---
title: "Insert a Read Online Link"
slug: "insert-a-read-online-link"
description: "Add a link that opens the web version of an email in the browser, and hide it in the online version with an InsertIf rule."
status: "update"
updated: 2026-11-04T10:45:31Z
published: 2026-11-04T10:45:31Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/insert-a-read-online-link"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Insert a Read Online Link

## Goal

Add a link to an email that lets contacts open the online (web) version of the email in their browser.

---

## Background Information

The **Read Message Online** link is a Mapp Engage Variable from the **System Links** category. Mapp Engage creates a web version of your email. When contacts click the link, the email opens in their browser.

Include this link in every email. Contacts who have problems with the display of your email in their inbox can still read your message.

There are two versions of this variable: one for HTML emails and one for text emails. For a version optimized for mobile devices, use the mobile variants of the variable. For details, see [Create a Mobile Version of an Email](/v1/docs/create-a-mobile-version-of-an-email).

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> To read the message online, contacts need the group permission 606 **Messaging: View Messages Online**. Enable this permission for the group role **Normal Recipients**.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> API parameters of prepared messages are not stored in Mapp Engage. Placeholders that use them appear blank in the online version. For workarounds, see [Read online message not displaying parameters or parameter dependant insertif content](/v1/docs/read-online-message-not-displaying-parameters-or-parameter-dependant-insertif-co).

---

## Procedure

1. Create an email message.
2. Click **Mapp Engage Variables**.
3. From the **Category** drop-down list, select **System Links**.
4. Drag and drop the **Read Message Online** variable that matches your email format (HTML or text) into your email. ⇒ The variable appears as a placeholder in the format `<% ... %>`. You do not need to change the placeholder. You can change the text around it.
5. Send your email as usual. ⇒ During sendout, the placeholder is replaced with the link to the web version of your email.

---

## Hide the Link in the Online Version

The read online link is not needed in the web version itself, because the contact is already viewing it. You can hide the link there with an **InsertIf** rule. The same method works for any other link or content that should only appear in the inbox. It also hides the content in the mobile version.

Place the link between the following tags:

```plaintext
<%InsertIf expression="${action != 'inline'}"%>
  Read Message Online variable or other content
<%/InsertIf%>
```

After sendout, Mapp Engage displays the content only in the inbox. It is hidden in the online version and in the mobile version of your email.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> For more information on InsertIf rules, see [Personalization Rules](/v1/docs/personalization-rules-insertif-insertelse).

---

## Related Topics

- [Mapp Engage Variables - System Links](/v1/docs/mapp-engage-variables-system-links)
- [Create a Mobile Version of an Email](/v1/docs/create-a-mobile-version-of-an-email)