Add a link in three clicks
To create a hyperlink in Gmail, highlight the text you want to turn into a link, click the link icon in the toolbar, paste or type the web address, and press Enter. The text will turn blue and underlined, and anyone who receives your email can click it to visit that page. You can link to any website, document, or email address.
Gmail's link tool works the same way whether you are using Gmail in a web browser or the Gmail app on your phone. The process takes seconds and requires no special formatting or code.
Key Takeaways
- Highlight the text you want to link, click the link icon in the toolbar, enter the web address, and press Enter to create a hyperlink.
- You can link to websites, Google Drive files, YouTube videos, or email addresses by changing what you paste into the link field.
- The link icon appears in the formatting toolbar below the compose box and looks like a chain link.
- You can edit or remove a link after you create it by right-clicking the linked text and selecting the edit or remove option.
Step-by-step: creating a link in Gmail on desktop
Open Gmail in your web browser and click Compose to start a new message. Type the email body and highlight the specific words you want to turn into a link. Do not highlight the entire message — just the phrase that will become clickable.
Look for the link icon in the toolbar below the compose box. It looks like a chain link and sits near the bold, italic, and underline buttons. Click it. A small box will appear asking you to enter the web address. Paste the full URL (starting with https://) into this box and press Enter. The highlighted text will turn blue and underlined, showing that the link is now active.
If you make a mistake, click the linked text again and the link icon will highlight. Click it once more to edit the URL, or right-click the text and select Remove Link to delete it entirely.
Creating links on Gmail mobile app
On iPhone or Android, open Gmail and tap the compose button. Type your message and highlight the text you want to link. Tap the link icon — it appears in the toolbar above your keyboard and looks like a chain link. A text field will appear where you can paste the web address.
Enter the full URL and tap the checkmark or Done button. The text will turn blue and become clickable. If you need to change the link later, tap the linked text, tap the link icon again, and edit the URL or remove it.
Linking to Google Drive files and documents
You can link directly to a Google Drive file, spreadsheet, or document instead of a website. Open the file in Google Drive, click the Share button, and copy the link that appears. In Gmail, highlight your text, click the link icon, and paste the Drive link into the URL field. Press Enter.
Anyone who clicks this link will be taken to the Google Drive file. If the file is set to private, they will see a message asking them to request access. If it is set to Anyone with the link can view, they will open it when ready without asking permission.
Linking to email addresses
To create a link that opens someone's email when clicked, highlight the text in your message and click the link icon. Instead of pasting a website URL, type mailto: followed by the email address with no spaces. For example: mailto:james@example.com. Press Enter.
When someone clicks this link, their default email program will open a new message addressed to that person. This is useful if you want readers to contact someone without typing their address manually.
Editing and removing links after you send
You cannot edit a link after you send an email, so double-check the URL before you hit Send. If you notice a mistake after sending, you can use Gmail's Undo feature if you catch it within a few seconds — look for the Undo button that appears at the bottom left of the screen after you send.
If more time has passed, you will need to send a follow-up email with the correct link. To avoid this, always test the link before sending by clicking it in the compose box to make sure it goes to the right place.
Common mistakes when creating links
The most common error is forgetting to include https:// at the start of the web address. Gmail usually adds this automatically, but if your link does not work, check that the URL starts with https:// or http://. Another mistake is highlighting too much text — if you highlight punctuation or extra words, those will become part of the link and may confuse readers.
If you paste a link and it does not turn blue, the URL may be incomplete or broken. Click the link icon again and verify that the full address is in the field. Some shortened URLs or special characters can cause problems, so if a link refuses to work, try copying the full, unshortened address from the website's address bar instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the color of a hyperlink in Gmail?
No, Gmail does not allow you to change link colors. All links appear in blue and underlined. If you need custom colors, you would need to use a different email service or create the message in a document and send it as an attachment.
What happens if I link to a website that no longer exists?
The link will still be clickable, but the recipient will see a 404 error or "page not found" message when they click it. Always test links before sending important emails, especially if you are linking to time-sensitive content.
Can I link to a PDF file in Gmail?
Yes, if the PDF is hosted on a website or stored in Google Drive. Copy the link to the PDF and paste it into Gmail's link field. If the PDF is on your computer, upload it to Google Drive first, then link to it from there.
Do recipients need a Gmail account to click my links?
No, anyone can click a link in an email regardless of what email service they use. The link will open in their web browser. If the link goes to a Google Drive file, they may be asked to sign in or request access, depending on the file's sharing settings.
Can I create a link without highlighting text first?
Yes, you can click the link icon without highlighting anything, and Gmail will ask you to enter both the text you want to display and the URL. This is useful if you want to create a link before you have typed the surrounding message.