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Please paste a valid link

The text in the box does not contain a web address we can read. Here is how to copy a proper link.

Last updated: October 29, 2026

What you see

The box turns red or says the link is not valid.

Quick fix

  1. 1

    Open the post and tap Share, then Copy link.

  2. 2

    Clear the box and paste the link again.

  3. 3

    Check that it starts with https:// and is not cut off.

Common causes

A link copied in part

Long addresses are easy to cut short when you select text by hand. Only part of the address reaches the box.

A caption or a name

If you copy the caption or an account name, there is no web address in it for the tool to read.

A link that only opens in the app

A few apps copy an address that starts with the app's own name instead of https://. A web page cannot open it.

A stray space or line break

Chat apps can wrap a long link onto two lines. A space in the middle breaks the address.

Step by step on your device

  1. 1

    Open the post in the app.

  2. 2

    Tap the paper-plane or Share icon.

  3. 3

    Choose Copy link.

  4. 4

    Open Safari, tap the box on the page and choose Paste.

The details

What it means

The tool looks for a web address that starts with https:// in whatever you paste. If it finds none, or finds one that is cut short, it stops straight away instead of sending a request. That is why the box turns red at once.

Why it happens

Most often the link was copied only in part, for example the first half of a long address. Sometimes you pasted a caption or a username with no link. A few apps copy a link that opens only inside the app. On a phone, tapping the link instead of using Copy link can also leave you with the wrong text.

How to fix it

Copy the link again with the Share button, then paste it fresh.

  1. Open the post in the app or in a browser.
  2. Tap Share and choose Copy link. On a computer, copy the address from the browser bar.
  3. Clear the box, paste the link and wait a moment.
  4. If the link is very long, check that it starts with https:// and ends with a letter or number, not with three dots.

Still red?

Open the link in a browser tab on its own. If the post does not open there, the link itself is broken, and you need to copy it again from the app.

How to avoid it next time

Questions people ask

Does the link have to start with https?

Yes, the tool looks for a web address that starts with http or https. Links of well known sites without it, such as instagram.com/reel/..., are also understood on the video downloader page.

Can I paste a caption together with the link?

Yes. The tool picks out the first web address in whatever you paste, so a caption in front of it is fine.

The link works in my browser but not here. Why?

Check that it is the link of one post, not a profile or a search page, and that the site is one of the supported ones.

Ready to try again?

Follow the quick fix above, then paste your link once more.

Open the video downloader

Related help

Still stuck? Contact us with the link, your device and your browser.