When you send someone a link, they usually have to dig through the page to find the part you meant. Since iOS 18.2, Safari can copy a link that opens the page scrolled straight to a highlighted passage. There’s also an older trick that puts a short quote inside the link preview in Messages. Here’s how to use both.
What you need
- An iPhone or iPad on iOS or iPadOS 18.2 or later for Copy Link with Highlight
- Safari, where the steps below apply. Chrome for iPhone has its own version, covered further down.
- For the recipient, any modern browser. They don’t need an iPhone.
Method 1: Copy Link with Highlight
- Open the page in Safari.
- Touch and hold a word in the passage you want to point to, then drag the selection handles to cover the whole passage.
- In the menu that appears, tap the arrow to see more options if needed, then tap Copy Link with Highlight.
- Open Messages, paste the link into the conversation and send it.
When the recipient taps the link, the page opens scrolled to your passage, with the text highlighted in yellow. It works even if the passage is far down a long article.
Method 2: Share the selected text to Messages
- Select the text in Safari as above.
- Tap Share in the menu that appears, then choose Messages.
The link preview in your message shows the quoted text above the page title, so the recipient sees the point before they tap. The quote is cut off at roughly 32 to 36 words, without an ellipsis, so keep the selection short.
Which method to use
| Copy Link with Highlight | Share selected text | |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient sees the quote before opening | No | Yes, in the Messages preview |
| Page opens at the highlighted passage | Yes | No |
| Works when pasted into other apps | Yes, it’s just a link | Only within Messages |
| Length limit | None in practice | Roughly 32 to 36 words in the preview |
For long articles, use Method 1. For a quick “look at this” in a chat, Method 2 reads better.
On Mac and in Chrome
- Mac: In Safari on macOS Sequoia 15.2 or later, select the text, Control-click it and choose Copy Link with Highlight.
- Chrome on iPhone: Select the text, then tap Copy Link to Highlight in the menu. The result works the same way.
Known problems
- The highlight doesn’t appear: The link works by matching the exact text. If the site has edited that passage since you copied it, the page still opens, just not at the highlight.
- No quote in the preview: Messages shows quoted previews, but other apps like Gmail or Discord may show a plain link instead.
- Paywalled or login pages: If the recipient can’t see the text, the highlight has nothing to jump to.
Getting links from people you don’t know? Here’s what Apple actually does when you report a message as spam.
FAQ
Where is Copy Link with Highlight on iPhone?
In Safari, select some text and look in the menu that pops up above it. If you do not see the option, tap the arrow at the end of the menu. You need iOS 18.2 or later.
Does a highlighted link work on Android or Windows?
Yes. The highlight is part of the link itself, so it works in Chrome, Edge and other modern browsers, not just Safari.
Why does my highlighted link open the page but not the highlight?
The text on the page has changed since you copied the link, or the page needs a login the recipient does not have. Copy a fresh link and try again.
MacReview verdict
Copy Link with Highlight is one of the most useful small features Apple added in iOS 18, and most people still don’t know it exists. Use it whenever you’re pointing someone to one paragraph rather than a whole page. Save the share-to-Messages trick for short quotes you want the other person to see straight away.
