The fastest way to copy a link depends on what device you're using

On a computer, right-click the link and select "Copy link" or "Copy link address" from the menu that appears. On a phone or tablet, press and hold the link until a menu pops up, then tap "Copy link" or the equivalent option. The link is now in your clipboard — you can paste it into an email, message, document, or anywhere else by pressing Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac), or by pressing and holding and selecting "Paste" on a phone.

If you want to copy the link to the page you're currently viewing rather than a link within that page, look at the address bar at the top of your browser. On a computer, click the address bar, select all the text (Ctrl+A or Command+A), then copy it (Ctrl+C or Command+C). On a phone, tap the address bar and hold down until "Copy" appears, then tap it.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a link on a computer or press and hold on a phone to see the copy option in the menu that appears.
  • To copy the address of the page itself rather than a link on it, click or tap the address bar at the top of your browser.
  • After copying, paste the link using Ctrl+V or Command+V on a computer, or by pressing and holding and selecting "Paste" on a phone.
  • Different browsers and apps may label the copy option slightly differently, but the right-click or press-and-hold method works across nearly all of them.

Copying links in different browsers

The method is nearly identical whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge on a computer. Right-click the link, and a small menu appears. Look for "Copy link" (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) or "Copy Link" (Safari). Click it once, and the link moves to your clipboard.

On a phone, the process is the same across browsers. Press and hold the link until a menu appears with options like "Copy link", "Copy", or "Open in new tab". Tap the copy option. Some browsers add extra choices like "Copy link text" (which copies just the visible words) versus "Copy link" (which copies the actual URL). Choose "Copy link" unless you specifically need only the text.

Copying the page address from the address bar

Sometimes you need the link to the page you're currently on, not a link within the page. On a computer, click once in the address bar at the very top of your browser window. The entire address should highlight or become selected. Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy it.

On a phone, tap the address bar at the top. The URL appears in full. Press and hold until a "Copy" button or menu option appears, then tap it. Some phones automatically select the entire address when you tap the bar; others require you to select it manually by pressing and holding and dragging.

What to do if the copy option doesn't appear

If right-clicking or pressing and holding doesn't show a menu, the link may be protected or the website may have disabled the standard copy function. Try a different approach: click the address bar instead and copy the page address directly. This works on nearly every website.

If you're on a phone and the menu doesn't appear, make sure you're pressing and holding long enough — usually one to two seconds. If the link is part of a button or image rather than plain text, try pressing and holding on a different part of the link. Some apps have their own copy methods; check the app's menu or settings if the standard method fails.

Pasting the link after you copy it

Once you've copied a link, you can paste it almost anywhere. In an email, document, or message, click or tap where you want the link to go, then press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac) on a computer. On a phone, press and hold in the text field until a "Paste" option appears, then tap it.

When you paste a link into an email or message, most programs automatically turn it into a clickable link. If it doesn't, you can usually highlight the pasted text and use the formatting toolbar to make it a link, or straightforward leave it as plain text — recipients can still click it or copy it themselves.

Copying links from social media and messaging apps

The process is the same on apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or WhatsApp as it is on websites. Press and hold the link or the post itself until a menu appears. Look for "Copy link" or "Share link". Some apps label it differently — Instagram might say "Copy link to post", while Twitter says "Copy link to Tweet". Tap whichever option appears.

If you're trying to copy a link to someone's profile rather than a post, press and hold their name or profile picture. The menu that appears may have a "Copy profile link" or similar option. If not, go to their profile page and copy the address bar instead.

Copying links without using right-click or press-and-hold

If the standard method doesn't work, try selecting the link text itself. On a computer, triple-click the link to select it, then copy it with Ctrl+C or Command+C. This copies the visible text rather than the URL, so it's useful only if you want to share what the link says, not where it goes.

Another option is to open the link in a new tab or window, then copy the address from the address bar. Right-click the link and select "Open link in new tab" (or "Open in new window"). Once the page loads, click the address bar and copy the URL directly. This method works when the right-click copy option is blocked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my copied link sometimes not work when I paste it?

The link itself is fine — the problem is usually that your clipboard was overwritten. If you copy something else (text, an image, another link) after copying the first link, the new item replaces the old one. Copy the link again right before you paste it. Also check that you pasted it in a place that accepts links, like an email or document, not a field that only accepts certain types of text.

Can I copy a link if the website doesn't let me right-click?

Yes. Click the address bar at the top of the page and copy the full URL from there. This works on every website, even those that disable right-click. You can also open the link in a new tab, then copy the address bar of that new tab.

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

Copying a link copies the actual web address (URL), which you can paste anywhere and it will work. Copying link text copies only the visible words, like "Click here" or "Learn more". If you want to share where the link goes, copy the link itself, not the text.

How do I copy a link on my phone if pressing and holding doesn't work?

Try pressing and holding for a full two seconds — some phones need longer. If that fails, tap the address bar at the top of the page and copy the URL directly. You can also try a different finger or a stylus if you're using a tablet.

Can I copy a link from a video or image?

If the video or image is on a webpage, right-click or press and hold on it and look for "Copy image link" or "Copy video link". If it's embedded in an app like YouTube or TikTok, press and hold the video itself or look for a share button that lets you copy the link to that specific video.