How to Insert a Link Into an Email With Outlook or Windows Mail

Share links to websites and web pages in an email message

by
Heinz Tschabitscher
Heinz Tschabitscher
Writer
A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
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Heinz Tschabitscher
Updated on December 14, 2020
reviewed by
Ryan Perian headshot
Ryan Perian
Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
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Article reviewed on Sep 15, 2020
Ryan Perian

What to Know

  • In the desktop versions, select the text or image, go to the Insert tab, select Link, then enter the URL in the Address text box.
  • In Outlook Online, go to the Formatting toolbar and select Insert hyperlink, then enter the URL in the Address text box.
  • To embed the link in text (instead of displaying the full URL), enter the anchor text in the Text to display box.

This article explains how to embed a link in an email in Outlook and Windows Mail. Instructions apply to Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook Online, and the Windows Mail app.

How to Insert a Link Into an Outlook or Windows Email

You can link any word or image in your message to any page on the web, and when the recipient clicks the link, the page opens automatically.

  1. Open the email message in which you want to insert a link.

  2. Select the text or image you want to use for the link.

    Screenshot of selected text

  3. Go to the Insert tab. In Outlook Online, go to the Formatting toolbar and select Insert hyperlink.

    Screenshot of Windows Mail email message with Insert tab selected

  4. Select Link. Skip this step for Outlook Online.

    Screenshot of Insert tab showing Link in Windows Mail

  5. In the Text to display text box, type a word or phrase if you want alternate text to appear.

    Screenshot of Insert Link box

  6. In the Address text box, enter or paste the URL to which you want to link.

    To insert a link to an email address, select Email Address and fill in the fields. In Outlook Online and Windows Mail, in the Address text box, enter mailto: followed by the email address.

  7. Select OK to insert the link.

When the recipient of the email clicks the link text in your email, the linked URL opens in a browser.

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