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Use links to share websites and files with other people
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Hyperlinks are a crucial way to share data online. Links allow people to quickly jump to another location or file on the internet by clicking. You can add links to emails, documents, messages, and web pages (HTML documents). Adding links also plays a huge role in directing traffic to websites or videos, making it easier for people to access and share content. This wikiHow article teaches you how to create a link.
Create a Link
You can create a simple link by copying and pasting the URL that you want to link to. The HTML code to create a link is " <a href="[website url]">[link text]</a> ". You can link to files on Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive using the Share menu.
Steps
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Go to the webpage that you want to link to. Use any web browser to open the webpage you want to share a link to. Many text apps allow you to create a simple link by copying and pasting the URL.
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Select the webpage's address. Tap or click the webpage's address at the top of the web browser. Doing this should highlight the address.Advertisement
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Copy the address. Use one of the following steps to do so:
- Mobile - Tap and hold the highlighted text. Then tap Copy when prompted. You may have to tap and hold the address or tap Select All first on some phones.
- Desktop - Press Ctrl + C (Windows) or Command +C (Mac) while the link is highlighted.
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Find a place to post the link. You can post links in any text field (e.g., a status box on Facebook , your tweets , direct message, or your phone's messaging app, etc.).
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Paste your link. To do so:
- Mobile - Tap and hold the text field, then tap Paste when prompted.
- Desktop - Click the text field, then press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).
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Test your link. Once you've posted your link, tap or click it to make sure that it takes you to the correct location.
- The link will usually change color once it's ready to be selected.
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Copy the URL that you want to create a link for. This can be a link to another page on your website, or it can be a link to another website. To copy the URL, open the web page you want to link to, highlight the text in the address bar, right-click it, and click Copy .
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Open an HTML file. HTML documents are text files that have a ".html" or ".htm" file extension. They are used to design web pages. You can edit an HTML document in any text editor (i.e. Notepad, Microsoft Word) or you can use an HTML editor (i.e., Adobe Dreamweaver).
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Type <a href= . This is the opening HTML tag for a hyperlink.
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Paste the link in quotes immediately after the opening tag. Put a pair of quote marks immediately after the equals sign (=) in the opening tag. Then paste URL you want to link to in between the quote marks.
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Place a > immediately after the URL. Add the closing bracket immediately after the quote mark after the URL. This closes the opening tag.
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Type the text you want the link to say. Enter the text you want the link to display immediately after the closing bracket. This can be something like "Click here to view" or if you are using another web page as a reference, you can include the link the paragraph text where you want to add a citation.
- Alternatively, you can use the HTML code to insert images and use an image as a link instead of text.
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Type </a> . This is the closing tag for your HTML hyperlink. Place this immediately after your link text.
- Your HTML link should look something like this: <a href="https://www.wikihow.com/">wikiHow</a>
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Upload a file to a cloud storage service. Cloud storage services, such as Google Drive , iCloud Drive , OneDrive , and DropBox allow you to upload files and create a sharable link you can use to share links to your files. Use the following steps to upload a file to cloud storage:
- To to the website for your cloud storage service or open the mobile app.
- Make sure you are signed in to your account.
- Tap the option to upload a file, which usually has an icon with a plus sign (+).
- Select the file you want to upload.
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Open the file you want to create a link for. To do so, simply click or tap the file you want to share on the cloud storage website or mobile app.
- Alternatively, you can share a folder instead of a single file.
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Open the Share menu. Usually, this is just a button that says Share . It may be at the top of the page or in the upper-right corner. This opens the Share menu.
- On iCloud Drive it's the icon it's the icon that resembles a plus (+) sign next to a person.
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Allow anyone with the link to view the file. The Share menu should have an option that says "Manage access," "Permissions," "Who can view" or something similar. Select this option and ensure that anyone with the link can view the file.
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Click Copy Link . This copies a sharable link to the file to your clipboard.
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Paste the link in a message. You can paste the link in an email, direct message, social media post, text message, or document. Paste the link wherever you want to share the link to the file.
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Copy a website's address. You can copy the URL from the address bar in your web browser or create a shareable link to a file in cloud storage.
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Open your preferred email service on a computer. Most email services allow you to add a hyperlink to an email, but you'll have to use the email's website instead of the mobile app to do so.
