The simplest way to add a link in email
Most email programs let you highlight text, then paste a web address into a dialog box. In Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail, you select the words you want to turn into a link, press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac), paste the full web address starting with https://, and click the button to confirm. The text stays visible; the link is now attached to it.
The web address you paste must be complete. https://www.example.com works. www.example.com or example.com alone will not work in most email programs — they need the https:// at the start so the email knows it is a web link and not just text that happens to look like a website.
If you are using webmail (Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail), you can also right-click the highlighted text and look for an option called "Link" or "Insert Link" in the menu that appears. The result is the same either way.
Key Takeaways
- Select the text you want to become a link, then press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) to open the link dialog.
- Paste the full web address starting with https:// — partial addresses like www.example.com will not work.
- In webmail programs like Gmail or Outlook.com, you can also right-click the selected text and choose "Link" from the menu.
- The original text stays visible to the reader; they click it to go to the web address you pasted.
- If the link does not work after you send the email, check that you pasted the full address and that it actually works when you visit it yourself first.
Why the link might not work after you send it
The most common reason is that you pasted an incomplete address. If you copied example.com from the address bar without the https://, the email program may have treated it as plain text instead of a link. Test the address yourself in a browser before you paste it into the email — if it does not load, the email recipient will not be able to click it either.
The second reason is that you pasted a link that was already broken. Some websites change their addresses or remove pages. If you are linking to something you found weeks ago, visit the link yourself in a fresh browser tab to confirm it still works. If it does not, find the current working address and paste that instead.
A third possibility is that your email program did not recognize the text as a link. This happens rarely, but if you suspect it, try deleting the link and creating it again. Some email programs also have a setting that turns off link detection — check your email settings under "Compose" or "Formatting" if links consistently fail to work.
Making a link that shows different text than the web address
When you create a link using Ctrl+K or Cmd+K, the text you selected is what the reader sees. The web address stays hidden behind it. This is useful because you can write something readable like "Click here to see the full report" instead of forcing the reader to look at a long web address.
The web address itself is stored in the link's code, not displayed. The reader only sees the text you selected. So if you select the words "our pricing page" and attach the link https://example.com/pricing-2024-current, the reader sees only "our pricing page" as a blue underlined link. When they click it, they go to that pricing page.
This is why it is important to make sure the text you select actually describes where the link goes. If you write "Click here" and link it to a pricing page, the reader will not know what they are clicking on until after they click it. "Click here to see our pricing" or just "pricing" is clearer.
Removing or changing a link you already created
If you need to change the web address a link points to, click anywhere on the linked text, then press Ctrl+K or Cmd+K again. The dialog box will open and show you the current web address. Delete it, paste the new address, and confirm. The visible text stays the same; only the hidden web address changes.
To remove a link entirely and turn it back into plain text, click on the linked text and press Ctrl+Shift+K (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+K (Mac). The text will no longer be blue or underlined, and clicking it will do nothing. You can also right-click the link and look for "Remove link" in the menu.
Links in plain-text email versus formatted email
Some email programs and accounts let you choose between plain text mode and formatted (or rich text) mode. Plain text mode does not support links — it only shows text. If you try to create a link in plain text mode, it will not work, and the reader will see the raw web address instead.
To use links, your email must be in formatted or rich text mode. In Gmail, this is the default. In Outlook, check the "Format" menu at the top of the compose window — it should say "HTML" or "Rich Text", not "Plain Text". In Apple Mail, go to Format menu and make sure "Make Rich Text" is checked. Once you switch to formatted mode, the Ctrl+K shortcut will work.
What happens when someone receives your email with a link
The reader sees the text you selected, displayed in blue and underlined (or sometimes in a different color, depending on their email program's settings). When they click it, their web browser opens and loads the web address you pasted. They do not see the actual web address unless they hover their mouse over the link — most email programs show a preview of the address in a small box.
Some email programs also let readers right-click the link to copy the address, open it in a new tab, or report it as suspicious. This is normal and does not affect your email. The link works the same way whether the reader clicks it directly or uses one of these options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a link to a file attached to my email?
No. Email links only work with web addresses that start with https:// or http://. You cannot link to a file you have attached to the same email. Instead, you can mention the attachment in the email text — for example, "See the attached spreadsheet" — and the reader will find it in their attachments list.
What if I want to send someone a web address but keep it visible?
Just paste the web address without selecting text first. Do not use Ctrl+K. Type or paste the address directly into the email body, and most email programs will automatically turn it into a clickable link while keeping the address visible. You can also select the address and create a link — the address will still show, just in blue.
Does the link work if the recipient is offline?
No. A link only works when the reader is connected to the internet and clicks it. If they are offline, clicking the link will not do anything. Once they go online and click it, the link will work normally.
Can I track whether someone clicked a link I sent in an email?
Basic email does not track clicks. Some email marketing services and business tools offer link tracking, but they require special setup and the reader must have images enabled in their email. Regular email links sent through Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail do not track clicks.
What if the web address has special characters or spaces in it?
Copy the full address directly from the browser's address bar instead of typing it. The browser automatically handles special characters correctly. If you type the address by hand and include spaces or forget special characters, the link will break. Always copy and paste from the address bar to be sure.