The fastest way to share a link

To send a link on WhatsApp, open the chat where you want to send it, tap the message box, type or paste the link, and hit send. WhatsApp will automatically detect the link and display a preview showing the page title, description, and thumbnail image — the person receiving it will see what the link leads to before they click.

You can send a link to a single person, a group chat, or a broadcast list. The process is identical no matter who you're sending to. If you're sending a link you found in your phone's browser, you can also use your phone's share menu to jump directly to WhatsApp without typing the address yourself.

Key Takeaways

  • Paste or type a web address into any WhatsApp chat and tap send — WhatsApp shows a preview automatically so the recipient knows what they're clicking.
  • Use your phone's built-in share menu to send a link from your browser or another app directly to WhatsApp without copying and pasting.
  • You can disable link previews in WhatsApp settings if you prefer to send plain text links without the page information showing.
  • Links sent in WhatsApp are not shortened or tracked — the recipient sees the full web address in the message.

Sending a link by typing or pasting

Open WhatsApp and navigate to the chat where you want to send the link. This can be a one-on-one conversation or a group chat. Tap the message input box at the bottom of the screen — it's the field where you normally type messages.

Type the web address directly or paste it if you've already copied it from your browser. The link must start with http:// or https:// for WhatsApp to recognize it as a clickable link. Once you've entered the address, tap the send button (usually a paper airplane or checkmark icon). WhatsApp will process the message and display a preview card showing the website's title, a short description, and a thumbnail image if one is available.

The person receiving the message will see this preview and can tap it to open the link in their default browser. They can also tap and hold the message to copy the link if they want to save it or open it in a different app.

Using your phone's share menu to send links faster

Most phones have a built-in share menu that lets you send content directly from one app to another without copying and pasting. This works with WhatsApp and is often faster than typing the address yourself.

Open your web browser and navigate to the page you want to share. Tap the share button — on most phones this is three dots connected by lines, or a square with an arrow pointing upward. A menu will appear showing apps you can share to. Look for WhatsApp in the list and tap it. Your phone will open WhatsApp and ask you which chat to send the link to. Select the conversation and tap send.

This method also works when you're in other apps like email, news readers, or social media. The share menu is context-aware, so you'll always be sharing the specific page or content you're currently viewing.

Understanding link previews and how to turn them off

When you send a link in WhatsApp, the app automatically fetches information about the webpage and displays it as a preview card. This preview includes the page title, a short description of the content, and a thumbnail image. The preview helps the recipient understand what they're about to click without having to visit the link first.

If you prefer to send a plain text link without this preview, you can disable previews in WhatsApp settings. Open WhatsApp, go to Settings (or Preferences on some phones), tap Chats, and look for an option called "Link preview" or "Show link preview." Toggle this off. From that point forward, links you send will appear as plain text without the preview card. Note that this setting affects all links you send — you cannot disable previews for individual messages.

Disabling previews does not prevent the recipient from seeing them on their end if they have previews enabled. It only stops WhatsApp from generating previews on your device.

Sending links in group chats and broadcast lists

Sending a link in a group chat works exactly the same way as sending it to a single person. Open the group, paste or type the link, and send. Everyone in the group will see the message and the preview. You don't need special permissions to share links in a group — any member can send them.

Broadcast lists are different from groups. A broadcast list lets you send a message to multiple people, but each person receives it as a private message rather than seeing it in a group conversation. To send a link via broadcast list, open WhatsApp, go to Chats, and look for the option to create or access a broadcast list (the name varies by phone type). Select the list and send the link the same way you would in any other chat. Each recipient will see the message appear in their individual chat with you, not in a shared group space.

What happens when you send a link

When you send a link, WhatsApp transmits the message to WhatsApp's servers, which then deliver it to the recipient's phone. The link itself is not modified or shortened — the recipient sees the full web address. WhatsApp does not track clicks on links you send, and it does not log which links you've shared (beyond what appears in your chat history).

The recipient can open the link by tapping the preview card or by tapping and holding the message to copy the link and paste it elsewhere. If the website is no longer available when they click, they'll see an error message from their browser — WhatsApp doesn't check whether links are still active when you send them.

Links remain in your chat history and the recipient's chat history unless you or they delete the message. If you delete a message containing a link, it disappears from both sides of the conversation.

Troubleshooting links that won't send or preview

If a link won't send, check that you have an active internet connection — WhatsApp needs data or Wi-Fi to transmit messages. If the connection is fine but the message still won't go through, try closing WhatsApp completely and reopening it. Sometimes the app needs to reconnect to WhatsApp's servers.

If a link sends but no preview appears, the website may not have the metadata WhatsApp needs to generate a preview. Some websites block preview generation for privacy or security reasons. This doesn't affect the link itself — the recipient can still click it and visit the page. If you've disabled link previews in settings, that will also prevent previews from showing.

On older phones or with older versions of WhatsApp, preview generation may be slow or unavailable. Updating WhatsApp to the latest version from your phone's app store usually fixes preview issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a link without showing the preview?

Yes. Go to WhatsApp Settings, tap Chats, and toggle off "Link preview" or "Show link preview." This disables previews for all links you send going forward. The recipient will see only the plain text address.

Does WhatsApp track which links I send?

No. WhatsApp does not track or log the links you share. The link appears in your chat history, but WhatsApp's servers don't record where you've sent it or whether the recipient clicked it.

What if the link is really long and takes up the whole message?

Long links will display in full in the message. WhatsApp does not shorten links automatically. If you want to make a link shorter, you can use a link-shortening service like bit.ly or TinyURL before pasting it into WhatsApp.

Can I send a link to multiple people at once without using a group?

Yes, use a broadcast list. Create a broadcast list in WhatsApp, add the contacts you want to send to, and send the link. Each person receives it as a private message from you rather than seeing it in a group chat.

Why does the preview show the wrong image or description?

The preview is generated from information the website provides. If the image or description is incorrect, it's because the website's owner set it that way. WhatsApp pulls this data automatically and cannot change it.