You're standing there, maybe at a farmer's market or just sitting on a couch after splitting a massive pizza with three friends, and someone says those six words: "Just send me your PayPal link." If you haven't set it up yet, you're probably scrambling through the app menus like a frantic squirrel. It’s annoying. We’ve all been there, poking around the settings while the other person waits with their phone out.
Setting up and learning how to share your PayPal link—specifically your PayPal.Me URL—is one of those small digital chores that pays off immediately. It’s basically a vanity URL. Instead of giving someone your email address and hoping they don't typo it (which happens more than you'd think), you just give them a clean link.
Why a Link Beats an Email Every Single Time
Honestly, sharing your email is old school. And not the cool, vintage kind of old school. It’s the kind where someone accidentally sends $50 to "j-smith88" instead of "j_smith88." PayPal.Me was launched back in 2015 to solve this exact headache. It creates a direct path to your profile.
When you use a link, the sender sees your face (if you added a photo) and your name. It builds trust. If I’m sending a couple hundred bucks for a freelance gig or a couch I found on Marketplace, I want to be 100% sure the money is hitting the right pocket. The link provides that visual confirmation.
How to Share Your PayPal Link from Your Phone
Most of us live on our phones. If you’re using the PayPal app on iPhone or Android, the process is pretty snappy, though the buttons sometimes feel like they're playing hide-and-seek.
First, open the app. You'll usually see a "Request" button at the bottom. Tap that. From there, you’ll see an option that says "Share your link to get paid." It’s right there in the middle of the screen usually.
But wait. If you haven't created your PayPal.Me link yet, the app will nudge you to do it. You pick a username—try to keep it professional if you're using this for business—and then you're live. Once it's generated, you can hit the share icon. This opens the standard share sheet on your phone. You can text it, DM it on Instagram, or even Airdrop it if you’re feeling fancy and the person is standing right next to you.
Sometimes the app UI updates and things move. If you can’t find the "Request" tab, tap your profile picture or the "Settings" gear. There’s almost always a "PayPal.Me" section in your profile settings. It’s the home base for your link.
The Desktop Method (For the Pro Freelancer)
If you're at a desk, the workflow is different but arguably faster if you're emailing a client. Log in to your dashboard. Look at the top right for the "Send and Request" tab. It’s the main hub for all things money-movement.
Once you click that, look for the "Request" sub-tab. On the right-hand side of the page, there’s usually a little box that displays your PayPal.Me link. It’s right there. You can copy it with one click.
I’ve found that keeping this link in a "Notes" app or a pinned message to yourself is a lifesaver. You don't want to log into PayPal every single time you need to get paid. Just copy-paste it from your notes and move on with your life.
Adding a Specific Amount to the Link
This is the "secret sauce" most people miss. You can actually bake the price right into the URL. If you want someone to pay you exactly $45, you don't have to tell them the amount. You just add the number to the end of your link.
For example, if your link is paypal.me/YourName, you can send paypal.me/YourName/45.
When the recipient clicks that, the $45 is already filled out in the box. It removes one more step for them. Less friction means you get paid faster. This works for any currency, too. If you’re dealing with someone in the UK and need £20, you can often specify that depending on your account's primary currency settings, though usually, it defaults to your home currency.
Privacy and What People Actually See
People get twitchy about privacy. Rightfully so. When you share your link, you're putting a piece of your digital identity out there.
When someone clicks your link, they see:
- Your name (or business name).
- Your profile photo.
- Your general location (sometimes, if enabled).
They do not see your bank account info, your home address, or your phone number. PayPal acts as the middleman. It’s a buffer. That’s the whole point. If you’re worried about people finding your personal name, you might want to consider a PayPal Business account. It lets you use a brand name instead of your legal first and last name.
One thing to watch out for: Scammers love links. If you receive a link from someone else, always check the URL. It should always start with https://www.paypal.me/. If there’s an extra "s" or a weird typo like paypa1.me, close the tab immediately.
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Customizing Your Link for Better Success
You only get to pick your PayPal.Me username once in most regions. Choose wisely.
If you're a gamer, maybe paypal.me/SlayerQuest is fine. But if you’re a photographer trying to book weddings, paypal.me/YourNamePhotography is going to look a lot more legit. People are hesitant to send money to "Pizzalover99" when they’re trying to pay for a professional service.
Also, upload a photo. It doesn't have to be a corporate headshot. Just a clear picture of your face. It’s a psychological thing. People feel better hitting "Send" when they see a human face on the other side of the transaction.
Troubleshooting the "Link Not Working" Issue
Sometimes things break. You send the link, and your friend says, "It’s just taking me to a login page" or "The page is blank."
Commonly, this happens because of browser cookies or if the link was copied incorrectly. Make sure you didn't include a period at the end of the URL when you pasted it into a text message. If the link is paypal.me/Name., that extra dot will break the whole thing.
Another weird quirk: If your account is restricted or you haven't verified your email address, your PayPal.Me link might go dark. Check your PayPal notifications. If there’s a red dot or a flag, you need to handle that before your link will work again.
Using QR Codes: The Modern Way to Share
If you’re at a physical event, sharing a text link is clunky. You don't want to dictate a URL while someone tries to type it in.
PayPal has a built-in QR code generator. In the app, tap the "Scan" icon or go to your "Request" section. You’ll see an option for "Your QR Code." You can literally just hold up your phone, and the other person scans it with their camera.
It’s the fastest way to share your PayPal link without actually typing anything. You can even print this code out and tape it to a table if you're running a garage sale or a craft booth.
Making Sure You Get the Right Amount (Fees Matter)
We need to talk about the "Friends and Family" vs. "Goods and Services" thing. When you share your link, the person paying usually gets a choice—or the link defaults to one based on your account type.
If you’re splitting a dinner bill, "Friends and Family" is fine. There’s no fee.
But if you’re selling something, you must use "Goods and Services." Yes, PayPal takes a cut (usually around 2.9% plus a fixed fee), but it gives the buyer and seller protection. If you share a link for a $500 laptop and the person pays via "Friends and Family," they have zero recourse if you send them a box of rocks. Conversely, if you're the seller, you want that protection too. Don't let people talk you into using the "Friends" option for business deals just to save a few bucks. It’s a huge red flag.
Actionable Steps to Get Started
- Claim your URL now: Even if you don't need it today, grab your name before someone else does. Go to the PayPal.Me site and secure your handle.
- Add a profile picture: Do it today. It takes thirty seconds and makes you look 10x more trustworthy to anyone clicking your link.
- Save your link: Put it in your phone's "Text Replacement" settings. For example, you can make it so that whenever you type "mypplink," your phone automatically expands it to your full PayPal URL.
- Test the "Amount" hack: Send a link to a friend for $1 as a test using the
paypal.me/name/1format just to see how it looks on their end. - Check your settings: Ensure your link is set to "Active." You can toggle it off if you ever want to stop receiving random requests, but usually, you'll want it on.
Stop making people type out your email address. It’s 2026. Use a link, keep it clean, and get your money without the back-and-forth "Did you get it yet?" text chain.