How to Share Links in YouTube Comments and Shorts
YouTube lets you share links in some places and silently disables them in others. Here is where URLs actually work - and how a 5-character code covers the rest.
Where YouTube links are clickable
Not every YouTube surface treats URLs the same. Use this map before you paste an http string into a comment.
| Place | Clickable URL? |
|---|---|
| Channel profile links | Yes |
| Long-form video description and comments | Often yes, if filters do not hold the comment |
| Shorts comments and Shorts descriptions | No. URLs are non-clickable. |
| Live chat on mobile vertical | Often no |
Creators also routinely hold comments that contain links for review. Even on a long-form video, your URL comment may never appear.
Why Shorts comments strip links
YouTube made Shorts comment and description URLs non-clickable to reduce spam and scam taps. That includes pinned comments.
If you need a permanent destination, use channel profile links. If you need to point at one specific doc, repo, form, or second page, a profile link is often too broad.
Share a 5-character code instead of a URL
PasteHub turns the destination into a code like cws33. It is not a URL, so Shorts has nothing to unlink.
- Go to PasteHub.
- Paste the URL or the text you want viewers to copy and create a share.
- Copy the code or comment-ready blurb.
- Post it under the video or Short: Paste cws33 on PasteHub for the link.
Five characters work in voiceover, on-screen text, and comments. A full URL does not.
Stay inside YouTube's rules
A code is a convenience, not a loophole for scams. Do not use PasteHub to hide phishing, malware, or spam.
Viewers always see the destination before they open it. PasteHub removes reported abuse.
Questions people ask
YouTube makes URLs in Shorts comments and Shorts descriptions non-clickable to cut spam. A pasted http link will not open from a Short.
Sometimes. Long-form comments can include clickable URLs, but many creators hold comments that contain links for review.
Create a PasteHub code and tell viewers to open PasteHub and paste the 5-character code. Use your channel profile links for a permanent destination.
A code is ordinary letters and numbers, not a URL. It is less likely to be treated as a link comment, but you should still follow YouTube's policies.
No. Codes never auto-redirect. Viewers always see the original URL or text before opening anything.