Opening links on WhatsApp status updates allows you to share content from the web with your WhatsApp contacts. However, links shared in status updates are not clickable by default. You need to follow a few simple steps to be able to open and access links on WhatsApp status.
Ways to Open WhatsApp Status Links
There are a couple of different methods you can use to open and access links shared via WhatsApp status:
Copy Link and Paste in Browser
The easiest way is to copy the link text from the status update and paste it into your mobile browser. To do this:
- Open WhatsApp and tap on the contact’s profile whose status update has the link.
- From their profile, tap on the status update that contains the link. This will open the status in fullscreen view.
- Long press on the link text in the status update. This will highlight the link text.
- Copy the highlighted text.
- Open your preferred mobile browser (Chrome, Safari etc).
- Paste the copied link text in the address bar of the browser.
- Press enter to open the link.
This will open the link in your browser and allow you to access the content.
Use Link Preview
Many links shared on WhatsApp status updates will show a preview of the content, including an image, title, and description. You can tap on this preview to open the link.
To do this:
- Open the status update containing the link.
- Tap and hold on the link preview content that is shown.
- A menu will pop up – tap on “Open Link”.
This will launch the link content in your browser.
Share Status to Contacts
You can also forward the status update containing the link to any of your contacts or groups. This will allow you to then directly open the link from the forwarded message.
To do this:
- Open the status update you want to share.
- Tap the Share icon in the top right (it looks like an arrow pointing out of a box).
- Select the contact or group you want to forward the status to.
- In the forwarded message, long press the link text and tap “Open Link”.
This will launch the link content.
Saving WhatsApp Status Links
If you want to save a link shared on WhatsApp status for accessing later, you have a couple of options:
Copy Link to Notes App
You can copy the link text and paste it into your phone’s notes app. To do this:
- Copy the link text from the status update as explained above.
- Open your phone’s notes app.
- Paste the link text into a new note.
- You can also add any other useful info like the contact name, date etc.
This will allow you to access the link later from your notes.
Use a Link Saving App
There are various apps you can download that will allow you to save links directly from WhatsApp status updates. These apps provide a centralized place to access all your saved links.
Some popular link saving apps include:
- SaveIt
- LinkDrop
- LinkSave
- SaveLink
To use these, you just need to share the status update containing the link to the app. It will then extract and save the link so you can access it later.
Accessing Links on WhatsApp Web/Desktop
If you are accessing WhatsApp on the web or desktop, the process to open status links is similar:
- Open the contact’s profile and status update containing the link.
- Right click on the link text and select “Copy Link Address”.
- Paste this link in your desktop browser to open it.
You can also click and drag to highlight the link text and right-click to access the “Open Link” option directly.
On WhatsApp Web you can also forward the status update to any of your chats, which will make the link clickable for easy access.
Troubleshooting Tips
Here are some troubleshooting tips if you are having issues opening links from WhatsApp status:
- Make sure you are copying the full link text properly. Try re-selecting and recopying the text if needed.
- Check that the link itself is not broken or invalid. Try opening it directly in your browser first.
- Links that redirect through multiple pages may not open properly. Try pasting the link in your browser instead.
- If the link preview is not appearing, the website may have disabled preview generation. Copy-paste the link instead.
- Update to the latest version of WhatsApp in case there are bugs with handling links in older versions.
- Make sure your internet connection is stable and you are not facing connectivity issues.
- Try restarting your phone and reopening WhatsApp to clear out any glitches.
Following these tips should help you successfully open links shared via WhatsApp status updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions about opening WhatsApp status links:
Why are links on WhatsApp status not clickable?
WhatsApp intentionally makes links non-clickable on status updates as a security and privacy measure. This prevents unauthorized redirects and inhibits spam/malware links. You need to manually copy and open the links.
Can I open WhatsApp status links directly in another app?
Yes, when you copy the link text you can paste it directly into other apps like Twitter, Telegram, Slack etc. The link will open within that app itself if supported.
Do links on WhatsApp status expire after 24 hours?
No, the links will continue to work even after the status expires after 24 hours. As long as the content on the destination website is still available, the links will remain functional.
Can I open links on WhatsApp status if I don’t have a data plan?
You will need an active internet connection via WiFi or mobile data to be able to open and access links from WhatsApp status. Without this, the links cannot be opened.
Is it safe to open links on WhatsApp status updates?
Generally it is safe if the links are being shared by known contacts. But you should be careful about opening links from unknown numbers which may contain spam/malware. It is best to have antivirus installed for additional protection.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp status links are not directly clickable, they can still easily be opened on both mobile and web using the copy-paste method or by tapping on the link preview. Make sure to only open links shared by trusted contacts and take precautions when accessing links from unknown numbers. With the methods outlined, you can conveniently access useful content shared via status updates on WhatsApp. The additional security measures in fact help prevent harmful links from automatically opening without the user’s consent.