How to Import a YouTube Video and Turn It into Clips (Legally and Safely)

Often the video you want to clip is already on YouTube — your own channel's latest upload, a livestream that just ended, or an interview you appeared in. Downloading and re-uploading it is slow. With BeClipper you can paste the link instead. Here is how it works, and what to keep in mind about rights.

Step 1: Copy the video link

Open the video on YouTube and copy its address from the browser or the Share button. All of these forms work:

• a normal watch link,
• a short youtu.be link,
• a Shorts link,
• the link of a livestream that has ended.

Playlists and channel pages are not supported — paste the link of a single video.

Step 2: Paste it into a project

Create a project, choose Paste a link in the Video box, and paste the address. Tick the box to confirm that you own the video or have permission to use it, then click Import video. The download happens in the background — you can leave the page — and the video is then processed exactly like an upload.

What can be imported

• Public and unlisted videos can be imported.
• Private, members-only and age-restricted videos cannot. Download them from YouTube Studio (if they are yours) and upload the file instead.
• Live streams can be imported once they have ended and YouTube has processed the recording.
• The video must fit your plan's limits — on the free plan, up to 30 minutes long.

Importing from Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive

You can paste share links from cloud drives too. Set the file's sharing to anyone with the link can view, then paste the link. Direct links to video files on other websites work as well.

The legal part: only clip what you have the rights to

Clipping someone else's video and posting it as your own can break copyright law and the platform's rules, and can get your account penalised. Safe situations include:

• Your own videos.
• Videos you appear in, where the owner has agreed to clips.
• Content with explicit permission or a licence that allows reuse.

Commentary, criticism and education may be allowed in some countries under fair use or fair dealing, but those rules are narrow and depend on the situation. When in doubt, ask the creator for permission. BeClipper asks you to confirm your rights for every import.

Troubleshooting

• "This video is private" — make it unlisted or public, or upload the file.
• "Blocked" or "unavailable" — YouTube sometimes limits downloads; download the video from YouTube Studio and upload it.
• Too long for your plan — trim the video first, or upgrade when paid plans launch.

Ready? Create a project and paste your first link. More answers are in our questions section.