The basic steps for copying a link
To copy a link, right-click on it (or long-press on a phone), then select "Copy link" or "Copy link address" from the menu that appears. The link is now saved to your clipboard. Open the place where you want to paste it — an email, document, chat message, or browser address bar — and right-click again, then select "Paste". On a phone, long-press in the text field and tap "Paste".
The link itself is invisible once copied; your device just holds the text in temporary storage. You can paste the same link multiple times without copying it again, and pasting a new link replaces the old one in your clipboard.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click on a link and select "Copy link" to save it; the link stays in your clipboard until you copy something else.
- Paste the link by right-clicking in a text field and selecting "Paste", or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac.
- On phones and tablets, long-press the link to copy it, then long-press in a text field and tap "Paste".
- If "Copy link" does not appear in the menu, try "Copy link address" or "Copy URL" — different browsers use different names.
- Pasting a link into your browser's address bar takes you to that webpage; pasting it into a message or document keeps it as text.
Copying a link on Windows
Right-click directly on the link (the blue underlined text or clickable element). 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.
Once copied, you can paste the link anywhere. Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+V, or right-click in a text field and select "Paste" from the menu. The link will appear as text wherever you paste it.
Copying a link on Mac
Right-click (or Control-click) on the link. The menu that appears will show "Copy link" or similar wording. Click it to copy the link to your clipboard.
To paste, use the keyboard shortcut Command+V, or right-click in a text field and select "Paste". The link will appear as text in that location.
Copying a link on iPhone or iPad
Long-press (hold your finger) on the link for about one second. A menu will pop up with options like "Copy", "Copy link", or "Copy link address". Tap the option that says "Copy link" or "Copy link address" — not just "Copy", which copies the link text instead of the address.
To paste the link, long-press in a text field (like an email or message), and tap "Paste" from the menu that appears. The link will show up as text in that field.
Copying a link on Android
Long-press on the link until a menu appears. Look for "Copy link" or "Copy link address" and tap it. Some browsers may label this as "Copy link URL" instead.
To paste, long-press in any text field where you want the link to go, then tap "Paste". The link will appear as text in that location.
What to do if the copy option does not appear
If you right-click or long-press on something that looks like a link but no copy option shows up, it may not be a link — it could be plain text styled to look clickable, or an image with text on it. Try clicking it once to see if it opens a webpage. If it does, it is a link, and you can try right-clicking again.
Some websites deliberately disable right-click menus for copyright or security reasons. If this happens, try a different approach: look at the bottom of your browser window when you hover over the link. Most browsers display the actual web address there. You can select that text, copy it manually, and paste it elsewhere. Alternatively, open the link in a new tab (right-click and select "Open link in new tab"), then copy the address from your browser's address bar at the top.
Pasting a link into different places
Where you paste a link changes what happens next. If you paste into your browser's address bar at the top and press Enter, your browser will open that webpage. If you paste into an email, message, or document, the link stays as text that others can click on.
Some apps and websites automatically turn pasted links into clickable buttons. Others keep them as plain text. If you paste a link into a document and it does not become clickable, you can usually select the text, right-click, and choose "Make this a link" or similar wording — the exact option depends on the app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy a link without right-clicking?
Yes. Open the link in a new tab, then copy the address from your browser's address bar at the top. Select the entire address, copy it, and paste it wherever you need. This works on all devices and browsers.
What is the difference between copying a link and copying link text?
Copying a link saves the web address (the URL). Copying link text saves only the words you see on the page. If a link says "Click here" but points to example.com, copying the link gives you example.com, while copying the text gives you "Click here".
Why does my pasted link not work?
The link may have been cut off during pasting, or the website it points to may no longer exist. Check that the entire address appears in the text field — it should start with http:// or https://. If it looks complete but still does not work, the webpage may have been removed or moved.
Can I copy a link from a shortened URL?
Yes. Shortened links (like bit.ly or tinyurl addresses) work the same way as regular links. Right-click or long-press and copy the link. When someone clicks it, they will be taken to the full webpage, even though the link itself is short.
How do I copy a link from a video or image?
Right-click on the video or image and look for "Copy video URL" or "Copy image address". If that option does not appear, try right-clicking on the page around the video or image, or look for a share button that lets you copy a link to that specific content.