When you switch from classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows, you might notice that link previews no longer appear automatically when you paste a URL into an email. In classic Outlook, link previews were generated inline by the editor, but the new Outlook uses a different rendering engine that treats URLs as plain text by default. This article explains where the link preview feature is located in the new Outlook, how to enable it, and what differences to expect compared to the classic version.
Key Takeaways: Finding Link Previews in New Outlook
- Insert > Link > Paste URL: The primary method to add a link preview in new Outlook by using the Link dialog box that generates a rich preview card.
- Right-click > Paste as Link Preview: A context menu option that instantly converts a copied URL into a preview card without extra dialog steps.
- Settings > Mail > Compose and Reply > Link Preview: The toggle to enable or disable automatic link previews for pasted URLs in new Outlook.
How Link Previews Work Differently in New Outlook
In classic Outlook, link previews were generated by the Word editor engine. When you pasted a URL, Outlook automatically fetched metadata from the link and displayed a preview card with a title, description, and thumbnail. This behavior was on by default and could not be disabled in most versions.
The new Outlook for Windows uses a modern web-based editor. This editor does not automatically generate link previews for every pasted URL. Instead, you must explicitly choose to insert a preview. The new Outlook also allows you to disable link previews entirely, giving you more control over email composition. The preview feature itself is called Link Preview and appears as a card that contains the page title, a short description, and a thumbnail image.
The change affects how you work with links: in classic Outlook, you could paste and send without thinking. In new Outlook, you need to take one extra step to get the same visual result. This guide covers the three methods to insert a link preview and the setting that controls automatic behavior.
Methods to Insert a Link Preview in New Outlook
There are three ways to add a link preview in new Outlook. Each method works in both new emails and replies. All methods produce the same rich preview card.
Method 1: Using the Insert Menu
- Copy the URL
Copy the URL you want to share from your browser or document using Ctrl+C. - Open the Insert tab
In the new email composition window, click the Insert tab on the ribbon. - Click the Link button
In the Links group, click Link. The Insert Link dialog box opens. - Paste the URL
In the Address field, paste the URL using Ctrl+V. The dialog automatically fetches the page title and displays it in the Text to display field. - Insert the link
Click OK. Outlook inserts a link preview card into the email body.
Method 2: Using the Right-Click Context Menu
- Copy the URL
Copy the URL from your browser or document using Ctrl+C. - Right-click in the email body
Place your cursor where you want the preview to appear. Right-click to open the context menu. - Select Paste as Link Preview
From the context menu, choose Paste as Link Preview. The preview card appears immediately.
Method 3: Enabling Automatic Link Previews
- Open Outlook Settings
Click File in the top-left corner, then click Options in the left pane. - Go to Mail settings
In the Outlook Options window, click Mail in the left sidebar. - Find Compose and Reply
Scroll down to the Compose and Reply section. - Toggle Link Preview
Check the box labeled Show link previews when pasting URLs. Click OK to save. - Test the setting
Create a new email and paste a URL. A preview card should now appear automatically.
Common Differences and Limitations Between Classic and New Outlook
Link Preview Does Not Appear Automatically After Upgrade
The most common complaint is that pasting a URL in new Outlook produces plain text instead of a preview card. This happens because the automatic preview setting is turned off by default in new Outlook. Use Method 3 above to enable it.
Link Preview Card Shows Wrong Title or No Thumbnail
Some websites do not provide Open Graph metadata that Outlook uses to generate the preview. When this happens, the preview card may show only the URL or a generic title. There is no workaround inside Outlook. You can copy the URL and visit the page to verify metadata, or use a link shortener that provides its own preview.
Link Preview Is Not Available in Read Mode
When you receive an email with a plain URL in new Outlook, you cannot convert that URL into a preview card after receiving it. You must ask the sender to resend the email with a preview card inserted. This is a limitation of the new Outlook email reader.
Link Preview Does Not Work in Shared Mailboxes or Group Conversations
In shared mailboxes and Microsoft 365 group conversations, the link preview feature may be disabled by your organization. Check with your IT administrator if you cannot see the Paste as Link Preview option in these contexts.
| Item | Classic Outlook | New Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Default behavior when pasting URL | Automatic preview card | Plain text URL |
| Method to insert preview | Paste only | Insert > Link or right-click > Paste as Link Preview |
| Setting to disable previews | Not available | File > Options > Mail > Compose and Reply |
| Works in shared mailboxes | Yes | Depends on organization policy |
| Preview card customization | None | None |
After switching to new Outlook, you now have two ways to insert a link preview: through the Insert menu or the right-click context menu. You can also enable automatic previews in Settings. If you frequently share links in emails, consider enabling the automatic preview setting to save time. For recipients who prefer plain text, you can leave the setting off and manually insert previews only when needed. An advanced tip: use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K after pasting a URL to open the Insert Link dialog and quickly convert the URL into a preview card.