The simplest way to share a link
Open the conversation where you want to send the link. Paste the web address directly into the message box and tap send — WhatsApp will automatically detect it as a link and display a preview with the page title, description, and thumbnail image. The person receiving it can tap the preview to open the link in their browser, or they can tap and hold the message to copy the link text.
This works the same way whether you are sharing with one person or a group. The preview appears for everyone in the conversation, and each person can open it independently. If you do not want WhatsApp to show a preview — for example, if the page contains sensitive information — you can delete the preview before sending by tapping the X that appears on the preview card.
You do not need to do anything special to prepare the link. Copy it from your browser's address bar, paste it into WhatsApp, and send. WhatsApp handles the rest.
Key Takeaways
- Paste any web address directly into a WhatsApp message and WhatsApp will show a preview with the page title and thumbnail image.
- You can delete the preview before sending if you want to share only the link text without showing what the page contains.
- Links work the same way in one-on-one chats and in groups — everyone sees the preview and can open it independently.
- On iPhone, you can also share directly from Safari or other apps by tapping the share button and selecting WhatsApp from the menu.
- WhatsApp does not shorten links or track clicks, so the link you send is the same one the other person receives.
Sharing from your phone's browser or other apps
If you are already looking at a webpage and want to send it to someone on WhatsApp, use your phone's built-in share menu instead of copying and pasting. On iPhone, tap the share button (the box with an arrow pointing up) and scroll down to find WhatsApp in the list. On Android, tap the three dots or share icon and look for WhatsApp. Select the contact or group you want to send it to, and WhatsApp will open with the link already in the message box.
This method is faster than copying the address bar and pasting it, and it works from any app that has a share button — your browser, email, news apps, social media, and others. The link arrives in WhatsApp the same way as if you had pasted it manually, complete with the preview.
Some apps let you add a message before you send. If you see a text box after you select WhatsApp, you can type a note like "Check this out" before tapping send. If there is no text box, the link goes through with no message attached.
Sharing links in groups
Sending a link to a group works exactly like sending to one person — paste the link or use the share menu, and it appears in the group chat with a preview. Everyone in the group can see the preview and open the link. The link does not expire or change based on who opens it.
If you are sharing something sensitive or not meant for the whole group, send it as a direct message to the person instead. Group messages are visible to everyone in the chat, including people who join later and scroll back through the history.
What happens when someone opens your link
When the other person taps your link, it opens in their default web browser — Safari on iPhone, Chrome or the default browser on Android. WhatsApp itself does not open the webpage; it just passes the link to the browser. This means the website sees the person's browser information, not that they came from WhatsApp.
WhatsApp does not track whether someone opened a link you sent, and it does not shorten the link or add tracking codes to it. The link you send is the exact link the other person receives and opens. If you need to know whether someone opened something, you would have to ask them directly.
Troubleshooting links that will not preview
Sometimes you paste a link and WhatsApp does not show a preview — just the plain text appears. This usually happens because the website does not provide preview information, or because WhatsApp has not finished loading the preview yet. Wait a few seconds and the preview often appears. If it does not, the link still works; the other person can still tap it and open it in their browser.
If a link preview shows incorrect information — the wrong title or a broken image — that is because the website's owner did not set up the preview data correctly. You cannot fix this from WhatsApp. The link itself is fine; the preview is just inaccurate.
If you are trying to share a link and WhatsApp keeps crashing, restart the app. If the problem continues, make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed from the App Store or Google Play.
Sharing links without showing a preview
If you want to send a link but do not want WhatsApp to display the preview card, delete it before sending. After you paste the link, a preview appears below the message box. Tap the X in the corner of the preview card to remove it. The link text stays in the message, but the preview disappears. When you send it, the other person sees only the link address, not the page title or thumbnail.
This is useful when you are sharing a link to something you do not want to advertise — a personal page, a private document, or something the preview would spoil. The other person can still open the link normally; they just do not see what it is before they tap it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a link to multiple people at once?
You can send the same link to multiple people by pasting it into separate conversations, but WhatsApp does not have a broadcast feature for links. If you want many people to see something, send it to a group instead. Everyone in the group sees it in one message, and you only have to paste once.
What if the link is very long and takes up the whole message?
Long links are fine — WhatsApp will display the full preview regardless of how long the address is. The other person does not have to type or copy the link; they just tap the preview to open it. If you want to make the message look cleaner, you can delete the preview before sending, and only the link text will show.
Do I need WhatsApp Web or the desktop app to share links?
No. You can share links from the WhatsApp app on your phone the same way — paste the link or use the share menu. On WhatsApp Web or the desktop app, you can also paste links directly into the message box. The process is identical across all versions.
Can I share a link to a WhatsApp chat or group?
You can copy the link to a group or contact from WhatsApp's group info or contact card, but you cannot share it the same way you share a web link. To invite someone to a group, open the group, tap the group name, scroll to Members, and tap the invite icon. WhatsApp will generate a link you can share through other apps or copy to send however you want.
What if someone sends me a suspicious link?
Do not tap it. You can report the message by tapping and holding it, then selecting Report. WhatsApp will not open the link for you — you have to tap it yourself. If you are unsure whether a link is safe, ask the person who sent it, or search the web address to see if others have reported it as malicious.