How to find links in WhatsApp chats (and keep the ones you need)
Published · 6 min read
To find a link in WhatsApp on iPhone, open the chat, tap the contact or group name at the top, choose Media, Links and Docs, and switch to the Links tab. WhatsApp collects the web links from that conversation there, so you do not have to scroll back through the whole chat.
This guide covers that list, how to search when you remember only a few words, how starring messages and the “message yourself” chat can help, why links disappear, and how to keep the few that matter in a library you control. It describes WhatsApp's menus at the time of writing; names and positions can differ slightly between app versions.
Where does WhatsApp keep the links from a chat?
Every chat, whether it is one person or a group, has a Media, Links and Docs screen. Links are one of its tabs.
- 1Open the chat.
- 2Tap the name at the top of the screen to open the chat's info page.
- 3Tap Media, Links and Docs.
- 4Switch to the Links tab. Tap an entry to open the page.
This list is per chat, so you need to know roughly which conversation the link was in. If the message that carried a link is deleted, the link no longer shows here either.
How do I search for a link I only half remember?
WhatsApp searches the text of your messages, so the words that came with the link are usually the best clue: a name, a place, “the hotel”, “the recipe”.
- 1To search one chat, open it, tap the name at the top, and tap Search.
- 2To search every chat, use the search field at the top of the chat list. In recent versions, tapping it also offers filters such as Links, which narrows results to messages containing links.
- 3Type a word you remember from the message or from the website's name.
- 4Open the result; WhatsApp jumps to that message in the conversation.
Can I keep a link inside WhatsApp itself?
Yes, in two simple ways, and both are fine for a handful of links.
- Star the message: touch and hold the message and choose Star. Starred messages are collected in one list in WhatsApp's settings, so you can find them without remembering the chat.
- Message yourself: WhatsApp has a chat with your own number. Forward or paste links there and they stay in one place.
Both keep the link as a message inside a chat app. There is no read or unread state, no grouping by topic, and the link is only as lasting as the app's history on your phone. That is fine for a few links; for more, a separate list is easier.
Why can't I find a link that was in the chat?
A few ordinary reasons explain most missing links:
- The sender deleted the message for everyone. WhatsApp then shows a deleted-message notice instead of the link.
- The chat uses disappearing messages, so older messages are removed after the period that was set.
- You deleted the chat or cleared it on your phone, and there was no backup to restore it from.
- You changed phones and the chat history was not restored. See how to back up your saved links before switching iPhones.
- You are looking in the wrong chat. Search from the chat list to check all of them.
The lesson is the same for any chat app: a link only lives as long as the message that carried it. Copy the important ones out.
How do I keep a WhatsApp link in Linkeeper?
Linkeeper is an iPhone and iPad app for saving links and reading them later. It keeps links on your device, in a library you can search by title, tag, note or saved text, and it does not need an account.
- 1In WhatsApp, touch and hold the message with the link and choose Copy.
- 2Open Linkeeper and tap + in the Library header to open the add screen.
- 3Tap Save copied link. Linkeeper reads the clipboard only when you tap, shows a preview, and tells you if that link is already in your library.
- 4Add a short note, such as who sent it or why you want it, then save. Tags and collections can be added later.
If you open the link in a browser first, you can also use the Share button there and choose Linkeeper, which saves it without opening the app. If Linkeeper is not in the share row, add it to the share sheet first.
Later, search for a word from the title, your note or the article itself, even without a connection. To tidy a growing list, see how to organize bookmarks with tags or folders.
Which method should I use?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| You need a link from a chat this week | Links tab or search in WhatsApp |
| A few links you want to keep for yourself | Star the message, or message yourself |
| Links you want to read later, tag and search | Copy and save into Linkeeper |
| Chat with disappearing messages on | Copy the link out before it expires |
For the same task in another chat app, see how to find links in Telegram chats or in Zalo and Messenger. If you saved something and cannot remember where, how to find a saved link on iPhone walks through each place to look.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I see all the links in a WhatsApp chat on iPhone?
- Open the chat, tap its name at the top, choose Media, Links and Docs, then open the Links tab.
- Can I search all my WhatsApp chats for a link?
- Yes. Use the search field at the top of the chat list and type a word from the message or the website's name. In recent versions you can also pick the Links filter.
- Why did a link disappear from my WhatsApp chat?
- The sender may have deleted the message for everyone, the chat may use disappearing messages, or the chat history was deleted or not restored after a phone change. Copy important links out of the chat.
- How do I keep an important link from WhatsApp?
- Star the message, send the link to your own chat, or copy it into a link-saving app. In Linkeeper, tap + and Save copied link; the link is stored on your device with a preview.
- Does Linkeeper need a WhatsApp account or access to my chats?
- No. Linkeeper never connects to WhatsApp. You copy a link yourself and save it; it reads the clipboard only when you tap Save copied link.