How to add and remove links in Notes on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Notes is a terrific app for doing exactly what the name implies. And whether you use Notes for work, school, or personal items, there’s bound to be a time when you want to include a link. By adding a link in a note, you can simply tap or click it and go right to the site or page without copying and pasting the URL.

You can add links to Notes in a few different ways on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, as shown in this guide.

A note inside the Apple Notes app on iPhone with two links

Add links in Notes on iPhone and iPad

You can add a link to a note on iPhone and iPad using one of two methods. So use the one that’s most convenient for you.

Add a link with copy and paste

  1. In the address bar of the browser, select the URL to highlight it, tap, and choose Copy.
  2. Go to Notes and create a new note or open an existing one.
  3. Tap where you want the link, tap again, and select Paste.

You should see your link colored and tap-able (clickable) and can just tap to open it in your browser.

Copy Paste Link to Notes iPhone

Add a link directly from Safari

If you’re currently visiting the page you want to add to a note, share it directly from Safari:

  1. Tap the Share button and select Notes. If you don’t see Notes in your Share Sheet, tap More and select it.
  2. Select the location in Notes by tapping Save To. You can add text to your note here as well.
  3. Tap Save.
Share Link to Notes iPhone

When you open the note containing the link in Notes, just tap it, and the site or page will open right up in Safari.

Related: How to customize your Share Sheet on iPhone and iPad

Remove links in Notes on iOS

Even though you have limited ability to add links to Notes on iPhone and iPad, you do have a couple of options to remove links.

  • To keep the text: Put your cursor on or next to the link, tap the font button in the keyboard toolbar, and tap Body. You may have to tap Body twice, depending on your cursor’s location.
  • To remove both the text and link: You can select the text with the link and tap the Backspace key on your keyboard to remove both.

Add links in Notes on Mac

Unlike iOS, you have more options for adding links in Notes on Mac. So, next, we’ll show you four quick and easy methods. You can use whichever one applies to your current situation. Over time, you’ll likely find yourself using more than one of them.

Add a link with copy and paste

  1. In the address bar of any browser, select the URL and right-click and choose Copy, click Edit > Copy from the menu bar, or use the keyboard shortcut Command + C.
  2. Once you have the link on your clipboard, go to Notes and create a new note or open an existing one.
  3. Right-click and choose Paste, click Edit > Paste from the menu bar, or use the keyboard shortcut Command + V.
  4. With your cursor at the end of the link, hit your Return key.

You should see your link colored and now clickable. Single-click the link to open it in your default browser.

Copy Paste Link to Notes Mac

Add URL links

If you already have the URL of the page in a note, you can use the above steps to link it. But what if you have a list of URLs? You can link each of them easily and in just a couple of steps:

  1. Select all of the URLs you want to link.
  2. Right-click or hold Control and click and pick Substitutions > Add Links.
Add Links to Notes Mac

Each of the URLs you applied this to should then be clickable, so go ahead and click one or more to test them out.

Add a text link

You can not only link a URL in Notes, but you can create a text link that when clicked, takes you to the site or page:

  1. Select the text in your note.
  2. Click Edit > Add Link from the menu bar.
  3. Enter the URL in the box that appears and click OK.
Add Text Link in Notes Mac

Your text will then be linked to the URL you entered, and you can click it once to visit the site or page.

Add a link directly from Safari

If you’re currently visiting the page you want to add to a note, you can share it from Safari on Mac just like you can on iOS:

  1. Click the Share button on the top right of the Safari window or File from the menu bar. Then select Notes.
  2. In the pop-up window that displays, you can add text to your note and use the drop-down box to pick its exact location, add to an existing note, or create a new note with it.
  3. Click Save.
Share Link to Notes Mac

When you open the note containing the link in Notes, just double-click, and the site or page will open right up in your default browser.

Related: How to customize your Share Menu on Mac

Remove links in Notes on Mac

You can remove links in Notes on Mac pretty simply, but the method depends on whether or not you want to keep the text of that link.

Do one of the following:

  • To keep the text: Right-click or hold Control and click and select Remove Link. Or, select the link, click Edit > Edit Link, and click the Remove Link button.
  • To remove both the text and the link: Select it and click hit the Delete key on your keyboard.

As you can see, working with links in Notes on Mac is much more robust than on iPhone and iPad, which is unfortunate. But you can still add links for references for business, education, or personal reasons to Notes on any of these devices. And if you use the same Apple ID on your Mac and iPhone, the beautifully formatted notes you create on your Mac will sync to your iPhone.

Related: Solutions to fix iCloud Notes not syncing across devices

What are your thoughts on adding links to Notes? Is this something you find yourself doing often and wish iOS had more capabilities? Or is it something you normally only do on Mac and are happy with your options?

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