How to Create a Mailto Link with Subject and Body

If you’ve ever tried to add an email link with a pre-filled subject or message, you know how frustrating it can get.

You want it fast. You want it to work. But manually typing mailto: links? That’s a recipe for mistakes and wasted time.

That’s where a mailto link generator comes in—and more specifically, a free mailto link generator like the one at Linko.

Whether you’re a blogger, marketer, small business owner, or just someone building a contact button, Linko’s tool makes it easy to create a mailto link with subject, body, CC, BCC, and even shorten that long ugly link when you’re done.

In this post, we’ll explain what a mailto link is, how it works, why it’s useful, and how to generate one with no coding.

We’ll also cover common issues (like when mailto link is not working), and how to make it compatible with Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and iCloud.

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What is a mailto link and why do people use it?

A mailto link is a special kind of hyperlink that opens the default email client on a user’s device with a pre-filled email address—and optionally a subject, message body, CC, or BCC.

Here’s a basic example:

mailto:hello@example.com

Clicking this will open your email app (like Gmail or Outlook) with the To field already filled.

But it gets better—you can also create a mailto link with subject and body, so the user doesn’t have to type anything. For example:

mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Feedback&body=I%20love%20your%20site!

This is useful for:

• Contact forms without spam bots
• Quick email buttons on websites
• Lead generation links
• Newsletter signup buttons
• Affiliate or business outreach

In short: mailto links help reduce friction and make it easier for people to reach out to you.

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How a mailto link generator saves you time and clicks

Manually writing mailto links is error-prone. You have to remember formatting rules like:

• Replacing spaces with %20
• Using ? for the first query and & for the rest
• Encoding special characters like &, !, or @

For example, here’s a manually typed link:

mailto:support@linko.me?subject=Need%20Help&body=Hello%2C%20I%20need%20assistance%20with%20your%20tool.

Even looking at that is tiring. 😫

That’s where a mailto link generator tool comes in. You just:

1. Enter your email address
2. Add your subject and body
3. Optionally fill in CC or BCC
4. Click generate
5. Copy the ready-to-use link

Using a mailto link generator free of charge like Linko means you save time, avoid errors, and get clean, working links every time.

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Features to look for in a mailto link generator tool

Not all generators are equal.

A good email link generator should do more than just spit out a basic mailto: link. Here are the key features to look for:

1. Subject and body fields

Being able to create a mailto link with subject and body is essential. You want control over what the email says when users click the link.

2. To, CC, and BCC input fields

You should be able to:

• Set the primary email address (To)
• Add people in Carbon Copy (CC)
• Add people in Blind Carbon Copy (BCC)

Linko’s free tool offers all of these fields so you can fine-tune who gets the email.

3. Automatic URL encoding

You don’t want to manually convert spaces to %20 or escape special characters. The tool should do this for you.

4. Copy and preview

Once generated, it should give you the full mailto link and let you preview or copy it instantly.

5. Optional link shortener

This is where Linko shines. After you generate your email link, you can instantly shorten it using Linko’s free URL shortener, perfect for sharing in emails, social media, or QR codes.

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Create a mailto link with subject, body, cc, and bcc in seconds

Let’s break down how a mailto link works when you want to add everything—subject, body, cc, bcc—all in one URL.

Here’s the format:

mailto:someone@example.com?cc=ccperson@example.com&bcc=hidden@example.com&subject=Your%20Subject&body=Your%20message%20here

Each piece has to be encoded. For example:

• A space becomes %20
• New lines in the body become %0A

Here’s a real-world example you could generate with Linko:

mailto:hello@linko.me?cc=team@linko.me&bcc=log@linko.me&subject=Mailto%20Generator%20Feedback&body=Just%20wanted%20to%20say%20thank%20you!

That’s powerful. Instead of a basic contact email, now you’re guiding the user’s message before they even type.

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How to use Linko’s free mailto link generator

Using Linko’s tool is fast, free, and beginner-friendly. You don’t need to understand URL encoding or HTML. Here’s how:

Visit Linko’s free mailto link generator tool

Go to Linko.me/free-tools/mailto-link-generator — it works directly in your browser.

Fill out the to, subject and message input fields

• To: Add the recipient’s email
• Subject: Write what you want the email to be about
• Message: Add a short or long body (multi-line text supported)

Fill out cc or bcc (optional)

If you want to copy someone or send a blind copy:

• Use CC for visible recipients
• Use BCC for hidden ones

Click generate button

One click builds the perfect link instantly.

Copy and/or shorten the link

• Use the copy button to paste it in your website, email, or button.
• Click Shorten Link to turn your long mailto link into a clean short URL.

This is great if you want to use mailto links in social bios, QR codes, or even SMS.

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Add mailto links for Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and iCloud

Yes—mailto links work across all major email providers, but user experience can vary depending on the device and browser.

