How to Copy a Link as Markdown in Chrome — 3 Methods

Published July 23, 2026 · Chrome tips

Markdown links follow the format [display text](url). They're the standard way to reference web pages in Obsidian notes, GitHub issues, READMEs, Slack messages, Notion docs, and developer documentation.

The problem? Chrome doesn't have a native "copy as Markdown link" option. The default "Copy link address" only copies the raw URL. Here are three ways to get a Markdown-formatted link, from fastest to most manual.

Method 1: Chrome Extension (Fastest — One Click)

The fastest way to copy a link as Markdown is a lightweight Chrome extension like Copy as Markdown Link. Install it, click the toolbar icon, and [Page Title](url) is on your clipboard instantly.

Install in 30 seconds:

  1. Go to the Chrome Web Store listing
  2. Click "Add to Chrome"
  3. Click the extension icon on any page → Markdown link copied

Alternatively, install from source (developer mode):

  1. Download the ZIP and unzip
  2. Open chrome://extensions/
  3. Enable Developer mode (top-right toggle)
  4. Click "Load unpacked" → select the folder

The extension also adds a right-click context menu option — "Copy as Markdown link" — so you don't even need the toolbar.

Method 2: Bookmarklet (No Install, No Extension)

If you'd rather not install any extension, you can use a bookmarklet. Create a new bookmark in Chrome and paste this as the URL:

javascript:(function(){var t=document.title.replace(/\s*[-—|]\s*(YouTube|Medium|GitHub|HN|Reddit).*$/,'').trim();navigator.clipboard.writeText('['+t+']('+location.href+')')})();

Click the bookmark on any page to copy a Markdown link to your clipboard.

Tradeoff: No visual feedback, no context menu, no link-specific copy (only copies the current page). Won't work on chrome:// pages.

Method 3: Manual (No Tools Required)

If you only copy a Markdown link once in a while, manual works:

  1. Highlight the page title in the tab or page
  2. Copy it (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C)
  3. Press Ctrl+L / Cmd+L to focus the address bar
  4. Copy the URL (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C)
  5. Type [, paste title (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
  6. Type ](, paste URL (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
  7. Type )

That's seven actions per link. At 20 links per day, that's 140 extra key presses. Do the math for a year.

Why Bother with Markdown Links?

Markdown links are portable. Unlike rich-text links that lose formatting when pasted into different apps, [title](url) works everywhere:

Which Method Should You Use?

Method Speed Best for
Extension 1 click Daily users (10+ links/day)
Bookmarklet Occasional users (no install)
Manual 7 steps Rare use (1-2 links/week)
Get the One-Click Extension →

Free · 5KB · Zero tracking · Open source

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