ssue with embedding external links in WordPress blog editor

  • Unknown's avatar
    patrickjcarter134 · Member ·

    Hi all,
    I’ve been trying to insert external links into my WordPress blog posts, but I’m running into a strange issue. When I paste a URL like https://www.armotors.ae/ directly into the block editor, it either shows up as plain text or sometimes automatically converts into a preview box instead of a simple hyperlink.

    I’ve tried both the Classic Block and Paragraph Block, but I’m still not getting consistent results. Is there a best practice or specific block I should be using for external links? Also, is there any setting to disable auto-embeds for certain URLs while keeping them as normal text anchors?

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • Unknown's avatar
    sameedrafi · Member ·

    It looks like you’re running into an issue where URLs are turning into preview boxes when pasted into the WordPress editor. This is actually a built-in feature in WordPress, designed to automatically convert URLs into embedded previews when you place the cursor on a new line and paste a URL.

    If you’d prefer to keep the URL as a simple hyperlink instead of an embed, you can easily create a manual link. In blocks like Paragraph, Heading, Image, or Button, there’s a link option available in the toolbar that lets you add URLs without converting them into previews.

    You can follow this guide for step-by-step instructions to create links: https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/links/#create-a-text-link

    Let me know if you need any further help!

  • Unknown's avatar
    mukeshoad · Member ·

    Hi Patrick,

    The behavior you’re seeing is due to WordPress automatically trying to embed URLs from supported sites (oEmbed). Here’s how to handle it properly:

    1. Use the Paragraph Block or Classic Editor – Highlight the text you want as a link, click the link icon, and paste your URL. This ensures a standard hyperlink instead of an embed.
    2. Disable Auto-Embed for Specific URLs –
      • Go to Settings → Media → Embed (if available) and uncheck “Auto-embed URLs.”
      • Alternatively, prefix your URL with <a href="https://www.armotors.ae">Your Text</a> in the HTML block to force it as a simple link.
    3. Avoid Pasting Plain URLs Directly – WordPress will try to convert some URLs into previews automatically. Using the link icon or HTML anchor is the best practice.

    For reference, see WordPress.com guide on adding links

    This approach gives you full control over how external links appear in posts.

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