How to Hyperlink Text on Discord (Masked Links Guide)

Q: How do you make a clickable link on Discord without showing the URL?

Use the masked link syntax: [text you want to show](URL). For example, [Discordify](https://discordify.net) shows only "Discordify" as a clickable link.

Q: How do I stop Discord from showing link previews?

Wrap the URL in angle brackets inside the parentheses: [text]( ). This keeps the masked link functional but suppresses the embed preview. Works on both desktop and mobile.

Quick Syntax [text to show](URL)

Put the text in square brackets, then the URL in parentheses right after, with no space between them.

Pro tip: [text](<URL>) hides the link preview

Masked links are one of Discord's most useful features that most people do not know exist. Instead of pasting a long ugly URL that takes up half the chat, you can hide it behind any text you choose. The result looks clean, professional, and takes up minimal space.

This guide covers how to hyperlink on Discord using masked links on desktop and mobile, plus the angle bracket trick to hide link preview embeds. For a complete reference of every formatting option, check out The Ultimate Discord Text Formatting Guide.

How to Make a Masked Link on Discord Desktop

Discord supports standard Markdown-style links. The format is simple: square brackets for the text, parentheses for the URL.

Basic Masked Link Syntax

Type the text you want to show inside [], then put the URL inside () right after with no space between them.

[Click here to visit Discordify](https://discordify.net)

When you send the message, only "Click here to visit Discordify" is visible. Clicking it opens https://discordify.net in your browser. The raw URL stays hidden.

Typing the masked link syntax in a Discord chat

Pasting a URL and Turning It Into a Link

If you already pasted a long URL into the chat, you can back up and wrap it with the masked link syntax. Just add []() around it, move the URL into the parentheses, and write your display text in the brackets. Discord does not have a built-in toolbar button for masked links, so you always need to type the syntax manually.

Select Text and Paste the URL (Quick Method)

Discord has a handy shortcut that most people do not know about. Instead of typing the brackets and parentheses by hand, you can let Discord do the work:

Type the text you want to use as your link label.
Select that text with your cursor (click and drag over it).
Copy a URL to your clipboard (Ctrl + C).
With the text still selected, paste the URL (Ctrl + V).

Discord automatically wraps the selected text in a masked link using the URL you pasted. For example, if you typed "Discordify", selected it, and pasted https://discordify.net, Discord converts it to [Discordify](https://discordify.net) automatically. This works on the desktop app and web client.

This method also works on mobile. Select the text in the message input, then paste a copied URL. Discord wraps it in the masked link format without needing to type the syntax.

How to Hide Link Previews (The Angle Bracket Trick)

By default, Discord generates a link preview embed when you send most URLs. This can be useful, but sometimes you want to share a link without the big image preview taking over the chat. There is a simple way to suppress it.

Without preview (recommended for clean chats):

[Discordify](<https://discordify.net>)

With preview (default behavior):

[Discordify](https://discordify.net)

Wrapping the URL in < > inside the parentheses tells Discord not to generate a link preview embed. The link still works perfectly, but no image or summary card appears below your message.

Tip When to use this: Use the angle bracket version when sharing links in busy channels, moderation notes, or any chat where you do not want the embed to distract from the conversation. Skip the brackets when the preview is helpful (videos, articles, server invites).

How to Hyperlink on Discord Mobile

Mobile does not have a masked link shortcut or toolbar button. You have to type the syntax manually, but the process is the same as desktop.

iOS (iPhone / iPad)

1
Type the opening bracket [ on your keyboard (usually on the symbols page).
2
Type your display text, then close the bracket ].
3
Immediately type (, paste your URL, then ). No spaces between the brackets and parentheses.
4
Send the message. Only your display text shows in chat.

Android

1
Tap the message input and switch to the symbols keyboard to find [ and ].
2
Type [text](, then paste or type your URL.
3
Close with ). The format should look like [Discordify](https://discordify.net).
4
To hide the preview, add angle brackets around the URL: [Discordify](<https://discordify.net>).

Tip Typing brackets on mobile: Square brackets [ ] are usually on the symbols page. On iOS, tap 123 then #+=. On Android, tap ?123 then =\<. The parentheses are on the main symbols page.

Masked Links vs Plain URLs: What Is the Difference?

Plain URL: https://discordify.net — Shows the full URL in chat plus a link preview embed below it.
Masked link: [Discordify](https://discordify.net) — Shows only "Discordify" in chat. Still generates a link preview unless you use angle brackets.
Masked link without preview: [Discordify](<https://discordify.net>) — Shows only "Discordify" in chat with no embed preview.

Masked links are the cleanest option for most situations. If you want to share a link without visual clutter, always use the angle bracket version.

Common Mistakes with Discord Masked Links

Common Issues

There is a space between the brackets and parentheses. [text] (url) does not work. There must be zero space between ] and (.
You are using the wrong bracket type. Masked links use square brackets [ ] for text and parentheses ( ) for the URL. Curly braces { } or angle brackets < > around the text will not work.
The URL is missing the protocol. discordify.net without https:// may not link correctly. Always include https:// or http:// before the domain.
You are inside a code block. Masked links do not render inside `inline code` or code blocks. The raw syntax will show instead of the clickable link.
The link contains special characters that break the syntax. If your URL has parentheses in it (like Wikipedia links), they can close the masked link early. Try URL-encoding the parentheses as %28 and %29 instead.

Hyperlink Text Discord FAQ

How do you make a clickable link on Discord without showing the URL?

Use the masked link syntax: [text you want to show](URL). For example, [Discordify](https://discordify.net) shows only "Discordify" as a clickable link.

How do I stop Discord from showing link previews?

Wrap the URL in angle brackets inside the parentheses: [text](<URL>). This keeps the masked link functional but suppresses the embed preview. Works on both desktop and mobile.

Can I hyperlink text in a Discord server description or channel topic?

No. Masked links only work in chat messages. Server descriptions, channel topics, nicknames, and roles do not support Markdown links.

Is there a keyboard shortcut for masked links on Discord?

No. Discord does not have a native shortcut for masked links. You must type the [text](URL) syntax manually every time. There is no toolbar button for it either.

Can I use masked links in Discord embeds or bot messages?

Yes, but the syntax depends on how the embed is built. Bot developers can include masked links in embed descriptions and fields using standard Markdown. User-typed masked links also work in webhook messages.

Why is my masked link showing as raw text instead of a link?

You likely have a space between the closing bracket and the opening parenthesis, or you are typing inside a code block. Make sure the format is exactly [text](URL) with no spaces and no surrounding backticks.