The fastest way to add a hyperlink in Word

To add a hyperlink in Word, select the text you want to link, then press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Command+K (Mac). A dialog box opens where you paste or type the web address. Click OK, and the text turns blue and underlined — that's your hyperlink.

If you want to link text to a different page within the same document, or to a file on your computer, the same keyboard shortcut works. The dialog box gives you options for each type of link, so you can choose what you're linking to without leaving the dialog.

You can also right-click on selected text and choose Link from the menu, though the keyboard shortcut is faster once you remember it.

Key Takeaways

  • Select text, press Ctrl+K or Command+K, paste the web address, and click OK to create a hyperlink in seconds.
  • The dialog box lets you link to websites, files on your computer, or other pages in the same document without switching tools.
  • You can edit a hyperlink by right-clicking it and choosing Edit Link, or remove it by choosing Remove Link.
  • Hyperlinks in Word appear blue and underlined by default, but you can change the color by modifying the Hyperlink style in the Styles pane.

Linking to a website or web page

When you want to link text to a website, select the text first. Then press Ctrl+K (or Command+K on Mac) to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog. In the field labeled Address, paste the full web address — for example, https://www.example.com. Word accepts addresses with or without the https:// part, but including it is more reliable.

If you're linking to a specific page on a website, paste the full URL of that page. For instance, if you want to link to an article about roofing, you'd paste the complete link to that article, not just the home page. Click OK and the text becomes a clickable link.

To test the link before you share the document, hold Ctrl and click the hyperlink (or Command+click on Mac). Your browser opens to that address. If the link is broken or goes to the wrong page, right-click the hyperlink, choose Edit Link, and update the address.

Linking to another page in the same document

Word lets you create links that jump to other sections of the same document. This is useful in long documents like manuals or reports where you want readers to navigate without scrolling. First, you need to create a bookmark at the destination — the place you want the link to jump to.

Go to the page or section where you want the link to land. Select a heading or a few words that mark that location. Then go to the Insert tab, click Bookmark, give it a short name (no spaces — use underscores or hyphens instead), and click Add. Now that bookmark exists in your document.

Next, select the text you want to turn into a link. Press Ctrl+K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog. On the left side, click Place in This Document. A list of bookmarks appears. Click the bookmark you just created, then click OK. The text is now a link that jumps to that section when clicked.

Linking to a file on your computer

You can create a link that opens a file stored on your computer — a PDF, another Word document, a spreadsheet, or any other file type. Select the text you want to link, then press Ctrl+K. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog, click Current Folder or Browse on the left side.

A file browser window opens. Navigate to the folder where your file is stored and click the file you want to link to. Click OK in the browser, then click OK in the hyperlink dialog. When someone clicks this link in your document, that file opens on their computer — as long as they have the file and it's in the location you specified.

If you're sharing the document with others, keep the linked file in the same folder as the Word document, or use a shared drive. If the file moves or the other person doesn't have it, the link will break.

Editing and removing hyperlinks

To change where a hyperlink points, right-click it and select Edit Link. The Insert Hyperlink dialog opens with the current address shown. Change the address to whatever you want, then click OK. The text stays the same, but it now links to a different place.

If you want to remove a hyperlink but keep the text, right-click the hyperlink and choose Remove Link. The text stays in your document, but it's no longer blue or underlined, and clicking it won't do anything. You can also select the hyperlink and press Ctrl+Shift+F9 to remove all hyperlinks at once.

To change the appearance of hyperlinks — for example, to make them a different color or remove the underline — go to the Home tab, click the small arrow next to Styles, right-click Hyperlink in the list, and choose Modify. You can then change the color, font, and formatting.

Hyperlinks in different Word versions

The steps above work in Word 2016 and later on Windows, and in Word 2016 and later on Mac. If you're using Word Online (the free version in your web browser), the process is nearly identical: select text, press Ctrl+K, enter the address, and click OK.

Older versions of Word (2010, 2013) use the same keyboard shortcut and dialog, so the instructions apply there too. If you're using a very old version and the keyboard shortcut doesn't work, go to the Insert menu and click Hyperlink directly.

On mobile versions of Word (iPad, iPhone, Android), the process is slightly different. Tap the text you want to link, then tap Link in the toolbar. Type or paste the web address and tap Insert. The steps are the same, just adapted for touch.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

The most common mistake is forgetting to include https:// or http:// at the start of a web address. Word sometimes adds it automatically, but not always. If a link doesn't work, right-click it, choose Edit Link, and make sure the address starts with https://.

Another mistake is selecting the wrong text before creating the link. If you select too much text, the entire selection becomes a link. If you select too little, the link might be hard to see or click. Select just the words you want readers to click — usually a short phrase, not a whole sentence.

If you create a link to a file on your computer and then move that file to a different folder, the link breaks. Word can't find the file anymore. To fix it, right-click the broken link, choose Edit Link, and browse to the file's new location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a hyperlink without selecting text first?

Yes. Press Ctrl+K without selecting anything, and the Insert Hyperlink dialog opens. Type or paste the web address, then in the Display Text field, type the words you want to appear as the link. Click OK, and Word creates the link with that text.

How do I create a link that opens an email?

Select the text you want to link, press Ctrl+K, and in the Insert Hyperlink dialog, click E-mail Address on the left. Type the email address in the field that appears. When someone clicks the link, their default email program opens with a new message to that address.

Why is my hyperlink not working?

The most common reason is a typo in the web address or a missing https:// at the start. Right-click the link, choose Edit Link, and check the address. If you're linking to a file on your computer, make sure the file hasn't been moved or deleted.

Can I change the color of hyperlinks in my document?

Yes. Go to the Home tab, click the arrow next to Styles, right-click Hyperlink, and choose Modify. Change the color and formatting, then click OK. All hyperlinks in the document update to the new style.

What's the difference between Ctrl+K and right-clicking to add a link?

There's no difference in the result — both open the same Insert Hyperlink dialog. Ctrl+K is just faster once you remember it. Right-clicking is useful if you forget the shortcut or prefer using the mouse.