# How to insert a link to Youtube video, with preview image shown **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 4, 2024, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471 "2024-06-04T08:06:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/21 "2024-06-05T00:27:21Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Click that double-chevron in the bottom right corner to collapse it. If you’re seeing the preview for the video, you’ll get an error. Thank you @TroutMan. This is the first time I’ve ever learned that the preview pane could be closed, and how to do it. Let’s see. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhlZdP1uKyc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhlZdP1uKyc) Inserting the link on the line doesn’t work. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bhlZdP1uKyc/maxresdefault.jpg "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1/4) Waxy Yellow Buildup (1976) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhlZdP1uKyc) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/22 "2024-06-05T00:30:45Z")
However, it seems that inserting the link on its own line does work, except that you can’t go back to edit the post. Thanks, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/23 "2024-06-05T01:10:04Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > except that you can’t go back to edit the post. As noted above, this is because once the exact URL text has been used in a preview, then you can’t post that URL again. However, you can tweak the URL slightly by appending &1 or various other tweaks. Keep incrementing the number until it works (but remember that you must hide the preview window or be very quick about it). Increment again every time you make an edit. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2024, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/24 "2024-06-09T01:35:48Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > As noted above, this is because once the exact URL text has been used in a preview, then you can’t post that URL again. However, you can tweak the URL slightly by appending &1 I use &t=0, adding more zeroes as needed. Unless a specific point in the video is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2024, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/25 "2024-06-09T04:30:52Z")
You can add an & and then _almost_ anything afterward. But for this sort of thing, it tends to be easier to give _specific_ instructions on what to do, rather than _general_ instructions with all of the exceptions spelled out. &1, &2, etc. is easy to explain and understand, and hard to screw up. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/26 "2026-01-07T04:19:43Z")
Testing [Ringo Starr - Photograph](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhDKHo2wapM&list=RDIhDKHo2wapM&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/27 "2026-01-07T04:20:27Z")
I got rid of the preview pane. Didn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/28 "2026-01-07T04:37:37Z")
I haven’t read the thread, but here is what I do when I want to insert a YouTube video with a preview. It seems to work for me every time (on Windows 10). However, once you have inserted the video, you will not be able to make any changes to that post and keep the preview. You will get an error if you try, and/or all you will then see is the pasted URL. 1. Type in the text of your post. Proof read it and make sure it is what you want, because of “however” sentence in the above paragraph. 2. In a separate browser tab, find the video you want to insert, and copy the URL for that video. (This can be done at any time before step 4.) 3. Go back to your post, and place your text cursor where you want the video to appear. There should be nothing else on that line. Place your usual mousing hand on your mouse, and place the hand cursor over the Reply button. 4. Once your cursor is in place, use your non-mousing hand to press Ctrl V to paste the URL into that position. 5. _Immediately_ click the Reply button, which saves the post. I don’t know how much time you have, I try to do it within a second, which is why I have my hand on my mouse and the cursor positioned over the Reply button before doing step 4. This short time is crucial to preventing the software from thinking about what it’s doing (this is what I tell myself) before “setting” the preview. 6. Back away from the keyboard and let well enough alone (i.e. don’t try to make any changes to the post). Here is a test video: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/S2xHZPH5Sng/maxresdefault.jpg "Clickbait is Unreasonably Effective") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2xHZPH5Sng) ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/29 "2026-01-07T04:59:07Z")
That always worked for me, until now. Trying once more. [Ringo Starr - Photograph - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhDKHo2wapM&list=RDIhDKHo2wapM&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/30 "2026-01-07T07:09:51Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/IhDKHo2wapM/maxresdefault.jpg "Ringo Starr - Photograph") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhDKHo2wapM) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/31 "2026-01-07T07:11:32Z")
The problem is that you aren’t posting a link to a video. You’re posting a link to a video in a playlist. Get rid of the “list” part of your link. That’s how I got your video to work inline in the post. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/32 "2026-01-07T18:09:08Z")
Trying again. [Ringo Starr | No No Song | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzxrJ6YybrE&list=RDVzxrJ6YybrE&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/33 "2026-01-07T18:11:23Z")
Testing: ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VzxrJ6YybrE/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/VzxrJ6YybrE?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDVzxrJ6YybrE Your link still seems to link to a list, or to a song from a list. If you leave out the part after the last ‘&’, like I did, it scans fine. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/34 "2026-01-07T18:11:49Z")
I don’t understand what I’m doing. I’ve always been able to post them your way in the past. I search for a song on youtube and cut and paste the url. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/35 "2026-01-07T18:21:41Z")
I tried it. It said you can’t imbed a video in a post. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/36 "2026-01-07T18:34:06Z")
In your latest try, have you added something like '&1" at the end of your link? Because else, it wouldn’t work, because my successful linking to the video had already created a preview picture stored at this board’s database, as explained in the OP. Try it again, with the following on a separate line: ```auto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzxrJ6YybrE&list=RDVzxrJ6YybrE&2 ``` ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/37 "2026-01-07T18:51:50Z")
EinsteinsHund- I have been trying all the different suggestions, but I didn’t add anything that time. Thank you for all your help! I’m really not as dumb as I seem. I’m just not very tech savvy. Thanks to Atamasama and RoderickFemm also. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/38 "2026-01-07T18:57:20Z")
Can I put my preview pane back in? Does it matter. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/39 "2026-01-07T19:02:52Z")
If I remember correctly, when I first started posting here, you could click the https cut/paste and the links with an image would automatically show up. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471/40 "2026-01-07T19:05:34Z")
The problem isn’t the list after the “&”. That will typically work fine, it’s just more characters after the “&”, which is the recommended workaround. I think the problem is that you are using ctrl-V to paste the link, and the default behavior for that in several Windows programs changed a while ago. Now instead of pasting the exact text, it pastes it as a hyperlink with title text. So instead of pasting ```auto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzxrJ6YybrE ``` you end up pasting ```auto [Ringo Starr | No No Song | The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzxrJ6YybrE&list=RDVzxrJ6YybrE&start_radio=1) ``` which isn’t automatically resolved to a preview. To paste in the link text, either type shift-ctrl-V, or right-click and select **Paste as plain text**. (Plus make sure you’re doing the other stuff recommended here, like hiding the preview pane and adding &1 or similar.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-insert-a-link-to-youtube-video-with-preview-image-shown/1002471.md?page=3)