visibility alternative
Screenshot for YouTube — Video Frame Capture advertises PNG/JPEG, full playback resolution, clipboard copying, Shorts and embeds. Its listing showed only nine users when checked, making it a new, lower-visibility option. The description says DRM-protected video cannot be captured. Those statements are developer claims rather than hands-on findings.
How to capture a clean video frame
- Confirm the listing. Open your browser’s official extension store, check the browser, version and last-updated date, then read permissions and the privacy disclosure.
- Install and pin it. Select Add to Chrome or Add to Firefox, approve the browser prompt, and pin the toolbar icon if the extension uses a popup.
- Open the video. Load the YouTube watch page (or the supported embedded player), seek to the exact frame and pause. For a sharper source, select the highest playback quality available to you.
- Capture. Click the in-player Screenshot button when provided. Otherwise use the extension’s toolbar popup or configured keyboard shortcut. For a frame without controls, move the pointer away before capture and use the extension’s own capture command rather than an operating-system screen grab.
- Choose the output. Select PNG, JPEG or WebP where offered, set quality, and choose file save, clipboard copy or both. Open the resulting file to confirm the complete frame and expected resolution.
- Keep a record. For work shared with others, note the video URL, timestamp, extension version and any crop or conversion you made.
When a capture fails
- No button appears: refresh the watch page after installation, disable conflicting video extensions, and test a normal watch URL rather than a restricted embed. YouTube UI changes can temporarily break injected controls.
- Shortcut does nothing: inspect the extension’s shortcut settings and Chrome or Firefox’s extension-command page; choose an unused key combination and ensure the player tab has focus.
- Blank, black or incomplete image: wait for the video to render, pause on a normal frame, turn off hardware-acceleration experiments only as a diagnostic, and test another video. DRM-protected content may block capture.
- Shorts are missing: use a listing that explicitly advertises Shorts support; the Firefox YouTube Screenshot Button does not support them.
- Embedded video is unsupported: use an extension that explicitly lists embedded players or capture from the original watch page.
- Clipboard paste fails: grant clipboard permission if requested, try file saving instead, and check that another application is not denying clipboard access.
- Permission concerns: stop installation and review the current store disclosure. Video Screenshot’s listing includes personally identifiable and authentication information, while other listings state no data collection; these are not equivalent disclosures.
Copyright and responsible reuse
A screenshot file is not automatically free to republish. YouTube Help says copyright owners have the legal right to use and distribute their content and decide who else can, too. Reuse may depend on permission, the video’s license (including Standard YouTube or Creative Commons Attribution), public-domain status, or an exception such as fair use or fair dealing. Exceptions and remedies differ by country, and none guarantees that a claim will not be made. A capture for private reference is a different use from posting the frame in an advertisement, article or product.
Or skip the browser setup
If you need repeatable captures for a site rather than a single paused YouTube frame, ScreenshotNeo is the first alternative to try. It is a screenshot API and MCP server: cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups and chat widgets are removed before capture; bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed; and AI agents can call its MCP tools. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card, and paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots.
Use the API documentation at https://screenshotneo.com/docs/ for all options. A basic request is:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://youtube.com -o shot.webpPython:
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://youtube.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js:
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://youtube.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);ScreenshotNeo also supports full-page and element captures, custom CSS and JavaScript, waits, blocking rules, device and viewport settings, PDFs, signed links, caching, asynchronous jobs and bulk capture. Sign up free to get 1,000 screenshots a month with no card.
FAQ
Can these add-ons remove YouTube subtitles or controls?
They capture according to each listing’s workflow; only Video Screenshot’s paid tier specifically advertises subtitle handling and cropping for letterboxed content. Check the current description before relying on a particular cleanup feature.
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Do store ratings prove which extension is best?
No. Ratings and user counts are live store figures and do not measure capture quality, privacy or compatibility under your setup.
Why can an extension work today and fail tomorrow?
YouTube frequently changes player markup and browsers change extension permissions. The version and update date shown in the store are therefore part of the buying decision, not a permanent guarantee.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
