The fastest way to share a link
To copy a link, right-click on it and select Copy link (or Copy link address on some browsers). Then open an email, message, document, or chat window and right-click in the text area, then select Paste. The link appears as text you can send or share.
On a phone or tablet, press and hold the link until a menu appears, tap Copy link, then open your message or email app and paste the same way — press and hold in the text box and tap Paste.
The link itself stays the same no matter where you paste it. You are not changing anything about the webpage — you are just moving the address from one place to another.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click a link on a computer and select Copy link, then right-click where you want it and select Paste.
- On a phone or tablet, press and hold the link, tap Copy link, then press and hold in your message or email and tap Paste.
- The copied link is the full web address — when someone clicks it, they go to the exact page you copied from.
- You can paste the same link into multiple places without losing it or changing it.
Copying a link on Windows and Mac
Open the webpage with the link you want to copy. Find the link — it is usually blue and underlined, though some links are styled differently. Move your mouse over it without clicking.
Right-click directly on the link. A small menu appears with several options. Look for Copy link or Copy link address — the exact wording depends on which browser you use (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge all say it slightly differently, but they all do the same thing). Click that option once.
Nothing visible happens. The link is now stored in your clipboard — a temporary holding area on your computer. You can now paste it anywhere: an email, a text document, a chat message, or a social media post.
Pasting a link into an email or message
Open the email or message window where you want the link to appear. Click in the text area where you type your message — the cursor should blink there.
Right-click in that text area. A menu appears. Select Paste. The link appears as text in your message. You can now send the email or message as usual.
If right-click does not work, try the keyboard shortcut instead: hold Ctrl and press V on Windows, or hold Command and press V on Mac. This does the same thing as right-clicking and selecting Paste.
Copying and pasting links on phones and tablets
Open the webpage or app with the link you want to copy. Find the link and press your finger on it — do not tap quickly, but hold your finger there for about one second until a menu appears.
Look for an option that says Copy link, Copy URL, or Copy link address. Tap it once. The link is now stored on your device, just like on a computer.
Open the app where you want to paste the link — your email, text messages, or a notes app. Tap in the text area where you want the link to go. Press and hold your finger there until a menu appears with a Paste option. Tap Paste. The link appears in your message.
What happens when someone clicks a pasted link
When you paste a link into an email or message and someone clicks it, their browser opens and takes them to the exact webpage you copied from. The link remembers the full web address — nothing is lost or changed when you copy and paste it.
If the webpage no longer exists, the link will show an error page. If the webpage has moved to a new address, the link might not work anymore. But the link itself is just the address — copying and pasting does not affect whether the page is still there.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
The most common mistake is clicking the link instead of right-clicking it. If you click once, you go to that webpage instead of copying it. Go back and try again — this time, right-click the link itself, not the page around it.
Another mistake is pasting in the wrong place. If you paste and nothing appears, you may have clicked in an area that does not accept text. Try clicking directly in the text box where you type your message and try pasting again.
If you copy a link but then copy something else before you paste, the new thing replaces the link in your clipboard. If this happens, go back to the original webpage, copy the link again, and paste it right away.
Copying a link from the address bar
You can also copy a link by clicking on the address bar at the top of your browser — the long box that shows the web address. Click once on the address bar to select it, then right-click and select Copy. This copies the full web address of the page you are currently on.
This method works the same way as copying a link from the page itself. You can paste the address into an email or message, and when someone clicks it, they go to that webpage.
On a phone, tap the address bar at the top, then press and hold until a menu appears, and tap Copy. The address is now ready to paste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I paste a link multiple times?
Yes. Once you copy a link, you can paste it as many times as you want into different emails, messages, or documents. The link stays in your clipboard until you copy something else.
What if the link does not paste?
Make sure you clicked in a text area that accepts typing — some websites and apps do not allow pasting. Try clicking directly in the message or email box and try again. If it still does not work, try the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac.
Does copying a link change it?
No. Copying and pasting a link does not change the address or affect the webpage in any way. The link is exactly the same whether you copy it once or a hundred times.
Can I copy a link from a social media post?
Yes. Press and hold the link on your phone or right-click it on a computer, select Copy link, and paste it anywhere. Social media links work the same way as any other link.
What is the difference between copying a link and copying the page?
Copying a link gives you just the web address. Copying a page (usually Ctrl+A then Ctrl+C) copies all the text and images on that page. For sharing, you almost always want to copy just the link.