What "copy link as hyperlink" means and why you'd use it

When you copy a link as a hyperlink, you're capturing a web address in a format that turns it into a clickable link inside your document — not just plain text that says "www.example.com". The difference matters: a hyperlink lets anyone reading your document click straight to that page, while plain text requires them to manually type or copy the address into their browser.

This is useful when you're writing something that references other pages — a research document, a guide, an email, or a list of resources. Instead of making readers hunt for the URL themselves, you embed it so they can jump there with one click.

The steps vary slightly depending on which document editor you're using and which browser you're in, but the core idea is the same: grab the link from the web, then paste it into your document in a way that preserves its clickability.

Key Takeaways

  • Most document editors let you paste a web address directly and it becomes a clickable link automatically, without extra steps.
  • If automatic linking doesn't work, you can manually create a hyperlink by selecting text, opening the link dialog, and pasting the URL.
  • The "copy link" option in your browser's right-click menu gives you the exact address without accidentally grabbing extra characters.
  • Different editors — Google Docs, Microsoft Word, LibreOffice — use slightly different menus, but the process takes under a minute once you know where to look.

Copy the link from your browser correctly

Start by getting the web address itself. Open the page you want to link to, then right-click anywhere on the page and select "Copy link" (or "Copy link address" on some browsers). This copies the exact URL without any extra text or formatting that might get picked up if you manually selected the address bar.

If you don't see a "Copy link" option, click on the address bar at the top of your browser, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac), then copy it (Ctrl+C or Command+C). This also works, though the right-click method is faster and more reliable.

Once you've copied the link, you're ready to move to your document.

Paste the link into Google Docs

Open your Google Docs document and click where you want the link to appear. Paste the URL (Ctrl+V or Command+V). Google Docs usually recognizes web addresses automatically and turns them into clickable links — you'll see the text turn blue and underlined.

If the link doesn't turn blue, select the pasted text, then press Ctrl+K (or Command+K on Mac). A small dialog box appears. The URL should already be filled in. Click "explore" and the link becomes active.

If you want the link to display as something other than the full web address — for example, you want it to say "click here" instead of "www.example.com/very/long/path" — select the text you want to display, press Ctrl+K, paste the URL into the dialog, and click "explore".

Paste the link into Microsoft Word

In Word (online or desktop), click where you want the link and paste the URL. Word usually converts it to a hyperlink automatically, shown in blue and underlined.

If it doesn't convert automatically, select the pasted text, then press Ctrl+K (Command+K on Mac). The "Insert Hyperlink" dialog opens. The URL should already be in the "Address" field. Click "OK" to confirm.

To display custom text instead of the full URL, type the text you want to show in the "Display Text" field before clicking "OK". For example, you could make the link say "Learn more" while pointing to a long technical article.

Paste the link into LibreOffice Writer

In LibreOffice Writer, click where you want the link and paste the URL. Like the other editors, it often recognizes web addresses and converts them automatically.

If automatic conversion doesn't happen, select the text, then go to Insert in the menu bar and click "Hyperlink". The hyperlink dialog opens. Paste the URL into the "URL" field and click "Insert".

To use custom display text, type what you want to show in the "Text" field, paste the URL in the "URL" field, then click "Insert".

What to do if the link won't work after you paste it

The most common problem is that the link got pasted with extra spaces or characters at the beginning or end. Select the hyperlink, open the link dialog (Ctrl+K or the equivalent in your editor), and check the URL field. Delete any spaces before or after the address.

Another issue is that some shortened links or redirects don't work when pasted directly. If you're using a link shortener like bit.ly or tinyurl, paste the shortened version instead of trying to expand it first — those services are designed to work as-is.

If a link worked when you created it but stops working later, the page itself may have moved or been deleted. There's nothing wrong with how you pasted it; the destination just isn't there anymore. You can update the link by opening the hyperlink dialog and changing the URL to a new address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a hyperlink that opens in a new tab?

Yes. In Google Docs, right-click the hyperlink and select "Open link in new tab" to test it. To set it as the default, right-click the link, click "Edit link", then check the box for "Open in new window". In Word and LibreOffice, right-click the hyperlink, select "Edit Hyperlink" or "Edit Link", and look for an option to open in a new window.

What's the difference between copying a link and copying the link address?

Some browsers offer both options. "Copy link" copies the URL. "Copy link text" (if available) copies the visible text on the page that's linked, not the address itself. For creating hyperlinks in documents, you always want "Copy link" or "Copy link address".

Do I need to type "https://" when I paste a link?

No. When you copy a link from your browser's address bar or use the right-click "Copy link" option, the https:// is included automatically. Most document editors recognize it and create the hyperlink correctly without you having to add anything.

Can I paste a hyperlink into an email?

Yes. Gmail, Outlook, and most email services work the same way — paste the URL and it becomes a clickable link, or use Ctrl+K to manually create one. The process is identical to document editors.

What if I want to remove a hyperlink but keep the text?

Right-click the hyperlink and select "Remove link" (Google Docs) or "Remove Hyperlink" (Word and LibreOffice). The text stays; only the clickability goes away.