What copying a hyperlink means

A hyperlink is the clickable text or image that takes you somewhere else when you click it. Copying a hyperlink means grabbing the actual web address (called a URL) that sits behind that clickable text, so you can paste it somewhere else — into an email, a document, a text message, or anywhere you need it.

When you copy a hyperlink, you are not copying the visible text. You are copying the destination address itself. So if you see blue underlined text that says "Housing Authority," the hyperlink is the web address it points to, like www.cityhousing.gov/explore.

The method changes slightly depending on whether you are on a computer or a phone, and whether you are copying from a website or from an email. All of these are covered below.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click on any hyperlink on a website and select "Copy link" to grab the web address without opening it.
  • On a phone, press and hold the hyperlink until a menu appears, then tap "Copy link" or "Copy URL."
  • In email, the method depends on your email provider — Gmail uses "Copy link," Outlook uses "Copy," and some others require you to right-click.
  • After copying, paste the hyperlink anywhere using Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac.
  • If right-click does not work, you can also click the address bar at the top of your browser and copy the full page address, though this gives you the whole page URL rather than a specific link within it.

Copying a hyperlink on Windows

On a Windows computer, the fastest way is to right-click directly on the hyperlink. A small menu will pop up with several options. Look for the option that says "Copy link" or "Copy link address" — the exact wording depends on which browser you are using (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari all word it slightly differently, but they all have this option).

Click that option once. You will not see anything happen on the screen, but the hyperlink address is now copied to your clipboard. You can now paste it anywhere by pressing Ctrl+V.

If the right-click menu does not appear, or if you do not see a "Copy link" option, try a different approach: click once on the hyperlink to open the page it points to, then look at the address bar at the very top of your browser window. Click on the address bar to select all the text in it, then press Ctrl+C to copy it. This copies the full web address of the page you are now on.

Copying a hyperlink on Mac

On a Mac, right-click on the hyperlink (or use Control+Click if your mouse has only one button). A menu will appear with the option "Copy Link." Click it once, and the hyperlink address is copied to your clipboard.

You can now paste it anywhere by pressing Command+V. If you are using a trackpad instead of a mouse, you can also try clicking with two fingers at once, which triggers the right-click menu on most Mac trackpads.

If right-click does not work on your Mac, use the same fallback as Windows: click the hyperlink to open it, then click the address bar at the top of the browser, select all the text with Command+A, and copy it with Command+C.

Copying a hyperlink on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone or iPad, press and hold your finger on the hyperlink for about one second. A menu will pop up with several options. Look for "Copy Link" or "Copy URL" and tap it. The hyperlink address is now copied to your clipboard, and you can paste it into an email, text message, or note app by pressing and holding where you want to paste, then selecting "Paste."

On an Android phone, the process is the same: press and hold on the hyperlink until a menu appears, then tap "Copy link" or "Copy URL." Then paste it the same way — press and hold where you want it to go and select "Paste."

If the menu does not appear when you press and hold, try a longer hold (two to three seconds) or try tapping the hyperlink once to open it, then copying the address from the address bar at the top of your browser.

Copying a hyperlink from email

In Gmail, right-click on any hyperlink and select "Copy link." If you are on a phone, press and hold the hyperlink and select "Copy link." The process is the same as copying from a website.

In Outlook (both the desktop version and the web version), right-click on the hyperlink and look for an option that says "Copy" or "Copy link address." On some versions of Outlook, you may see "Copy Hyperlink" instead. Select whichever option appears.

In Apple Mail on a Mac, right-click on the hyperlink and select "Copy Link." On iPhone Mail, press and hold the hyperlink and select "Copy Link."

If you are using a different email provider and the right-click menu does not show a copy option, try clicking the hyperlink once to open it in your browser, then copying the address from the browser's address bar instead.

What to do after you copy a hyperlink

Once you have copied a hyperlink, you can paste it anywhere. Open the document, email, message, or note where you want to put it. Click or tap where you want the hyperlink to appear, then press Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac and iPhone), or press and hold and select "Paste" (Android and iPad).

When you paste a hyperlink, it usually appears as the web address itself — something like www.example.com. Some programs, like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, will automatically turn it into a clickable blue link. Others, like plain text editors or some email programs, will just show the address as text. Either way, the hyperlink works the same way — anyone who clicks it will be taken to that web address.

When copying a hyperlink does not work

Sometimes the right-click menu does not appear, or the "Copy link" option is missing. This usually happens on older websites or websites that have been built in an unusual way. If this happens, click the hyperlink to open the page it points to, then copy the address from the browser's address bar instead. Click on the address bar at the top of your browser, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac), and copy it (Ctrl+C or Command+C).

Another reason copying might not work is if you are using an older browser that has not been updated in a long time. If you are using Internet Explorer, consider switching to a newer browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge — they all handle hyperlinks more reliably.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is copying a hyperlink the same as copying the text of the link?

No. If you select the visible text (like "Click here") and copy it, you are only copying those words. The hyperlink is the web address behind that text. You need to right-click on the link itself, not select and copy the text, to get the actual web address.

Can I copy a hyperlink if the website does not let me right-click?

Yes. Click the hyperlink to open the page, then copy the address from the address bar at the top of your browser. This gives you the web address of the page you are on, which is the same destination the hyperlink points to.

What is the difference between copying a link and bookmarking it?

Copying a hyperlink gives you the web address so you can paste it somewhere else — an email, a document, a message. Bookmarking saves the link in your browser so you can find it again later without having to search. They serve different purposes.

Will the hyperlink still work if I paste it as plain text?

Yes. Even if it appears as plain text (not as a blue clickable link), the web address still works. Anyone who copies and pastes it into their browser, or who clicks it if their program automatically turns it into a link, will be taken to the correct page.

Can I copy a hyperlink from a PDF?

Yes, use the same method: right-click on the hyperlink in the PDF and select "Copy link" or "Copy link address." If that does not work, click the link to open it in your browser, then copy the address from the browser's address bar.