The fastest way to send a link in WhatsApp
To send a link in WhatsApp, copy the web address from your browser, open WhatsApp, find the chat you want, and paste the link into the message box. Then tap or click Send. WhatsApp will automatically show a preview of the webpage — the title, a thumbnail image, and the first line of text — so the person receiving it knows what they're clicking.
The process works the same way on iPhone, Android, and desktop. You do not need any special steps or settings. If you want to add your own message before or after the link, type it in the same message box and send everything together.
Key Takeaways
- Copy any web address from your browser, paste it into a WhatsApp chat, and tap Send — WhatsApp shows a preview automatically.
- You can add your own text before or after the link in the same message box.
- On iPhone and Android, use the copy button in your browser; on desktop, right-click the address bar and select Copy.
- If the preview does not appear, check your internet connection — WhatsApp needs it to fetch the webpage information.
- Links you send do not expire or disappear unless you delete the message.
Sending a link on iPhone
Open Safari or your browser and navigate to the webpage you want to share. Tap the address bar at the top of the screen — it shows the full web address. Press and hold on the address, then tap Copy from the menu that appears.
Switch to WhatsApp and open the chat where you want to send the link. Tap the message box at the bottom, then press and hold and select Paste. The link appears in the message box. If you want to add text, type it before or after the link. Tap the Send button (the arrow icon) to send the message.
Sending a link on Android
Open Chrome, Firefox, or your default browser and go to the page you want to share. Tap the address bar at the top to highlight the full web address. Press and hold on the address, then tap Copy from the menu.
Open WhatsApp and find the conversation you want to send the link to. Tap inside the message box at the bottom of the screen. Press and hold in the message box and select Paste. The link appears ready to send. Add any text you want alongside it, then tap the Send button (the arrow or paper plane icon).
Sending a link on Windows or Mac
Open your web browser and navigate to the page you want to share. Click on the address bar at the top of the window to highlight the full web address. Right-click on the highlighted address and select Copy from the menu that appears.
Open WhatsApp Web in your browser (go to web.whatsapp.com) or use the WhatsApp desktop app if you have it installed. Find the chat you want to send the link to and click in the message box at the bottom. Right-click in the message box and select Paste, or use Ctrl+V on Windows or Command+V on Mac. Type any additional text you want to include, then press Enter or click the Send button.
What happens when you send a link
When you send a link, WhatsApp automatically fetches information about the webpage and displays a preview card in the chat. This preview shows the page title, a thumbnail image from the page, and the first line of text. The person you sent it to can see this preview before they click the link, which helps them decide whether to open it.
The preview appears within a few seconds if your internet connection is working. If the preview does not show up, wait a moment and check that you are connected to WiFi or mobile data. Sometimes a webpage does not have a preview image or title — in that case, WhatsApp shows just the link address itself.
Troubleshooting when links won't paste
If you copy a link but cannot paste it into WhatsApp, first check that you actually copied it. Go back to your browser, tap or click the address bar again, and repeat the copy step. Some browsers require you to highlight the address before copying.
If pasting still does not work, close WhatsApp completely and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find WhatsApp, and tap Force Stop. On desktop, close the browser tab or application and reopen it. Then try copying and pasting the link again.
Make sure you are copying the address bar and not text from the webpage itself. The address bar is at the very top of the browser window and shows the web address starting with http:// or https://.
Sharing links without copying and pasting
Most browsers and apps have a built-in share button that can send a link directly to WhatsApp without copying and pasting. Look for a share icon (usually three dots connected by lines) in your browser or app. Tap or click it and look for WhatsApp in the list of options. Selecting WhatsApp opens the app and lets you choose which chat to send the link to.
This method is faster if you send links often, because you skip the copy-and-paste steps. However, the basic copy-and-paste method works everywhere and does not require any special features in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a link to a group chat?
Yes. The steps are exactly the same — copy the link, open the group chat, paste it into the message box, and send. Everyone in the group will see the link and the preview.
What if the link is very long?
WhatsApp handles long links without any problem. Paste the entire address into the message box and send it normally. The preview will still appear, and the person receiving it can click the preview card or the link itself to open the webpage.
Do links expire or disappear after a certain time?
No. Links you send in WhatsApp stay in the chat forever unless you delete the message. The person you sent it to can click it days, weeks, or months later — as long as the webpage itself still exists online.
Can I send a link without showing the preview?
WhatsApp does not have a setting to hide previews. The preview appears automatically when you send a link. If you want to send just the address without the preview card, you can type it as plain text, but WhatsApp will still try to show a preview if it recognizes it as a link.
What if the person I'm sending the link to cannot open it?
The link itself works fine — the problem is usually on their end. They might not have internet access, their browser might be outdated, or the webpage might be blocked in their location. Ask them to check their connection and try again, or send them a screenshot of the page instead.