How to Copy a Xiaohongshu (RED) Share Link
Where to find 复制链接 in the app, what the xhslink.com short link is, and how to fix the "link has weird extra text" confusion.
Nearly every "Xiaohongshu downloader doesn't work" complaint is actually a copy-the-link problem: people grab the wrong URL, paste an expired short link, or panic because the copied text has random numbers and Chinese around the address. This guide shows exactly where the button lives on iPhone, Android and web - and what you end up with.
The Short Answer
Open the note, tap the share arrow (分享) in the top-right, then tap 复制链接 (Copy Link). Your clipboard now contains a banner sentence plus an xhslink.com URL. Paste that whole thing into DownSwift - the URL is extracted automatically.
Step-by-Step (60 Seconds)
Open the note fully (not the feed preview)
Tap the card to enter the note detail view. Copy actions in the feed's long-press menu behave differently and often copy only the title.
Tap the share arrow 分享 (top right)
On video notes the arrow sits above the like/comment row; on photo notes it is in the same place.
Tap 复制链接 (Copy Link)
The toast "链接已复制" confirms it. On the international REDnote app the button is labeled "Copy Link".
Paste anywhere to verify
Paste in Notes first if unsure - you want to see an xhslink.com (or xiaohongshu.com) URL inside the text.
Paste into the downloader box above
No trimming needed - the share banner text is ignored.
What Is an xhslink.com URL?
It is Xiaohongshu's own short domain - the equivalent of t.co for X. The 6-8 random characters encode the note ID plus share metadata. Opening one in a browser redirects to the full xiaohongshu.com/explore/<note-id> address. Both forms work with DownSwift; the short form just expires faster.
Why Does the Copied Text Contain Numbers and Chinese?
That is share-tracking decoration - the same trick Douyin and other Chinese apps use with their copy banners. Xiaohongshu's share text always looks like noise: a code, the banner sentence, then the link. Anything that parses the text (including the app's own clipboard detection) pulls the URL out of it, so leave the whole string intact and paste it unchanged.
Copying From the Web (xiaohongshu.com)
- Just use the address bar: open the note in a logged-in browser tab and copy the
/explore/...URL. - Web links sometimes redirect to a login wall if opened cold - DownSwift fetches media the same way the app does, so a normal explore URL that opens for you will extract fine.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Copying from the feed long-press menu | Title text without a usable URL | Open the note first, then use the share arrow |
| Reusing an old xhslink from days ago | "Link invalid / expired" | Re-copy fresh from the app |
| Pasting only part of the URL (missing the note path) | Note ID unresolvable | Paste the entire share text |
Tip: Keep a Notes-app folder called "RED saves" - paste share links there while browsing, then batch-download them later with the tool above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Open the note detail page, tap the share arrow (分享) at the top-right, then choose 复制链接 / "Copy Link" in the share sheet. The link is on your clipboard instantly.
That is Xiaohongshu's share banner. The actual URL is inside the text. Paste the whole string into DownSwift - the URL is extracted automatically.
They can become invalid over time, especially when creators toggle note privacy or delete and re-post. If extraction fails, open the note again and copy a fresh link.
Sharing requires the app, and the app requires a login. Once copied, however, downloading through DownSwift never needs any Xiaohongshu credentials.
