How to Copy Address of a Internet Shortcut (.URL) via Right-click Menu

The Copy as Path command in the right-click menu is an extremely useful one to quickly copy the full path of a file or folder to clipboard. Similarly, for internet shortcut (.url) files, here is a script that lets you copy the web address (URL) of a internet shortcut, via the right-click menu.

After following the steps in this article, you’ll see a Copy Target URL context menu option when you right-click on an Internet Shortcut (.URL) file. Clicking this option copies the shortcut’s Web address to the Windows clipboard.

add "copy target url" context menu option for internet shortcuts

Add “Copy Target URL” command to the right-click menu

  1. Download CopyURL.zip and save to Desktop.
  2. Extract the enclosed script file CopyURL.vbs to Desktop.
  3. Move CopyURL.vbs to your Windows directory.
  4. Double-click CopyURL.vbs to run it.
  5. In the input box that appears, type INSTALL:

    copy target url - internet shortcut right-click menu

  6. Press ENTER. You’ll get the confirmation message.

The Copy Target URL command is now added to the right-click menu for .url files.

How to Remove the option?

To remove the Copy Target URL context menu option, double-click the script file CopyURL.vbs in your Windows folder. Type the word UNINSTALL in the input box that will be presented. After you see the confirmation message, simply delete the file CopyURL.vbs from your Windows directory.

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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

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3 thoughts on “How to Copy Address of a Internet Shortcut (.URL) via Right-click Menu”

  2. Help! This sounds like the perfect tool for a need I have but when I click on the .vbs file link, I don’t get a download window. Instead, it opens a new IE tab with all of the program text. How do I actually get the file?

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