When adding links to YouTube Shorts, you may notice that they appear as plain text and cannot be clicked. This is due to a policy implemented by YouTube to help reduce spam and scams on the platform.
What YouTube Says #
According to YouTube Support, URLs placed in YouTube Shorts comments and Shorts descriptions are non-clickable.
This means viewers won’t be able to tap or click on those links directly—they would need to manually copy and paste the URL into their browser.
YouTube disables clickable links in Shorts descriptions, comments, and vertical mobile live feeds to help reduce spam, scams, and misleading content. This is part of YouTube’s efforts to protect viewers from potentially harmful external websites.
When Are Links Clickable? #
Links remain clickable in the following cases:
- Long-form YouTube videos — links in both the description and comments are clickable.
- Channel profile links — you can include clickable URLs in your channel’s “About” section or links area.
Note: Links that lead to websites containing content that goes against YouTube’s External Links Policy are not permitted on the platform.
YouTube Link Clickability Overview Table: #
To ensure your viewers can interact with your links easily, we recommend sharing them in long-form YouTube videos or in your channel profile, where they remain fully clickable.
