The fastest way to copy a link

To copy a link, right-click on it and select Copy link (or Copy link address on some browsers). Then open the place where you want to paste it — an email, document, chat message, or text field — right-click again, and select Paste. On a phone or tablet, press and hold the link until a menu appears, tap Copy link, then press and hold in your destination and tap Paste.

The keyboard shortcut works too: after right-clicking to copy, press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste. On phones, the paste option usually appears automatically when you tap in a text field after copying.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a link and select Copy link, then right-click where you want it and select Paste.
  • On phones and tablets, press and hold the link, tap Copy link, then press and hold in your destination and tap Paste.
  • Keyboard shortcuts work on computers: Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) to paste after copying.
  • Copying a link copies only the web address, not the page itself — the link stays live and clickable wherever you paste it.

Copying a link on Windows

On a Windows computer, right-click directly on the link (the blue underlined text or button). A menu will appear with several options. Look for Copy link or Copy link address — the exact wording depends on your browser. Click that option and the link address is now copied to your clipboard.

To paste it, click in the place where you want the link to go — an email body, a document, a chat window, or a search box. Right-click and select Paste, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V. The link will appear as text you can click on.

Copying a link on Mac

On a Mac, right-click (or control-click if you have a single-button mouse) on the link. A menu appears with options including Copy link. Click it to copy the address.

To paste, click where you want the link, right-click, and select Paste. You can also use Command+V as a faster keyboard shortcut. The link will appear in your chosen location and remain clickable.

Copying a link on iPhone or iPad

Press and hold your finger on the link for about one second. A menu will pop up with several options. Tap Copy or Copy link (the exact wording varies by browser and iOS version). The link address is now saved.

To paste it, open the app or place where you want the link — Notes, Mail, Messages, or any text field. Tap in the text field, then tap Paste when it appears. If Paste does not show, try tapping and holding in the text field until the menu appears.

Copying a link on Android

Long-press (press and hold) the link until a menu appears. Tap Copy link or Copy link address. The address is now copied to your clipboard.

To paste it, open the place where you want it — Gmail, a text message, a document, or any text field. Tap in the field and hold until a menu appears, then tap Paste. The link will appear as clickable text.

What happens when you copy a link

Copying a link copies only the web address itself — the long string of characters that starts with http:// or https://. It does not copy the entire webpage, any images, or any text from the page. When you paste the link somewhere, it remains a live, clickable link that takes people to the original webpage.

If you want to share the link with someone, they can click it to visit the page. If you paste it into a document or email, most programs will automatically recognize it as a link and make it clickable. If it does not become clickable automatically, the address is still there and someone can copy and paste it into their browser's address bar to visit the page.

Copying a link from the address bar

You can also copy a link directly from your browser's address bar — the field at the top of the window that shows the webpage address. Click on the address bar to select it, then right-click and select Copy. You can also triple-click the address bar to select all the text, then use Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy.

This method copies the full address of the page you are currently viewing. It is useful when the page does not have an obvious link to copy, or when you want to share the exact address of a specific page within a website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the link not work after I paste it?

The link itself is fine — you copied it correctly. The problem is usually that the destination program does not recognize it as a link. Try pasting it into your browser's address bar instead. If the address bar is empty, click it first, paste the link, and press Enter. The page should load.

Can I copy a link without right-clicking?

Yes. Click the address bar at the top of your browser, select all the text with Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac), then copy with Ctrl+C or Command+C. This copies the address of the page you are on. On phones, you can usually long-press the address bar to select and copy it the same way.

What if Copy link does not appear in the menu?

You may have right-clicked on something that is not a link — like plain text or an image. Try right-clicking directly on the blue underlined text or button instead. If it is still not working, try copying from the address bar instead, which always works for any webpage you are viewing.

Does copying a link use my internet?

No. Copying and pasting a link happens on your device only — it does not send anything to the internet or to the website. The link only connects to the internet when someone actually clicks it to visit the page.