How to Copy & Paste a Web Address As a Link
When you copy the full URL to a Web page, it may seem logical for it to automatically become a clickable link when you paste it in another program. Depending on the application in which you’re pasting it, this is not always the case. However, even if you can’t directly copy and paste the address as a link, you can usually convert it into one with a single line of HTML code.
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Instructions
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Copy the Link
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Highlight the link address by clicking once at the very beginning of the URL and then dragging your mouse all the way to the end. (The link of the Web page you currently have loaded should appear in the address bar toward the top of the screen and begin with http://.)
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Right-click on the highlighted link. (Mac users should hold down "Ctrl" on their keyboard and click.)
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3
Select "Copy" from the menu that appears.
Paste in Microsoft Word
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Open a document (new or existing) in Microsoft Word.
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Choose "Paste" from the "Edit" menu.
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The link should automatically appear as a link (blue and underlined).
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If it pasted as normal text instead of a link:
Select "Paste Special" from the "Edit" menu. Click inside the circle next to "Paste as Link" and select "HTML Format" from the list. Click "OK."
Paste in a Web Page or Email
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Type the following where you want your link to appear:
<A HREF="">Your Link</A>
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Replace the words "Your Link" with whatever you want your link to say.
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Right-click inside the quotation marks (" ") after HREF=. Choose "Paste." The web address for your link should appear inside the quotation marks.
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Click "Save" or "Submit." Your text will now appear as a clickable link.
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Tips & Warnings
Not every website or email program supports HTML formatting, which is necessary to support HTML code (the A HREF= code). If you want to paste your link into a messageboard forum or email, try a test (by emailing yourself or clicking "Preview" on a messageboard post) to see if the code turns into a link.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
