The basic method works the same way on every device
To copy a link, right-click on it (or long-press on a phone) and select "Copy link" or "Copy link address" from the menu that appears. Then navigate to where you want to paste it — an email, a document, a chat message — right-click again and select "Paste". On a Mac, use Control+click instead of right-click, or use the trackpad two-finger tap. On phones, the long-press menu appears automatically after about one second of holding your finger on the link.
The link itself — the actual web address — goes into your device's clipboard, a temporary holding area for copied text and images. Your clipboard can only hold one thing at a time, so copying something new replaces what was there before. Pasting does not remove it from the clipboard; you can paste the same link multiple times.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click a link and select "Copy link" to place the web address in your clipboard, then right-click where you want it and select "Paste".
- On a Mac, use Control+click or two-finger trackpad tap instead of right-click; the menu works the same way.
- On phones and tablets, long-press the link for about one second until a menu appears, then tap "Copy link".
- You can paste a copied link as many times as you want; copying something new is what clears it from your clipboard.
Copying a link on Windows
Open your web browser and find the link you want to copy. Move your mouse pointer over the link so it highlights or changes color. Right-click directly on the link — not on the page around it. A small menu will appear with several options.
Look for an option that says "Copy link", "Copy link address", or "Copy link URL". The exact wording depends on which browser you use (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or another), but the meaning is the same. Click that option. Nothing visible happens, but the link is now stored in your clipboard.
Now go to where you want to paste it. This might be an email in Gmail or Outlook, a document in Word or Google Docs, a text message, a social media post, or anywhere else you type. Right-click in the space where you want the link to appear and select "Paste". The full web address will appear in that spot.
Copying a link on Mac
The process on a Mac is nearly identical, but the right-click works differently. Find the link in your browser, then hold Control and click on it at the same time. Alternatively, if your Mac has a trackpad, place two fingers on the trackpad and click — this is called a two-finger tap and acts like a right-click.
A menu will appear with options including "Copy Link". Click that option. The link is now in your clipboard. To paste it, Control+click (or two-finger tap) in the location where you want it and select "Paste" from the menu. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command+V to paste instead of using the menu.
Copying a link on iPhone, iPad, or Android
On a phone or tablet, the process is slightly different because there is no right-click. Find the link in your browser or in an app. Press and hold your finger on the link for about one second. Do not tap quickly; hold steady. A menu will pop up with several options.
On iPhone, look for "Copy" or "Copy Link". On Android, you may see "Copy link address" or "Copy link URL". Tap that option. The link is now in your clipboard. To paste it, open the app or field where you want it — an email, a note, a message — tap in the text area, and hold your finger there until a "Paste" option appears. Tap "Paste".
If you are copying a link from a text message or email that someone sent you, the process is the same: long-press the link and select the copy option from the menu.
What happens when you copy a link
When you copy a link, your device stores the web address as plain text in a temporary storage area called the clipboard. This is separate from your files and folders. The clipboard is fast and convenient for moving information between apps, but it only holds one item at a time.
If you copy something else — another link, some text, an image — the new item replaces the old one in your clipboard. The old link is gone. However, pasting does not clear the clipboard, so you can paste the same link as many times as you want without copying it again.
The clipboard is also temporary. If you restart your device, the clipboard empties. Some devices and apps offer a clipboard history that remembers multiple items you have copied, but this is not standard on all phones and computers.
Copying a link from the address bar
You can also copy the link to the page you are currently viewing by clicking on the address bar at the top of your browser — the space that shows the web address like "www.example.com". The entire address will highlight. Right-click on it and select "Copy", or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C on Windows or Command+C on Mac.
This method copies the exact URL of the page you are on, which is useful if you want to share the page itself rather than a specific link within it. You can then paste this address into an email, a document, or anywhere else you want to share it.
Pasting a link into different places
Once you have copied a link, you can paste it almost anywhere. In an email, click in the message body and right-click, then select "Paste". In a document like Word or Google Docs, do the same. In a text message or chat app on your phone, tap in the message field and hold until "Paste" appears.
When you paste a link into an email or document, it usually appears as plain text — just the web address. Many email and document programs will automatically turn it into a clickable link, so the recipient can click it directly. If it does not, you can select the text, right-click, and look for an option like "Add link" or "Insert hyperlink" to make it clickable.
On social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, pasting a link into a post often triggers a preview — the platform shows a thumbnail image, headline, and description from that webpage. This happens automatically and helps people see what the link is about before they click it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone see what I copy and paste?
On your own device, no one can see your clipboard unless they have physical access to your computer or phone. However, some apps ask permission to access your clipboard when you install them. If you are concerned about privacy, check your device settings to see which apps have clipboard access. On a shared computer, anyone who uses it can paste what you copied if they do it before you copy something else.
What if the copy option does not appear when I right-click?
Some links are protected or formatted differently, and the standard copy option may not work. Try right-clicking on the link again and look for alternatives like "Copy link address" or "Copy link URL". If nothing appears, the link may be broken or the website may have restrictions. You can always copy the web address from the browser's address bar instead.
How do I copy a link if I am using a trackpad instead of a mouse?
On a trackpad, use a two-finger tap (place two fingers on the trackpad and tap) instead of right-clicking. This brings up the same menu as a right-click. On some trackpads, you can also click in the bottom-right corner to simulate a right-click. Check your device settings if you are unsure which method your trackpad supports.
Can I copy a link and paste it on a different device?
Not directly through the clipboard — the clipboard only works on the device you are using. However, you can email the link to yourself, save it in a note-taking app that syncs across devices, or use a cloud service like Google Drive. Some devices offer clipboard sync features if you sign into the same account on multiple devices, but this is not enabled by default.
What is the difference between copying a link and copying the page address?
Copying a link (by right-clicking on it) copies the address of that specific link. Copying the page address (from the address bar) copies the address of the page you are currently on. If a page has multiple links, each one goes to a different place. Both methods copy plain text that you can paste anywhere.