How to Insert Hyperlinks in Google Chat

This guide shows you how to add clickable links to your messages in Google Chat, whether you’re using the web version, the desktop app, or the mobile app. You’ll learn the quick keyboard shortcut, how to paste a URL that auto-links, and how to turn any text into a custom link. No special permissions or admin settings are required.

What You’ll Need

A Google account (personal or Workspace) with access to Google Chat.
The Google Chat app or website open and you must be signed in.
The URL you want to link to (copy it to your clipboard if you have it).

Step-by-Step

Open Google Chat – Go to chat.google.com in your browser, or open the Google Chat desktop app (Windows/Mac) or mobile app (Android/iOS).
Start a message – Click on an existing conversation or start a new one by clicking the “+” icon and selecting a person or space.
Type your message – In the message box, write the text you want to send. You can include the link text as part of the sentence, e.g., “Check out this article.”
Select the text you want to make clickable – Use your mouse to highlight the exact words or phrase that should become the hyperlink. For example, highlight “this article” in the sentence above.
Insert the link using the toolbar (desktop/web) – Look for the link icon (it looks like a chain link) in the formatting toolbar above the message box. Click it. A small dialog will appear where you can paste the URL. Paste your link and press Enter or click “Apply”.
Use the keyboard shortcut (all platforms) – After selecting the text, press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac). This opens the same link dialog. Paste your URL and press Enter.
On mobile (Android/iOS) – After highlighting the text, a pop-up menu appears. Tap the arrow (›) to see more options, then tap the link icon (chain). Paste the URL and tap the checkmark or “Insert”.
Paste a URL directly (auto-link) – If you just want to share a link without custom text, simply paste the full URL (e.g., https://example.com) into the message box. Google Chat will automatically convert it into a clickable link once you send the message.
Send the message – Press Enter (or tap the send button) to send. The selected text will now appear as a blue, underlined hyperlink.

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to select text first – If you click the link icon without highlighting text, Google Chat will insert the URL as the link text itself. That’s not wrong, but it’s often less readable.
Using the wrong shortcut – Ctrl+K works on Windows and Chrome OS, but on Mac it’s Cmd+K. Using Ctrl+K on a Mac will not open the link dialog.
Pasting a URL with spaces – If you copy a URL that contains spaces (e.g., from a poorly formatted email), Google Chat may not auto-link it. Make sure the URL is clean and complete.
Linking to the wrong URL – Double-check that the pasted URL is correct. A common mistake is copying a search result URL instead of the actual page URL.

Tips

Use descriptive link text – Instead of “click here”, use text that describes the destination, like “the project timeline” or “our vacation photos”. This is more helpful for the reader and looks more professional.
Edit a link after sending – You can’t edit a link once the message is sent, but you can delete the message and resend with the correct link. In Google Chat, you can hover over your message, click the three-dot menu, and select “Delete”.
Link to an email address – You can also create a mailto link by typing mailto:someone@example.com in the URL field. This will open the recipient’s email client.
Keyboard shortcut for quick linking – If you’re a heavy keyboard user, get into the habit of Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K) – it’s the fastest way to add a link without touching the mouse.

Troubleshooting

Link icon is grayed out – This usually means you haven’t selected any text. Highlight the text first, then the icon will become active.
Ctrl+K doesn’t work – If the shortcut doesn’t respond, make sure your cursor is inside the message box and that you have highlighted text. Also, check if you’re on a Mac – use Cmd+K instead. If it still doesn’t work, try clicking the link icon manually.
Pasted URL doesn’t become clickable – This can happen if the URL contains special characters or if you’re in a space with restricted permissions. Try typing the URL manually, or break it into parts to see if it’s a formatting issue. If the URL is very long, Google Chat might not auto-link it – use the link dialog instead.
Link opens in the same tab (web) – By default, Google Chat opens links in a new tab. If it opens in the same tab, it might be a browser setting. Check your browser’s settings for “Open links in new tab” or use Ctrl+click (Cmd+click on Mac) to force a new tab.
Link doesn’t work for others – If the link works for you but not for others, the URL might be behind a firewall or require login. Test the link in an incognito window to see if it’s publicly accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a hyperlink to a Google Chat message on my phone?

Yes. On the mobile app, highlight the text, tap the arrow in the pop-up menu, then tap the link icon. Paste the URL and confirm.

How do I remove a hyperlink from text in Google Chat?

You can’t remove a link after sending, but you can delete the message and resend. To remove a link before sending, select the linked text, press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K), and clear the URL field.

Does Google Chat auto-link URLs?

Yes, when you paste a full URL (starting with http:// or https://) and send the message, it becomes clickable automatically. You don’t need to use the link dialog for that.

Can I link to a file from Google Drive in a chat message?

Yes, you can paste a Drive link (like https://drive.google.com/…) and it will auto-link. You can also use the “+” icon to insert a Drive file directly, which creates a clickable card.

Why does my link show as plain text before I send?

Google Chat shows the link as plain text while you’re typing. Once you send the message, it converts to a clickable hyperlink. This is normal.

Is there a character limit for URLs in Google Chat?

There’s no specific limit for URLs, but very long URLs may be truncated in the message. It’s better to use a link shortener or descriptive text for long links.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

More cards in this drawer

The whole Numbers and Powers drawer →