The simplest way to send a link by text
To send a link in a text message, copy the web address from your browser, open your text app, paste it into a message, and send it. On most phones, you copy by pressing and holding the address bar until a menu appears, then tapping "Copy". Then open your text conversation, press and hold in the message box, tap "Paste", and hit send.
The link arrives as clickable text — your recipient can tap it directly to open the website without typing anything. This works the same way on iPhone, Android, and most messaging apps including the default text app, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage.
If you want to send a link without showing the full web address, most messaging apps let you add a description first. Type your message, then paste the link on a new line or at the end. The app will usually show a preview of what the link leads to, and your recipient will see both your message and the preview together.
Key Takeaways
- Copy the web address from your browser's address bar by pressing and holding it, then select "Copy" from the menu that appears.
- Open your text message, press and hold in the message box, and tap "Paste" to insert the link.
- Links in text messages are clickable — recipients can tap them to open the website directly without retyping the address.
- You can add your own message before or after the link, and most apps will show a preview of the website alongside your text.
Copying a link from your browser
The address bar is the box at the top of your browser that shows the web address — it looks like www.example.com or https://example.com. To copy it, press and hold on that address bar until a menu pops up with options. Look for a button that says "Copy" or "Copy Link" and tap it. The address is now saved to your clipboard, which is temporary storage on your phone.
On iPhone, the address bar is at the top of Safari. On Android phones using Chrome, it is also at the top. If you are using a different browser like Firefox or Edge, the address bar location is the same — top of the screen. The copy process works identically across all browsers.
If you are copying a link from a website that someone else sent you — like a link in an email or on social media — press and hold directly on that link instead of the address bar. A menu will appear with "Copy Link" as one of the options. This copies the link without opening it first.
Pasting the link into your text message
Open your text messaging app. This is usually called "Messages" on iPhone or "Messages" or "SMS" on Android, though the exact name depends on your phone. Find or start the conversation with the person you want to text, then tap in the message box at the bottom of the screen where you normally type.
Press and hold in that message box until a menu appears. You should see options including "Paste". Tap "Paste" and the link will appear in your message. If "Paste" is greyed out or does not appear, it means nothing is currently copied to your clipboard — go back and copy the link again.
After you paste, you can add your own words before or after the link. Type something like "Check this out:" before pasting, or add a comment after. Then tap the send button, which is usually a paper airplane icon, a checkmark, or the word "Send".
What your recipient sees
When your text arrives, the link appears as blue underlined text — the standard way links look on phones. Your recipient can tap it once to open the website in their browser. They do not need to copy it, type it, or do anything else. The link opens when ready.
Most messaging apps also show a preview below the link — a small image and headline from the website. This preview helps your recipient see what the link leads to before they tap it. The preview appears automatically and you do not need to do anything to create it.
If you included your own message along with the link, your recipient sees both. For example, if you typed "Found this recipe for you:" and then pasted a cooking website link, they see your message and the link together in one text.
Sending links through different messaging apps
The copy-and-paste method works in any messaging app — not just your phone's default text app. You can send links through WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages, Telegram, or any other app using the exact same steps. Copy the link, open the app, paste it into a message, and send.
Some apps have additional features. WhatsApp lets you add a caption to a link by typing before you paste. Facebook Messenger shows a larger preview with more details about the website. But the basic process is identical across all of them.
If you are sending a link to someone who uses a different app than you do, it does not matter. A link is a link — it works the same whether you send it through text, WhatsApp, email, or any other method. The recipient just needs to be able to receive text messages or use the same app you are using.
Troubleshooting when paste does not work
If you tap "Paste" and nothing happens, the link is not currently copied. Go back to your browser, press and hold the address bar again, and tap "Copy". Wait a few seconds, then return to your text app and try pasting again.
If "Paste" does not appear as an option at all, try a different approach: type a few words in the message box first, then press and hold to see if the paste option appears. On some phones, the paste menu only shows up after you have started typing something.
If the link appears in your message but does not look blue or clickable, it may not have copied correctly. Delete it, go back to your browser, and copy the address bar again. Make sure you are copying from the address bar at the top of the screen, not from somewhere else on the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a link without showing the full web address?
Most messaging apps do not let you hide the web address itself, but they show a preview card with the website's title and image instead. Your recipient sees both the link and the preview. If you want to add context, type your own message before pasting the link — for example, "Here is that article I mentioned:" followed by the link.
What if the link is really long and takes up the whole message?
Long links are normal and work fine. Your recipient can still tap them to open the website. Some messaging apps automatically shorten the display of very long links, showing only the main website name instead of the entire address, but the link still works when tapped.
Does the person I text need to have the same phone as me to receive a link?
No. Links work across all phones and all messaging apps. You can send a link from an iPhone to an Android phone, or through any messaging app, and it will work the same way. The recipient just needs to be able to receive text messages or use the app you are sending through.
Can I send a link to multiple people at once?
Yes. Create a group text or group chat in your messaging app, paste the link into that conversation, and send it. Everyone in the group will receive the same link and can tap it to open the website.
What happens if the website the link points to goes down or disappears?
The link will still be there in the text message, but when your recipient taps it, they will see an error message instead of the website. This is not a problem with the link itself — it just means the website is no longer available. You can send them a new link to a different website if needed.