Discord lets you turn text into clickable links using square brackets and parentheses
To create a link in Discord, wrap the text you want to display in square brackets, then put the URL in parentheses immediately after it. The format is [display text](URL). When you send the message, Discord converts it into a clickable link that shows your chosen text instead of the full web address.
This works in direct messages, server channels, and replies. The link appears blue and underlined, and readers can click it to open the URL in their browser. Discord does not require any special permissions or settings to use this feature — it works in any message you can type.
Key Takeaways
- Use the format [text](URL) to turn any text into a clickable link in Discord messages.
- The text in square brackets is what readers see; the URL in parentheses is where the link goes.
- You can link to websites, YouTube videos, images, documents, or any other web address.
- This formatting works the same way in all Discord channels and direct messages without any special setup.
Step-by-step: Creating your first link
Open Discord and navigate to the channel or direct message where you want to send the link. Click in the message box at the bottom of the screen to start typing.
Type the text you want to display in square brackets first. For example, if you want readers to see "Click here for the guide", type [Click here for the guide]. Immediately after the closing bracket, with no space, type the URL in parentheses: (https://example.com/guide). The complete message should read [Click here for the guide](https://example.com/guide).
Press Enter or click Send. Discord automatically formats the text as a blue, clickable link. Readers will see only "Click here for the guide" in blue, and clicking it opens the URL you provided.
Common mistakes that break the link format
The most frequent error is adding a space between the closing bracket and the opening parenthesis. [text] (URL) with a space will not work — Discord needs them touching directly: [text](URL). If your link does not turn blue after you send it, check for that space first.
Another mistake is forgetting the https:// or http:// at the start of the URL. Discord needs the protocol to recognize it as a web address. Typing [link](example.com) will not work; it must be [link](https://example.com). If you paste a URL from your browser, it usually includes the protocol already.
Do not put the URL in square brackets or the display text in parentheses — the order matters. (https://example.com)[Click here] will not format correctly. Always put the display text in square brackets first, then the URL in parentheses.
Linking to specific types of content
You can link to any web address using the same format. For YouTube videos, copy the full URL from your browser's address bar (it starts with https://www.youtube.com) and paste it into the parentheses. The link will work even though Discord does not automatically embed the video preview when you use this format.
Images and documents work the same way. If you have a direct link to a PNG, JPG, PDF, or other file, use [View the document](https://example.com/file.pdf). Discord will not preview the file in the message, but clicking the link opens it in a new browser tab.
For Discord-specific links, such as links to other servers or channels, use the same bracket-and-parenthesis format with the Discord invite URL or channel link. The format does not change — only the URL inside the parentheses changes.
What happens when you hover over or click a linked message
When a reader hovers their mouse over a link you created, Discord shows a small preview of the URL in a tooltip. This lets them see where the link actually goes before clicking. The display text you chose appears in blue and underlined, but the tooltip shows the real address.
On mobile devices, tapping a linked message opens the URL directly in your default browser. There is no tooltip preview on mobile, so readers cannot see the destination before tapping. This is why choosing clear, honest display text matters — mobile users are clicking based on what you wrote, not on a preview of the URL.
Combining links with other Discord formatting
You can use links alongside Discord's other text formatting. For example, **[bold link text](URL)** creates a bold, clickable link. The asterisks go around the entire bracket-and-parenthesis pair, not just the display text.
Similarly, *[italic link text](URL)* makes the link italic. You can also combine them: ***[bold italic link](URL)*** uses three asterisks on each side. The link formatting (square brackets and parentheses) always stays on the inside, and the bold or italic markers go on the outside.
Strikethrough works the same way: ~~[strikethrough link](URL)~~. Code formatting with backticks does not work with links — if you put a link inside backticks, Discord treats it as code text and does not make it clickable.
Troubleshooting links that do not work
If you send a message with link formatting but it does not turn blue, check three things: the space between the bracket and parenthesis, the presence of https:// or http://, and whether you used the correct bracket and parenthesis characters. Square brackets are [ and ], not curly braces or parentheses.
If the link turns blue but clicking it does not work, the URL itself may be broken or the website may be down. Test the URL by copying it into your browser's address bar directly. If it does not load there, the problem is with the link destination, not with how you formatted it in Discord.
On some devices or Discord versions, links may not appear blue immediately after you send them. Refresh the channel or close and reopen Discord. If the link still does not appear formatted after a refresh, try deleting the message and retyping it, making sure there is no space between the bracket and parenthesis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link to a Discord server or channel instead of a website?
Yes. Use the same bracket-and-parenthesis format with a Discord invite link or channel URL. For example, [Join our server](https://discord.gg/example) works exactly like a website link. You can create invite links in your server settings under Invites.
What if the URL is really long and looks ugly in my message?
That is exactly why the link format exists. Use a short, descriptive display text instead of showing the full URL. [Click here](https://example.com/very/long/path/to/a/page) looks much cleaner than pasting the raw URL. Readers see only the text you chose, not the address.
Do I need special permissions to send links in Discord?
No. Any user can send links in any channel or direct message they can access. Server administrators can restrict certain channels to prevent links, but that is a server-level setting, not something Discord requires by default.
Can I edit a message after I send it to fix a broken link?
Yes. Hover over your message and click the three-dot menu, then select Edit. Change the URL in the parentheses to the correct one and save. The link updates immediately for all readers.
Will Discord warn me if I link to a malicious website?
Discord has some protections against known malicious sites, but it does not scan every link. Be cautious about clicking links from users you do not trust. If a link looks suspicious or you are unsure about a destination, do not click it.