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". 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 long-pressing 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. Click or tap the address bar to select it, then right-click (or long-press on a phone) and choose "Copy". This copies the full web address so you can share it with someone else.
The method is the same across browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — and across most apps. The exact wording of the menu option may vary slightly, but the action is always "copy" or "copy link".
Key Takeaways
- Right-click a link on a computer and select "Copy link" to add it to your clipboard without opening the page.
- On a phone or tablet, press and hold a link until a menu appears, then tap "Copy link".
- To copy the address of the page you're currently on, click the address bar at the top of your browser and copy it.
- Once copied, you can paste the link anywhere using Ctrl+V or Command+V on a computer, or long-press and select "Paste" on a phone.
Copying links from the address bar
The address bar is the field at the very top of your browser window that shows the web address — it looks like "www.example.com" or "https://example.com". Click once on this field to select the entire address, then right-click and choose "Copy". On a phone, tap the address bar and long-press to bring up the menu, then select "Copy".
Some browsers highlight the address bar when you click it; others require you to triple-click to select all the text. If a single click doesn't select the whole address, try triple-clicking. Once it's highlighted, the copy command will grab the entire link.
Copying links from within a page or email
When you see a blue underlined link (or any clickable link) on a webpage or in an email, right-click directly on that link text. A context menu will appear with options including "Copy link", "Copy link address", or sometimes "Copy URL". Select whichever option appears — they all do the same thing.
On a phone or tablet, press and hold your finger on the link for about one second until a menu pops up. You'll see options like "Copy link" or "Open in new tab". Tap "Copy link" to add it to your clipboard. Do not tap the link itself, or it will open the page instead of copying the address.
What happens after you copy a link
When you copy a link, it sits in your device's clipboard — a temporary holding area for text and images. You can now paste it into any document, message, email, or text field. On a computer, use Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac). On a phone, long-press in the text field where you want to paste and select "Paste" from the menu.
The link stays in your clipboard until you copy something else. If you copy a different link or some text, the new item replaces the old one. If you need to keep a link for later, paste it into a document or bookmark it in your browser instead of relying on the clipboard.
Copying links without opening them
The right-click method (or long-press on a phone) is important because it copies the link without opening it. If you straightforward click a link, your browser navigates to that page, which takes time and may interrupt your workflow. Right-clicking lets you grab the address without leaving where you are.
This is especially useful when you're collecting multiple links to share with someone, researching a topic and want to gather sources, or when you're on a slow connection and don't want to wait for pages to load. Copy first, open later — or don't open at all if you just need the address.
Copying links from apps and social media
The same method works in most apps. On Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, or Facebook, press and hold a post or profile link until a menu appears, then select "Copy link". In email apps like Gmail or Outlook, right-click a link and choose "Copy link address". In messaging apps like WhatsApp or Slack, long-press a link to see the copy option.
Some apps may word the option differently — "Copy URL", "Copy post link", or "Share link" — but the action is always the same. If you don't see a copy option in the menu, try long-pressing for a full second or two, as some apps require a longer hold to display all options.
Troubleshooting when copy doesn't work
If right-clicking doesn't show a copy option, the link may be protected or the website may have disabled right-click menus. In this case, click the address bar at the top of your browser, copy the full page address, and share that instead. The person receiving it will land on the page, though not necessarily at the exact spot you were viewing.
On a phone, if long-pressing doesn't work, try a longer hold — some apps need two or three seconds. If the menu still doesn't appear, open the link, then copy the address from the address bar instead. This is slower but works on almost every app and website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I copy a link without the person knowing?
Copying a link is invisible to the other person — it only affects your device's clipboard. They won't know you copied it unless you tell them or send it to them. Copying is different from clicking "share" or "send", which may notify the other person.
What's the difference between copying a link and bookmarking it?
Copying puts the link in your clipboard temporarily so you can paste it somewhere. Bookmarking saves it in your browser permanently so you can find it later in your bookmarks menu. Use copy when you're sharing or moving a link; use bookmark when you want to save it for yourself.
Why does the copied link sometimes look different when I paste it?
Some websites add extra information to links (called parameters or tracking codes) that may not be visible in the address bar. When you paste, you may see a longer address than expected. This is normal and the link will still work. If you want a shorter link to share, some websites offer a "share" or "shorten link" button instead.
Can I copy a link on a website that blocks right-clicking?
Yes — click the address bar at the top of your browser and copy the full page address instead. You'll share the main page rather than a specific link within it, but it will still work. Some websites block right-click to discourage copying, but the address bar method always works.