Image URL Generator
Generate direct image URLs and ready-to-paste code from an image URL you already have.
Generate a URL from an existing image
URL formatting, not hosting
- →Paste an image URL you already have
- →Generate Markdown, HTML, and BBCode in one click
- →Nothing is uploaded to Photo2URL
Need to host an image first? Use the Image to URL tool to upload one.
How to Generate an Image URL
- 1
Copy the image address
Right-click the image and choose Copy image address, or copy the URL from your media library.
- 2
Paste and generate
Paste the URL into the box, add optional alt text, and press Generate.
- 3
Choose a format
Switch between Direct URL, Markdown, HTML, and BBCode tabs.
- 4
Copy and paste it
Use the copy button, then paste the code into docs, forums, or your CMS.
Features of the Image URL Generator
Four output formats
Generate a direct URL, Markdown, an HTML img tag, and BBCode from one input.
Alt text support
Add optional alt text once and it flows into both Markdown and HTML output for accessible embeds.
Optional live preview
Load a preview of the remote image only when you ask — your browser fetches it, not Photo2URL.
No upload, no sign-up
This tool works entirely in the browser on URLs you already have.
Works with any image host
CDN links, GitHub, S3, CMS media libraries, and forum attachments all work as long as the URL is public.
Copy in one click
Each format has a dedicated copy button, so nothing gets lost in selection.
Privacy and Limitations
This tool formats URLs entirely in your browser. Photo2URL does not receive the URL or download the image. The only optional network request is the live preview, which your browser makes directly to the image's host only when you click Load remote preview.
Generated links point to the original host, so they depend on that host staying online. For a permanent link under your control, upload the image with Image to URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Image URL Generator free?
Yes. URL formatting happens in your browser, so there are no quotas, accounts, or upload limits.
Does this tool upload my image?
No. You paste an image URL that already exists somewhere else, and the tool only formats it into Markdown, HTML, or BBCode. Photo2URL does not fetch, receive, or store the image.
What kind of URLs can I use?
Any http:// or https:// image URL, including CDN links, GitHub raw URLs, S3 links, and image files with or without extensions.
Why is the preview optional?
Showing a remote image makes your browser request it from its host. The preview is opt-in so you control whether that request happens; the generated code works without it.
What code formats do you generate?
A plain direct URL, Markdown (), an HTML img tag, and BBCode ([img]url[/img]) for forums.
What if my image isn't hosted yet?
Use Photo2URL's Image to URL tool to upload the image and get a hosted CDN URL first, then come back here to format it for your target platform.