How to change copy and paste link format on Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge now includes a feature to paste links you copied from the address as hyperlinks or plain text, and here's how to use the feature.

Microsoft Edge enhanced copy and paste
Microsoft Edge enhanced copy and paste

On Windows 10, starting with version 87, the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge introduces a new feature that allows you to decide the default behavior to paste URLs you copied from the address bar.

The new default behavior is set to paste a link as a hyperlink with the title of the page, but you can change the settings to paste the link as a plain web address.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to change the default behavior of the enhanced copy and paste experience available for Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.

Change copy and paste formats for links on Microsoft Edge

To change the copy and paste web address default behavior, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Click on Settings and more (ellipsis) menu button and select the Settings option.

  3. Click on Share, copy, and paste.

  4. Select the new default option: 

    • Link – Pastes the address bar link as a hyperlink with a title.
    • Plain text – Pastes the address bar link as a normal and long URL.

    Microsoft Edge paste as link or plain text
    Microsoft Edge paste as link or plain text

Once you complete the steps, the next time you paste on an app or online service, the link will paste with the default format you configured in the settings.

Although this feature should help to improve adding links to a document or email, some apps can override the enhanced copy and paste available with the web browser.

Use copy and paste formats for links on Microsoft Edge

To use the new copy and paste style, use these steps:

  1. Open Microsoft Edge.

  2. Open a webpage.

  3. Select and copy the link from the address bar.

    Quick tip: To copy the link, you can either triple-click the web address and use the Ctrl +  C keyboard shortcut or right-click the selection and choose the Copy option.
  4. On a web app or outside the browser, use the Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut to paste the link with default behavior.

  5. (Optional) On a web app, right-click, select the Paste as and select whether to paste the web address as Plain text or Link.

    Microsoft Edge Paste as menu
    Microsoft Edge Paste as menu

After you complete the steps, the web address will paste with the format you selected. You can even paste faster when using the assigned keyboard shortcuts, including Ctrl + V to paste as link or Ctrl + Shift + V to paste as plain text.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].