- Attaching a link to a Snapchat Story, step by step
- What viewers see when your Snapchat Story has a link
- Choosing which Snap in your Snapchat Story carries the link
- Adding a link to Snapchat Stories from the web or a computer
- Snapchat Story links for small businesses and creators
- Snapchat Story link not showing? Things to check
- Keeping links in Snapchat Stories safe
- Frequently asked questions
To add a link to a Snapchat Story, take a Snap, tap the paperclip icon on the Preview screen, paste, type or search for the website, tap Attach to Snap, then post it to My Story. The detail people miss: the link belongs to that one Snap, so add it before you post.
A Story is often the first thing your friends check on Snapchat, so it's a handy spot to point them at something: a new blog post, a menu, an event page, a playlist. I get asked about this a lot by small business owners who post behind-the-scenes Snaps and then wonder how people can find the thing they're talking about.
The good news is that Snapchat builds this in. You attach the website to a Snap before you post it, and anyone watching can swipe up to open it. Below I've followed Snapchat's own help articles, so the icon and button names should match your app.
Attaching a link to a Snapchat Story, step by step
Snapchat calls this attaching a link to a Snap. The link rides along with that one Snap, and when you send the Snap to My Story, the link goes with it.
- Copy the web address you want to share first, from your browser or another app. It saves fiddling later.
- Open Snapchat and take a photo or video as usual.
- On the Preview screen, tap the paperclip icon.
- Paste the URL you copied, type one in, or search for the website.
- Tap Attach to Snap.
- Tap Send To and choose My Story, or tap the add-to-My-Story icon at the bottom of the screen.
That's the whole job. Snapchat's help article lists three ways to add the link (paste, type or search), so pick whichever is quickest for you. Pasting is the safest bet if the address is long, because one wrong letter sends people to the wrong page.
What viewers see when your Snapchat Story has a link
According to Snapchat's help centre, friends who view your Snap can swipe up to open the attached website. That's the only action they need, and it's why I'd always tell people what to expect. A short line of text on the Snap such as "swipe up for the recipe" does more work than you'd think, because plenty of viewers won't notice the link unless you mention it.
Your Story stays visible for 24 hours, and Snapchat says friends can view it an unlimited number of times during that window. So if you're promoting something with a deadline, a Story link works well for the final day or two, and less well for anything you'd like people to find weeks from now.
Choosing which Snap in your Snapchat Story carries the link
Because the link belongs to a single Snap, the order of your Story matters. If you post five Snaps and the link sits on the first one, anyone who taps through quickly might miss it. A few habits that help:
- Put the link on the Snap where you mention the thing you're sharing, so the swipe feels natural.
- If the link is the main point, add it to the last Snap too, as a reminder for people who watched to the end.
- Keep the Snap with the link on screen long enough to read, so viewers have time to react.
- Use a clear call to action on the image itself, written in plain words.
Adding a link to Snapchat Stories from the web or a computer
Snapchat's help says you can post to My Story on web.snapchat.com, by choosing My Story on the Send To screen. The attach-a-link article, though, describes the paperclip on the Preview screen in the app and doesn't give separate web steps. If you can't see the paperclip on the web version, make the Snap on your phone instead. Menus vary by app version, so I'd treat the phone app as the reliable route.
Snapchat Story links for small businesses and creators
If you use Snapchat to promote your work, a Story link is one of the simplest ways to move a viewer from watching to doing. I've seen it used well by cafes sharing the day's specials, coaches sharing a free guide and shops sharing a new product page. The trick is to give people one clear reason to swipe and one destination. Too many links across a single Story just splits their attention.
It also helps to think about who sees your Story in the first place. If you're trying to reach more people, my tips for growing your Snapchat followers cover the habits that bring new viewers in, and my breakdown of a Snapchat marketing strategy that wins looks at how one brand built its whole approach around the app.
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| Story idea | Where the link could point |
|---|---|
| Behind-the-scenes clip | The finished product page or blog post |
| Event teaser | The booking or details page |
| Quick tip | A longer guide on your site |
| New menu or offer | The menu page or opening hours |
Snapchat Story link not showing? Things to check
If your link didn't seem to stick, run through these in order:
- Check you tapped Attach to Snap after adding the URL. Leaving the link screen early can drop it.
- Make sure you added the link before posting. The help article describes attaching it on the Preview screen, and it doesn't describe adding one to a Snap that's already live, so attach it while you're creating the Snap.
- Test the address in your browser to be sure it opens. A typo in the URL is the most common culprit.
- Update Snapchat from your app store, then try again, since icons can move between versions.
- If you're on the web version and can't see the paperclip, switch to the phone app.
If none of that works, Snapchat's help centre is the place to ask, because its team can see account-level problems you can't.
Keeping links in Snapchat Stories safe
A link is only as good as where it goes, so share pages you trust. If a friend's Story suddenly links to something odd, such as a login page or a too-good-to-be-true offer, their account may have been taken over. Don't enter your details. You can press and hold a Snap and tap Report Snap to let Snapchat know. If you ever need to undo a block on someone after a scare, my guide to unblocking someone on Snapchat walks through it.
This guide is part of my Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a link to my Snapchat Story?
Take a Snap, tap the paperclip icon on the Preview screen, paste, type or search for the website, tap Attach to Snap, then send the Snap to My Story.
How do people open a link on a Snapchat Story?
Snapchat says friends who view the Snap can swipe up to open the attached website.
Can I add a link to a Snap that's already on my Story?
Snapchat's help describes attaching the link on the Preview screen before you post, so add it while you're creating the Snap. If you forgot, post a new Snap with the link.
How long does a Story link stay up on Snapchat?
The link lives on the Snap, and Snapchat says friends can view your Story an unlimited number of times for 24 hours.
Why can't I see the paperclip icon?
Make sure you're on the Preview screen after taking a Snap and that your app is up to date. If you're using Snapchat on the web, try the phone app instead.