Here’s what happens when someone clicks your mailto link:

Email Provider	Behavior on Click
Gmail	Opens in a new Gmail tab (if logged in)
Yahoo Mail	Opens Yahoo Compose window
Outlook (Web)	Opens Outlook web composer
iCloud Mail	Opens Apple Mail (Mac/iOS) or iCloud web mail

If the user has a default email client set on their device (like Apple Mail or Outlook Desktop), the link will launch that app.

On Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, it may ask what mail app you want to use.

That’s why it’s important to use clean, error-free mailto links—so no matter where they’re opened, they work right.

💡 Pro tip: Ask users to set Gmail as default mail handler in Chrome if your audience is Gmail-heavy.

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What to do if your mailto link is not working

Sometimes you’ve done everything right, but the mailto link is not working. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

1. Email client isn’t set as default

If clicking the link does nothing, it’s often because the browser doesn’t know what email app to open. Solution: Set your email app (like Gmail or Outlook) as the default handler.

2. Link syntax is broken

Even one wrong character can break a mailto link. Make sure:

• You’ve encoded the link properly (no raw spaces or symbols)
• The link starts with mailto: and uses ?, & correctly

Use Linko’s generator to avoid this.

3. Pop-up blockers or browser issues

Sometimes extensions or strict browser settings block email app pop-ups. Try disabling them or using a different browser.

4. No email app installed

On some mobile devices or Chromebooks, if no mail app is installed, mailto links won’t do anything.

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Mailto link: real-world use cases

A mailto link generator with subject and body fields is more than just a shortcut — it’s a smart tool for boosting engagement and speeding up communication.

Real-world examples of how it’s used

• Customer support links: You can create a mailto link with a pre-filled subject like “Support Request: Order #12345” and body text asking users to include certain details.
• Sales contact on landing pages: Add a CTA that opens an email with “Request a demo” in the subject and “I’d like to learn more about your pricing” already typed out.
• Event RSVPs: Bloggers or event organizers can link to a pre-formatted email like “RSVP for October Webinar” with optional BCC to team members.
• Partnership or affiliate inquiries: Simplify your outreach by embedding a button with prewritten email content to streamline responses.

By saving users time and guiding them on what to write, these links improve response quality and reduce confusion.

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Why marketers and bloggers use email link generators

Email link generators are a favorite among digital marketers and content creators. Here’s why they use them:

Direct communication improves conversions

Clicking a mailto link immediately opens the user’s email app. It’s personal, fast, and effective — especially on mobile where opening a form is less appealing.

Less friction, more action

Instead of typing a subject and message from scratch, users can simply hit send. This lowers resistance and makes the user more likely to follow through.

Better tracking and targeting

Tools like Linko let marketers shorten these links and add UTM tags, which makes it easy to track email link clicks inside platforms like Google Analytics.

Built for speed and scale

Marketers often launch campaigns with multiple links. Using a generator that supports bulk creation or editing means they don’t have to build each link manually.

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Create mailto links faster and shorten them with Linko

With Linko’s free mailto link generator, you get more than just a basic mailto output — you also get options to shorten, customize, and analyze your links.

Save time with built-in features

• Auto-generated mailto code with subject, body, cc, and bcc
• Copy and shorten the link in one click
• Create QR codes for offline campaigns
• Add branding with custom short links

This makes Linko not just a tool for email links, but a full communication booster for your business.

Perfect for email, website, and SMS

Short mailto links are easier to insert in:

• SMS campaigns
• Email and website footers
• PDFs
• Business cards

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How to copy and embed your mailto link in buttons, banners, or text

After you’ve created your mailto link, it’s time to put it to work.

1. Add to a text hyperlink

Use basic HTML like this:

<a href="mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Let's Connect">Contact Us</a>

2. Embed in a CTA button

<button onclick="window.location.href='mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Hello'">Email Us</button>

3. Place in image or banner links

Wrap an image or banner inside an anchor tag:

<a href="mailto:hello@example.com?subject=Email Inquiry">
  <img src="banner.png" alt="Contact Banner">
</a>

4. Use in WordPress or page builders

Paste the mailto URL into any button or text element field inside:

• Elementor
• Wix
• Webflow
• Squarespace

You can even style the mailto link to match your branding.

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SEO tips when using mailto links on your website or landing page

While mailto links don’t directly improve SEO, they can support better engagement and trust, which indirectly help rankings.

Best practices for SEO and UX

• Always use clear anchor text like “Email our support team” instead of just “Click here”
• Place mailto links above the fold for faster access on landing pages
• Avoid overusing mailto links; too many can look spammy
• Use schema markup (Contact schema) for contact pages with mailto links
• Use short and branded URLs if you need to track mailto clicks via redirection

And if you’re using shortened mailto links, make sure the redirect is instant and doesn’t confuse users or search engines.

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Final thoughts

Mailto link generators simplify the process of connecting with your audience.

Whether you’re a marketer, business owner, or blogger, they let you create professional, clickable links that open pre-written emails.

Add in the ability to shorten, brand, and track your links — like you can with Linko — and you’ve got a complete toolkit.

If you haven’t already, check out Linko’s free mailto link generator. It’s fast, free, and easy to use.

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FAQs