How to Make a Hyperlink in Word

To make a hyperlink in Word, select the text or picture you want to link, press Ctrl + K (or go to Insert > Link), paste the web address in the Address box, and select OK. Word also turns a web address into a link automatically when you type it and press Space or Enter.

This guide covers Word for Microsoft 365 and recent versions of Word on Windows. It shows how to link to a website, a file, an email address and another spot in your document, how to change link text and ScreenTips, and how to remove links or stop Word from creating them. The steps follow Microsoft’s Create or edit a hyperlink guide, checked in October 2026.

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How to Link to a Website

Illustration of four steps to make a hyperlink in Word: select text, press Ctrl K, paste the address, select OK — Illustration: making a hyperlink with Ctrl + K.

Select the words or image you want to turn into a link. Result: the text or picture is highlighted.
Press Ctrl + K, or go to the Insert tab and select Link. You can also right-click the selection and choose Link. Result: the Insert Hyperlink box opens.
Make sure Existing File or Web Page is selected under Link to. Result: the Address box appears.
Paste or type the web address in the Address box. Result: the destination is set.
Select OK. Result: the text turns blue and underlined.

To follow the link while you’re editing, hold Ctrl and click it.

Change the Text or Add a ScreenTip

Text to display: type different wording in this box if you want the link to read differently from the address.
ScreenTip: select ScreenTip in the top-right corner of the Insert Hyperlink box and enter the text people see when they rest the pointer on the link.
Don’t know the address? Microsoft suggests selecting Browse the Web to find the page, then copying its address.

The Fastest Way: Type the Address

Microsoft says the simplest way to make a link is to type a web address, such as www.contoso.com, and press Enter or the Spacebar. Word converts it to a working link automatically. The same works for email addresses.

What Else You Can Link To

Illustration of hyperlink types in Word: web page or file, place in this document, email address, and editing or removing links — Illustration: the link types in the Insert Hyperlink box.

Link to a File on Your Computer

Select the text or picture, then go to Insert > Link > Insert Link. Result: the Insert Hyperlink box opens.
Under Link to, select Existing File or Web Page. Result: your folders appear.
Find the file in the Look in list or the Current Folder list, then select OK. Result: clicking the link opens that file.

A file link only works for people who can reach the same file location, so it’s best for documents you keep on your own computer or a shared drive.

Link to an Email Address

Select the text and press Ctrl + K. Result: the Insert Hyperlink box opens.
Select E-mail Address on the left. Result: the email fields appear.
Type the address, or pick one from Recently used e-mail addresses, and add an optional subject. Select OK. Result: clicking the link starts a new email.

Microsoft cautions that some web browsers and email programs might not recognize the subject line.

Link to Another Spot in the Same Document

Apply a heading style (Home > Heading 1, and so on) to the spot you want to jump to, or add a bookmark with Insert > Bookmark. Result: Word can find that spot.
Select the text for the link and press Ctrl + K. Result: the Insert Hyperlink box opens.
Select Place in This Document, pick the heading or bookmark, and select OK. Result: clicking the link jumps to that spot.

Microsoft adds that you can also link to headings or bookmarks in other Word documents, slides in PowerPoint, and cells or sheets in Excel.

How to Edit or Remove a Link

Edit the address or text: right-click the link and choose Edit Hyperlink. You can change the address, the display text or the ScreenTip.
Change how it looks: right-click the link and select Font, or use the mini toolbar to change its color or style.
Remove one link but keep the text: right-click it and choose Remove Hyperlink.
Remove the link and the text: select it and press Delete.
Remove all links: press Ctrl + A to select everything, then Ctrl + Shift + F9. This also converts other fields to plain text, so save a copy first.

Stop Word From Creating Links Automatically

Microsoft’s Remove or turn off hyperlinks article covers this. Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type and uncheck Internet and network paths with hyperlinks. Excel uses the same setting; see how to turn off automatic hyperlinks in Excel. The Proofing tab also holds the setting covered in our guide on how to stop Word from flagging frequently confused words. The same AutoFormat As You Type tab has the Border Lines option explained in how to add a solid line in Word.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does clicking my link not open it?

In Word, you usually need to hold Ctrl while clicking a link to follow it.

Can I make a picture into a link?

Yes. Select the picture instead of text, then press Ctrl + K and add the address.

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.