The simplest way to open a link
To open a link, click it once with your mouse or trackpad. The page it points to will load in the same window. If you want the link to open in a new window or tab instead — so you keep the page you're on visible — right-click the link and choose "Open in new tab" (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) or "Open link in new tab" (Safari). On a trackpad, you can also hold Control while clicking on Mac, or hold Shift while clicking on Windows.
The link's destination appears in a small preview at the bottom left of your browser window when you hover over it. If the preview shows a web address that looks wrong or suspicious, do not click it. Scammers sometimes hide malicious links behind text that says something else.
On a phone or tablet, tap a link once to open it in the same window, or press and hold it to see options like "Open in new tab" or "Copy link". The exact wording depends on whether you use iPhone, Android, Chrome, or Safari.
Key Takeaways
- A single click opens a link in your current window; right-click and choose "Open in new tab" to keep your current page visible.
- Hover over a link to see its actual destination in the bottom left corner of your browser before you click.
- On Mac, hold Control while clicking to open in a new tab; on Windows, hold Shift.
- On phones and tablets, press and hold a link to see options instead of tapping it once.
- Never click a link if the preview address looks suspicious or different from what the link text says.
Why links sometimes don't work
A link may not open if the page it points to no longer exists. You'll see an error message like "404 Not Found" or "This page isn't available". This is not your fault — the website owner either deleted the page or moved it without leaving a redirect.
Links also fail if your internet connection is down. Check whether other websites load. If they don't, restart your modem and router, or move closer to your WiFi source. If other sites load but one specific link doesn't, the problem is with that website, not your connection.
Sometimes a link opens but the page looks broken or incomplete. Wait a few seconds for it to finish loading. If it still looks wrong, try refreshing the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac). If the page still doesn't work, try opening it in a different browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — because some pages are built for one browser and don't display correctly in others.
Opening links from email and documents
Links in email work the same way as links on a website: click once to open in your current browser, or right-click to open in a new tab. Be cautious with links in email from people you don't know. Scammers send emails that look like they're from your bank or a service you use, with links that actually go to fake login pages designed to steal your password.
Links in Word documents, PDFs, and other files also open with a single click. If a link in a PDF doesn't work, the document may be old or the website it points to may have closed. Try copying the link address and pasting it into your browser's address bar instead — sometimes this works when clicking doesn't.
Opening links that read files
Some links don't open a webpage — they read a file instead. When you click a read link, your browser will ask you where to save the file, or it will automatically save to your Downloads folder. The file appears in your Downloads folder (usually at the bottom of your screen on Windows, or in the Dock on Mac) once the read finishes.
If a read link doesn't work, the file may have been deleted or moved. Try right-clicking the link and choosing "Save link as" to see if that works instead. Never read files from links in suspicious emails, even if the email looks official.
Copying and pasting links
To copy a link without opening it, right-click it and choose "Copy link" or "Copy link address". The link's web address is now in your clipboard. You can paste it into an email, a document, or your browser's address bar by pressing Ctrl+V (Windows) or Command+V (Mac).
If you want to share a link with someone, copying it is safer than describing where to find the page, because the exact address is less likely to be mistyped. You can also right-click a link and choose "Copy link text" to copy just the visible text of the link, not the address it points to.
Links that open in unexpected ways
Some links are built to open in a popup window — a small browser window that appears on top of your main window. Popup blockers in most modern browsers prevent these from opening automatically. If a website tells you to disable your popup blocker, be cautious: legitimate websites rarely require this. Scam sites and sites full of ads often do.
A few links open files directly in your browser instead of downloading them — PDFs, images, or videos. If you want to read the file instead of viewing it in the browser, right-click and choose "Save as" or "Save link as".
Links that begin with "mailto:" open your email program instead of a webpage. These are used for contact forms. If clicking a mailto link does nothing, you may not have an email program set up on your computer, or your browser doesn't know which one to use. In that case, you can usually find a contact form on the website instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between left-click and right-click on a link?
Left-click (or just "click") opens the link in your current window. Right-click shows a menu with options like "Open in new tab", "Copy link", and "Save as". On a Mac trackpad, right-click means pressing with two fingers or holding Control while clicking.
Is it safe to click links from strangers on social media?
Links from strangers carry risk because they might point to malware or phishing pages. Before clicking, hover over the link to see the actual web address in the bottom left corner. If the address doesn't match what the link text says, or if it looks suspicious, don't click it. Links from verified accounts (marked with a checkmark) are generally safer than links from unknown accounts.
Why does a link sometimes open in a new tab even though I only clicked once?
Some websites are built to open links in new tabs automatically. This is usually done with code that overrides normal browser behavior. You can prevent this by holding Shift while clicking (Windows) or Command while clicking (Mac), which forces the link to open in the current tab instead.
Can I open a link if my internet is slow?
Yes, but it will take longer to load. Click the link and wait. If the page hasn't loaded after 30 seconds, try refreshing by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R. If it still doesn't load, your connection may be too slow or unstable. Try moving closer to your WiFi router or restarting your modem.
What should I do if a link asks me to enter my password?
Be very cautious. Legitimate companies rarely ask for your password through a link in an email or text message. Hover over the link to check the actual web address. If it doesn't match the official website (for example, if it says "paypa1.com" instead of "paypal.com"), it's a scam. Never enter your password on a page you reached through a suspicious link.