How to Add Hyperlinks in a Word Document

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To add a hyperlink in Microsoft Word, select the text or object you want people to click, open the link command, and enter a web address, email address, or destination in the document. You can use the Insert tab or the Ctrl+K (Windows) or Command+K (Mac) shortcut, then edit or remove the link later.

What a Word hyperlink does

A hyperlink connects clickable text, a picture, or another object to a destination. That destination might be a website, an email address, a file, or a heading or bookmark in the same document. For example, you could link the words “read the project brief” to a website, or link “Section 3” to a heading farther down the file.

Word often displays a web address or email address as a clickable link automatically when you type it and then press Space or Enter. For links with descriptive text or a destination inside a document, insert the hyperlink yourself. A link in a Word document does not guarantee that a recipient can open its destination: the page or file must still exist, and the recipient must have permission to access it.

Add a link to a website

Select the words you want to make clickable. A descriptive phrase such as “download the form” is usually clearer than “click here.” If you want to link an image, select the image instead.
Open the link dialog. Choose Insert > Link or Hyperlink, depending on the Word version. You can also right-click the selection and choose the link command. The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+K on Windows or Command+K on Mac.
In the dialog, choose the option for an existing file or web page if Word presents destination categories. Enter or paste the complete address in the Address field. For a website, include its scheme, such as https://, when available.
Check the displayed text, then select OK or Insert. The selected words or image now link to the address.

In Word for the web, the labels and dialog layout may differ slightly, but the basic process is the same: select content, use the Insert link command, provide the address, and confirm. Interface wording can vary across Word versions and platforms.

Link to a place in the same document

Internal links are useful in reports, manuals, and long documents. Word can link to headings and bookmarks, allowing readers to jump to a particular section without scrolling through every page.

Make sure the destination is identifiable. For a section, apply a built-in heading style such as Heading 1 or Heading 2 from the Home tab. For a precise location that is not a heading, select the destination text and choose Insert > Bookmark; give the bookmark a name without spaces and add it.
Select the words or object that should act as the link, then open the link dialog.
Choose the option for a place in this document. Select the desired heading or bookmark from the list and confirm.
Test the link in the document. Depending on Word’s settings, you may need to hold Ctrl on Windows or Command on Mac while clicking.

If a heading is missing from the destination list, check that it uses a heading style rather than only looking like a heading because of larger or bold text. For bookmarks, confirm that the bookmark was created and has not been deleted.

Create email and file links

To make an email link, select the relevant text and open the link dialog. Choose the email-address option if available, then enter the address. Word creates a link that can open the recipient’s default email application. You may also include a subject line where the dialog supports it. The recipient still needs a configured email app or another compatible handler for the link to work as expected.

To link to a file, choose the existing-file option and browse to or enter the file’s location. Consider where the document will be used before choosing a path:

A link to a file on your computer may work only for you, or for people who can access the same location.
A shared network or cloud location may require the recipient to sign in or have permission.
Moving or renaming the linked file can break the link. If you send the Word document to someone else, include the linked file or use an accessible shared location.

Word may offer to update links when opening a document. Be cautious about relying on linked files from unknown sources, and verify that a destination is one you intend to open.

Edit, remove, and check hyperlinks

To change a link, right-click its linked text or object and choose Edit Hyperlink or the equivalent command. Update the address or display text in the dialog and confirm. To remove the destination while keeping the text, right-click the link and choose Remove Hyperlink. The words remain in the document as ordinary text.

To check where a link points, hover over it or use the right-click menu to inspect or edit its destination. In many desktop Word configurations, Ctrl-click on Windows or Command-click on Mac opens the link; other settings may allow a regular click. Use the right-click menu if you want to inspect a link without following it. Before sharing a document, test important links and confirm they lead to the intended page, heading, or file.

Common problems and useful practices

The link does not open: Check for a missing or mistyped address, a deleted webpage, an unavailable file, or missing access permission. Try the destination separately in a browser or file manager.
Word does not make typed addresses clickable: Select the address and insert a link manually. Word’s automatic formatting behavior can also be adjusted in its AutoCorrect or AutoFormat settings, whose exact labels vary by version.
A link opens only with a key held down: Ctrl-click or Command-click is a common default in desktop Word. Use the link’s context menu to open it, or review Word’s hyperlink-following preferences if you want to change the behavior.
The link looks like plain text: It may still work. Formatting can be changed, so test the destination rather than relying only on color or underlining.
Recipients cannot use a file link: The path may point to a location available only on your device. Share the file through a location the recipients can access, or provide it alongside the document.

Use wording that describes the destination, keep addresses accurate, and avoid making a whole paragraph one link. These practices make links easier to scan and help readers understand what will happen before they click.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut to insert a hyperlink in Word?
Use Ctrl+K on Windows or Command+K on Mac. Select the text or object first, then enter or choose the destination in the link dialog.

How do I make a word clickable in Word?
Select the word, open Insert > Link (or use the shortcut), enter the destination address, and confirm. You can also select a phrase instead of a single word.

How do I link to another page in the same Word document?
Apply a heading style to the destination or create a bookmark there. Then insert a link, choose the option for a place in the document, and select that heading or bookmark.

How do I remove a hyperlink but keep the text?
Right-click the linked text and choose Remove Hyperlink. Word removes the destination while leaving the text in place.

Why does Word require Ctrl-click to open a link?
Many desktop Word installations use Ctrl-click on Windows, or Command-click on Mac, to follow links while editing. This helps avoid opening a link when you are simply selecting or editing text.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.