Getting a still frame and the recording details from a video

A doorbell clip, a dashcam recording, a screen recording of a bug: what you need is often one frame, or a detail about the file itself. These tools read the video in your browser without uploading it, even when it’s several gigabytes.

1. Read what the file says

Drop the video on Video Info. For a phone or camera recording you get the make and model, the recording date and, often, a GPS location. It also gives the duration, resolution, frame rate, codecs and rotation, and warns of anything odd, such as a codec this browser can’t play. Before you share a phone video, check the location: Save a copy without the location takes it out. Before you share a photo or document covers the rest of what a file gives away.

2. Find the exact frame

Open it in the Frame Grabber. Drag the slider to near the moment, then use Previous frame and Next frame to step one frame at a time, with the time and frame number shown. Save this frame (PNG) saves it at full size, sharper than a screenshot.

For an overview of a long clip, Save a contact sheet lays out frames from evenly through the video, each with its time. A short moment can be saved as a GIF to drop into a bug report. To see what changed between two moments from a camera that didn’t move, save a frame from each and choose both in Image Compare: Differences marks every pixel that changed.