The simplest way to hyperlink an email address
Most email programs automatically turn email addresses into clickable links as you type. If you type someone@example.com in the body of your message, your email client recognizes it and makes it a link without you doing anything. When someone clicks that link, their email program opens and starts a new message to that address.
If your email program does not automatically convert the address, you can create the link manually in a few seconds. The process is the same whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or another email service — you highlight the text, then use the link tool to point it at an email address instead of a web page.
Key Takeaways
- Most email programs automatically convert typed email addresses into clickable links, so you often do not need to do anything.
- To manually create an email link, highlight the text you want to be clickable, then use your email program's link button and type mailto: followed by the email address.
- The text you highlight can say anything — "Contact us," "Email John," or "support@company.com" — but the link itself must start with mailto: to work as an email link.
- Email links work on computers and phones, but some older email programs or web-based readers may not recognize them correctly.
How to manually create an email link in Gmail
Open your message and highlight the text you want to turn into a link. This can be an email address itself, or it can be any other text like "Click here to email us." With the text selected, click the link icon in the toolbar — it looks like a chain link and usually sits near the bold and italic buttons.
A box will appear asking where the link should point. In the field, type mailto: followed when ready by the email address, with no space between them. For example: mailto:support@example.com. Click the button to confirm, and the text is now a clickable email link. When someone clicks it, their email program opens with a new message addressed to that email.
How to manually create an email link in Outlook
Highlight the text you want to link, then right-click it. A menu appears — select "Link" or "Insert Link" depending on your version. A dialog box opens asking for the link address. Type mailto: followed by the email address with no space, like mailto:john@example.com. Click OK, and the link is created.
If you do not see a right-click menu option, look for a link icon in the toolbar at the top of your message. It usually looks like a chain link. Click it with your text selected, then type the mailto address in the box that appears.
How to manually create an email link in Apple Mail
Select the text you want to turn into a link. Go to the Edit menu at the top of your screen and choose "Add Link," or use the keyboard shortcut Command+K. A small box appears asking for the link address. Type mailto: followed by the email address with no space — for example, mailto:contact@example.com. Press Enter or click the button to confirm.
The text is now a clickable email link. If you want to see what email address the link points to, hover your mouse over it and a small popup will show the full mailto address.
Why use a custom text label instead of the email address itself
You can make an email link from the address itself — highlight "support@example.com" and turn it into a link — but you can also link different text. For example, you might highlight the words "Contact our support team" and make that phrase link to support@example.com. The advantage is that your message reads more naturally and looks more professional.
When you use custom text, the reader sees "Contact our support team" in the message, but clicking it opens an email to support@example.com. This is especially useful in longer messages where you want the link to fit the sentence rather than interrupt it with a bare email address.
What happens when someone clicks an email link
When a reader clicks an email link in your message, their email program opens automatically and creates a new message addressed to that email. The subject line is usually blank, and the cursor sits in the message body ready for them to type. They then write their message and send it like any other email.
This works on computers and phones, though some older email readers or web-based programs may not recognize the link correctly. In those cases, the reader sees the text but clicking it does nothing, and they have to copy and paste the address manually. This is rare with modern email programs, but it is worth knowing if you are sending to someone using an older system.
Email links with subject lines and body text
You can make an email link more powerful by including a subject line or even starter text in the message body. Instead of just mailto:support@example.com, you can type mailto:support@example.com?subject=Question%20about%20billing. When someone clicks the link, their email opens with "Question about billing" already filled in as the subject.
To add body text, use &body= after the subject. For example: mailto:support@example.com?subject=Refund%20request&body=I%20would%20like%20to%20request%20a%20refund. Spaces must be written as %20 in these links. Most email programs support this feature, though some older ones may ignore the subject or body text and open a blank message instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use mailto: or will the email address work as a link by itself?
If you type a bare email address like support@example.com, most email programs automatically turn it into a link without you doing anything. But if you are manually creating a link using the link tool, you must type mailto: before the address. Without it, the link will not work as an email link.
Can I test an email link to make sure it works?
Yes. Before you send the message, click the email link you created. Your email program should open a new message window addressed to that email. If it does, the link works. If nothing happens or a web browser opens instead, the link was not created correctly — go back and check that you typed mailto: with no space before the address.
What if I want the link to say something other than the email address?
Highlight whatever text you want — "Email us," "Get in touch," or anything else — then use the link tool and type the mailto address. The text you see in the message can say anything, but the link itself must point to the correct email address using the mailto: format.
Will an email link work if I send the message to someone using a phone?
Yes, email links work on phones. When someone taps the link on their phone, their email app opens with a new message ready to send to that address. The experience is the same as on a computer.