Adding a link to text or an image in PowerPoint

To make a link in PowerPoint, select the text or image you want to turn into a link, then use the Insert Link dialog to paste in the web address or file path. The link will work when you run the slideshow — clicking it opens the destination in your browser or file explorer. You can link to websites, email addresses, other slides in the same presentation, or files on your computer.

The fastest way is to right-click the selected text or image and choose Link from the menu. If that option does not appear, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac), or go to the Insert tab at the top and click Link.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text or image first, then open the Link dialog using Ctrl+K, right-click, or the Insert menu.
  • Paste the full web address (starting with http:// or https://) into the Address field to link to a website.
  • Use the "Place in This Document" option to link to another slide in the same presentation without leaving the file.
  • Links only work during a slideshow — they do not respond to clicks in edit mode.
  • Test every link before presenting by running the slideshow and clicking it to confirm the destination opens.

Linking to a website

When you want to link to a web page, select your text or image, open the Link dialog (Ctrl+K), and paste the full web address into the Address field. Include the http:// or https:// at the start — PowerPoint will not recognize the link without it. For example, type https://www.example.com, not just example.com.

If you want the link to open in a new browser tab instead of replacing your slideshow, check the box labeled Open in new window (or Open link in new tab depending on your PowerPoint version). This keeps your presentation visible while the webpage loads. Click OK to save the link.

Linking to another slide in the same presentation

To jump from one slide to another without leaving your presentation, select your text or image and open the Link dialog. Instead of typing an address, click Place in This Document on the left side of the dialog. A list of all your slides appears, numbered and showing their titles.

Click the slide you want to link to, then click OK. When you run the slideshow and click that link, PowerPoint jumps directly to the target slide. This is useful for creating a table of contents, jumping to a backup slide, or letting your audience navigate to a specific topic. To return to where you came from, add another link on the target slide that points back to the original.

Linking to an email address

To create a link that opens the viewer's email program, select your text, open the Link dialog, and click E-mail Address on the left. Type the email address in the field that appears — for example, contact@example.com. You can also add a subject line in the Subject field if you want the email to open with a pre-filled subject.

When someone clicks this link during your slideshow, their default email program opens with a new message addressed to that email. This works only if the viewer has an email client set up on their computer — web-based email like Gmail may not respond to these links.

Linking to a file on your computer

You can link to a Word document, PDF, Excel spreadsheet, or any other file stored on your computer. Select your text or image, open the Link dialog, and click Existing File or Web Page (the default option). Click the Browse button, navigate to the file you want, select it, and click Open.

PowerPoint stores the file path relative to your presentation if possible, which means the link will still work if you move both files together to a different folder. If you move only the presentation or only the linked file, the link will break. Before presenting, test the link by running the slideshow and clicking it to confirm the file opens.

Changing link appearance and removing links

By default, linked text appears in blue and underlined. To change how a link looks, right-click it in edit mode and choose Edit Link. In the dialog, click ScreenTip to add hover text that appears when someone moves their mouse over the link during the slideshow. This is helpful for explaining where the link goes without cluttering your slide.

To remove a link entirely, right-click it and choose Remove Link. The text or image stays on the slide but no longer functions as a link. If you want to change where a link points, right-click it, choose Edit Link, and update the address or destination.

Testing links before you present

Links do not work when you are editing your presentation — they only respond to clicks during a slideshow. Before you present, run the slideshow by pressing F5 (to start from the beginning) or Shift+F5 (to start from the current slide). Click each link to confirm it opens the correct destination.

If a link to a website does not work, check that you included http:// or https:// at the start of the address. If a link to a file does not work, make sure the file still exists in the same location and that you have permission to open it. If you are presenting on a different computer, copy all linked files to the same folder as your presentation and update the links to point to the new location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a link that opens a different presentation file?

Yes. Use Existing File or Web Page in the Link dialog and browse to the PowerPoint file you want to open. When clicked during a slideshow, it opens that presentation. If you want to return to your original presentation afterward, the viewer must close the new file manually.

Why does my link not work during the slideshow?

The most common reason is a missing http:// or https:// at the start of a web address. For file links, the file may have been moved or deleted. Right-click the link, choose Edit Link, and verify the address or file path is correct.

Can I link to a specific page in a PDF?

PowerPoint does not have a built-in option to link to a specific page. The link will open the PDF at the first page. If you need to jump to a specific location, consider splitting the PDF into separate files or using a web-based version with a direct link to the page.

What happens if I move my presentation to a different computer?

Web links will work on any computer with an internet connection. Links to files on your computer will break unless you copy those files to the new computer and update the link paths. Links to other slides within the same presentation always work regardless of where you move the file.

Can I change the color of linked text?

Yes, but it requires changing your presentation's color scheme. Right-click the linked text, choose Format Text, and select a new color. Keep in mind that changing link color may make it harder for viewers to recognize the text as clickable during your slideshow.