Get a link to your Canva design in three steps

Open the design you want to share in Canva. In the top right corner, click the Share button. Select Link from the menu that appears. Canva will generate a URL you can copy and send to anyone — they can view it in a browser without needing a Canva account.

The link works when ready. Anyone with the URL can see your design, but they cannot edit it unless you change the sharing settings. This is the fastest way to show a design to a client, colleague, or friend without downloading a file or uploading it somewhere else.

Key Takeaways

  • Click Share, then Link, to get a URL that works right away — no file read needed.
  • By default, the link lets people view only; change settings to allow comments or editing if you want feedback.
  • You can turn off the link at any time, and it stops working when ready.
  • The link includes your design exactly as it appears on screen, including all text, images, and colors you have chosen.

What the Share button actually does

The Share button in Canva opens a menu with several options. Link creates a shareable URL. Email sends the design directly to someone's inbox. Invite lets you add people to edit the design with you in real time. Each option serves a different purpose, so pick the one that matches what you need.

If you choose Link, Canva generates a unique URL for that design. The link stays the same unless you delete it. You can share it as many times as you want, and it will always point to the current version of your design — if you make changes, anyone viewing the link sees the updated version.

Changing who can do what with your link

When you create a link, Canva sets it to View only by default. This means people can see your design but cannot change it. If you want to let someone comment on the design or suggest changes, click the link settings and change the permission to Can comment.

If you want someone to edit the design alongside you, use the Invite option instead of Link — that gives them full editing access and lets you see their changes in real time. The Link option is better for showing a finished or near-finished design to someone who does not need to make changes.

You can also set an expiration date for the link if you want it to stop working after a certain date. This is useful if you are sharing a design for a limited-time event or project. Once the date passes, the link no longer works, even if someone has the URL.

Copying and pasting the link

After you click Share and then Link, Canva shows you the URL in a box. Click the Copy link button next to it, and the URL goes into your clipboard. You can then paste it into an email, a message, a document, or anywhere else you need it.

The link is long and includes random characters — that is normal. Do not try to shorten or edit it yourself, because Canva uses those characters to identify your specific design. If you want a shorter link, some people use a URL shortener like bit.ly, but the original Canva link works fine on its own.

What happens when someone opens your link

When someone clicks the link, they see your design in a browser window. They do not need to log into Canva or create an account. The design appears exactly as you built it — all fonts, colors, images, and layout are preserved.

If you set the link to View only, they see a read-only version. If you set it to Can comment, they see a comment button where they can leave feedback on the design. Comments appear in the design itself, and you get a notification that someone has commented.

Turning off a link when you no longer need it

You can delete a link at any time. Open the design, click Share, find the link you created, and click the trash icon or Remove button. The link stops working when ready, and anyone who tries to open it will see an error message.

This is useful if you shared a design for a specific purpose and no longer want people to access it. You can also create a new link for the same design if you want to share it again later — each link is separate, so deleting one does not affect others.

Using links instead of downloading files

Sharing a link is often faster than downloading your design as a file and sending it. The person viewing the link always sees the most current version, so you do not have to worry about them looking at an old file. If you make changes to the design after sharing the link, they see those changes automatically.

Links also work across devices. Someone can open the link on their phone, tablet, or computer, and the design looks the same everywhere. This is especially useful if you are working with people who use different devices or operating systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I password-protect a Canva link?

Canva does not offer password protection on shareable links. If you need to restrict who sees a design, use the Invite option instead, which lets you add specific people by email address. They will need to log into Canva to view the design.

What if someone shares my link with other people?

Anyone with the link can view your design. Canva does not track who opens it or prevent people from sharing it further. If you need to control exactly who sees the design, use Invite instead of Link, or delete the link and share it only to the people you trust.

Does the link work if I delete the design?

No. If you delete the design from your Canva account, the link stops working. The person who tries to open it will see an error. If you want to keep the design accessible, do not delete it.

Can I edit a design after I have shared the link?

Yes. Any changes you make to the design appear in the link automatically. If you set the link to View only, the person viewing it will see your updates without doing anything.

Is there a limit to how many links I can create?

Canva does not publish a limit on the number of links you can create. You can create multiple links for the same design if you want to track different shares or set different expiration dates for each one.