- If you aren't signed into your email inbox, enter your email address and password associated with your account to log in.
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Open a new email window. This step varies depending on your email provider:
- Gmail - Click COMPOSE in the upper-left side of the page.
- Yahoo - Click Compose in the upper-left side of the page.
- Apple mail - Click the blue pen-and-pad icon at the top of the page.
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Click the email's body section. This is the large, blank space below the "Subject" section. Doing so will allow you to create a hyperlink.
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Click the hyperlink icon. On most email providers, this icon resembles two chain links; you'll usually find it at the bottom of the "New Email" window. Clicking this icon will bring up the hyperlink.
- On Apple mail, the hyperlink option is a www icon at the top of the "New Email" window.
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Paste in your link. Click the "Link," "Link To,"or "Web address" text field, then press Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).
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Enter your hyperlink's text. In the "Text to display", or "Text." enter the text that you want to display as the link.
- For example, you might type "click here" in this box to create a link to the page that activates when someone clicks the words "click here" in your email.
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Click OK or Save . Doing so will post your hyperlink inside of your email. You can proceed with creating the rest of your email.
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Right-click where you want to insert a link. This displays a context menu. Many Microsoft Office products, including Word and Outlook have a built-in feature that allows you to add links to your text.
- Alternatively, you can click the Insert or Message tab at the top of the page and click Link in the menu bar at the top.
- You can also insert a link using the keyboard shortcut, which is Ctrl + K on Windows or Command + K on Mac. [1] X Research source
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Enter the address you want to link to next to "Address." It's at the bottom of the "Insert Hyperlink" window. Open the page you want to link to in your web browser and copy the address in the address bar at the top.
- Alternatively, you can use this window to select another Word document you want to link to.
- This window also gives you the option to link to another location within the document or link to an email address. These options are in the menu on the left side.
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Enter the text you want the link to say. Enter the link text next to where it says "Text to display" at the top of the window. [2] X Trustworthy Source Microsoft Support Technical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
- Alternatively, you can highlight a word or phrase in the document, right-click it and click Link to include the text automatically.
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Click Ok . It's the button at the bottom of the page. This adds the link to your document.
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Open a Google Doc. You can access your Google Docs at https://docs.google.com/ . Be sure to log in with your Google account.
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Click where you want to add a link in your document. You can add a link anywhere in the document text.
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Click Insert . It's in the menu bar at the top of the page.
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Click Link . It's near the bottom of the menu that appears when you click "Insert."
- You can also insert a link using the keyboard shortcut, which is Ctrl + K on Windows or Command + K on Mac.
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Enter the text you want the link to say. Enter the link text in the field that says "Text."
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Enter the address you want to link to. Go to the website you want to link to in a web browser and copy the address in the address bar at the top of the page. Then paste it in the field that says "Search or Paste a Link."
- Alternatively, you can enter the name of another Google Doc you want to link to and select it in the list of results.
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Click Apply . It's next to the field where you insert your link. This adds the link to your document.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I find a hyperlink?Community AnswerIf you want to notice a hyperlink, all you really need to do is roll over the link with your mouse. If an underline appears below the line with the mouse over it, it's a link.
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QuestionHow can someone access an audio file from my computer?Community AnswerYou can upload it to Google Drive, and then allow all people with the link to view/edit it.
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QuestionHow do I create a link in a text message on an iPhone?Community AnswerCopy the link from the top of the screen and paste it into your text message.
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Tips
- Hyperlinks are helpful when creating resource lists in emails for things like onboarding or a syllabus.Thanks
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Warnings
- Always double-check your links' syntax before publishing them. One missing bracket or letter can break the link.Thanks
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Expert Interview
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References
About This Article
Article Summary
X
1. Open the page you want to link in a browser.
2. Select the webpage address.
3. Right-click the address.
4. Click Copy
.
5. Go to the place you want to insert the link.
6. Right-click the typing area.
7. Click Paste
.
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,135,160 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "The explanation is in detail and easy to follow. Many novice persons like me will benefit."
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"The explanation is in detail and easy to follow. Many novice persons like me will benefit."
"I was able to understand how to create a link with the process given to me."
"I can finally show my friends the videos that I love!"
