Overview
You may preview your email and notice phone numbers, addresses, or website text appear as blue, underlined links. This happens even when you did not add a link.
This behavior is common in Gmail and Outlook. These email clients scan your content and automatically convert recognizable patterns into clickable links.
Why This Happens
Gmail and Outlook analyze your email content before displaying it. They look for:
Phone numbers
Mailing addresses
Website URLs
If text matches these patterns, the email client applies:
Blue link color
Underline styling
This overrides your original design.
Important Limitation: You cannot fully disable this behavior in Gmail or Outlook. It is controlled by the email client, not the email builder.
How to Prevent Unwanted Styling
You can reduce this effect by manually adding links and controlling their styling.
Step 1: Add a Link to the Text
Add a link to any text that may be auto-linked.
Select the text
Click the link option in the builder
Enter the correct URL
Important: Always include https:// at the beginning of the URL. This ensures the link works correctly.
Step 2: Match Link Styling to Your Text
After adding the link:
Set the link color to match your text color
Disable Underline Links
Disable Bold Links
Step 3: Verify the Result
When you apply these settings:
Gmail and Outlook detect the link
The email client does not override your styling
Example Comparison
Correct setup: Linked text with custom styling → displays as intended
Incorrect setup: Plain text without a link → auto-styled in blue and underlined
Best Practices
Always link URLs, phone numbers, and addresses intentionally
Use consistent link styling across your email
Send a test email before publishing
Test Your Email
Send a test email to confirm:
Links go to the correct destination
Styling appears as expected in Gmail and Outlook
Need more help? Contact support via live chat using the chat bubble in the bottom right corner or email support@knak.com.