This wikiHow teaches you how to copy a link from a web page and paste it into a message, app, post or document. Although the process to follow varies slightly depending on the device used (computer, smartphone or tablet), copying and pasting a link is very simple once you understand how to do it. If the web address you want to copy has a very long text string, you can use one of the many URL shortening services to make it more compact and more readable before pasting it where you want.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Smartphones and Tablets
Step 1. Keep your finger pressed on the link to copy
After a few moments, a context menu with several options will appear.
Step 2. Select the Copy item
The wording that characterizes this option may vary depending on the application you are using. In principle, it looks for one of the following items:
- Copy link address;
- Copy link URL;
- Copy address.
Step 3. Place the text cursor where you want to paste the link
Now that you've copied the URL, you can paste it anywhere where you can insert text. Touch the field in question to place the text cursor inside it.
Step 4. Keep your finger pressed on the text cursor
Lift it off the screen after a few moments. A new context menu will appear on the screen.
Step 5. Select the Paste option to paste the link you copied
The URL of the link will be displayed at the point indicated.
Method 2 of 3: Windows and Mac
Step 1. Copy and paste the link using the browser address bar
If you need to store or share the URL of a website you have visited, you can copy it directly from the browser address bar by following these instructions:
- Click on the address bar of the browser. If a part of the URL is hidden during normal navigation, acting as indicated will show the complete address of the page. This way the address will also be automatically selected and displayed highlighted in blue.
- If the URL is not automatically selected, you can use the mouse to highlight it now. Alternatively, press the key combination Command + A (on Mac) or Ctrl + A (on PC) after clicking inside the address bar.
- Press the key combination Command + C (on Mac) or Ctrl + C (on PC) to copy the link in question.
- Click with the mouse cursor where you want to paste the URL you just copied.
- Press the key combination Command + V (on Mac) or Ctrl + V (on PC) to paste it in the desired place.
Step 2. Locate the link to copy within another source
You can copy a URL displayed within a website, email, text document, or any other program or file.
Links displayed within web pages and emails are often underlined and use different text coloring. In many cases they are inserted in the form of buttons and images
Step 3. Click on the link to copy with the right mouse button
If you're using a Mac with a one-button mouse, hold the key down Control of the keyboard while clicking on the link to be copied. A context menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Select the Copy link option
The copied URL will be stored in the system clipboard and you can paste it wherever you want. The exact wording of the option shown varies depending on the program you are using:
- Chrome - Copy link address;
- Firefox - Copy address;
- Safari and Edge: Copy link;
- Word: Copy hyperlink.
Step 5. Click with the mouse on the point where you want to paste the link you just copied
After copying the URL you can paste it wherever you want. Click where you want to paste the link.
You can paste it into an email, text document, Facebook post, browser address bar, text message, and more
Step 6. Paste the link
There are several ways to paste a link in the chosen place:
- Click on the indicated point with the right mouse button (if you are using a Mac, hold down the "Control" key) and select the option Paste;
- Press the key combination Command + V (on Mac) or Ctrl + V (on PC);
- If you need to paste the URL into an app like Word or Excel, click on the menu Edit (if present) and choose the option Paste (or Paste special for more options).
Step 7. Paste the link as a hyperlink using a description other than the real address
Some programs, such as blogs, email clients, and text editors, allow you to change the text displayed by the link so that the URL is hidden. This gives you the option to create a link in the form of a single word or phrase.
- Place the text cursor where the hyperlink should appear.
- Click on the "Insert Hyperlink" option. You can find it under the text field or in the "Insert" menu (in the case of a text editor). Normally this option is characterized by an icon representing the links of a chain.
- Type what you want in the "Displayed text" field. This is the text that will appear in the document or page in place of the link URL.
- Paste the link address into the "Address", "URL" or "Link" text field by clicking on the indicated field with the right mouse button (if you are using a Mac, hold down the "Control" key) and choosing the option Paste.
Method 3 of 3: Use URL Shortening Services
Step 1. Copy the link you want to share
Web site addresses are usually represented by very long text strings, especially in the case of internal pages relating to secondary sections of the site. The web address abbreviation services allow you to generate the short version of very long URLs which can then be shared quickly and easily via message, post or any other way. The first step is to copy the URL you want to share using one of the methods described above.
For example, if you are using a mobile device, press and hold the address to copy, then choose the option Copy from the context menu that will appear.
Step 2. Log in to the abbreviation service you have chosen to use
On the web there are many services of this kind and most have a very similar operation. Below you will find a short list of the most used:
- www.bitly.com;
- www.tinyurl.com;
- www.tiny.cc.
Step 3. Paste the URL to be shortened into the text field displayed on the main page of the chosen service
To perform this step on a smartphone or tablet, press and hold your finger on the text field in question and choose the option Paste from the menu that will appear. If you are using a computer, click on the field in question with the right mouse button (if you are using a Mac, hold down the "Control" key while clicking), then choose the option Paste.
Step 4. Tap or click the Shorten button or Shrink to generate a new shortened link.
A very short version of the indicated link will be displayed which will use the format proposed by the chosen service, rather than that of the original site.
The button text shown may vary depending on the abbreviation service you have chosen to use
Step 5. Copy the new link
You can copy it exactly as you would for a regular URL, using one of the methods described earlier in the article. In some cases you will need to press or click the button Copy or Copy displayed directly on the page.
Step 6. Use the shortened link
Now that you've copied the new shortened version of the link, you can paste it where you want it just like you would for any other URL. Most likely you will need to provide it with a short description, as it will not visually give any indication to the end user as it is a very short string of characters, often without any apparent meaning.
