The basic way to make a link in most programs
To make something clickable, you select the text or image you want to turn into a link, then tell the program where that link should point to. The steps change slightly depending on whether you are working in a word processor, email, website builder, or social media — but the idea is always the same: highlight what you want to click, paste or type the web address, and save.
The most common mistake is trying to make a link before you have the web address ready. Have the URL copied to your clipboard before you start, so you can paste it in quickly without typing it wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Select the text or image you want to become a link, then use your program's link tool to paste the web address into the destination field.
- In Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and most email programs, right-click the selected text and choose "Link" or "Insert Link" from the menu.
- On websites and social media, the link button usually sits in the toolbar at the top of the text box — look for a chain or link icon.
- Test every link after you create it by clicking it to make sure it goes to the right place.
- You can change or remove a link later by selecting it again and using the same tool that created it.
Making a link in Microsoft Word
Open your document and highlight the word or phrase you want to turn into a link. Right-click on the selected text and choose Link from the menu that appears. A dialog box will open with a field labeled "Address" — paste your web address there and click OK.
The text will now appear underlined and in blue, which is the standard way links look in Word. If you want to change the link later, right-click it again and choose Edit Link to update the web address, or Remove Link to delete it entirely.
Making a link in Google Docs
Highlight the text you want to link, then press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. A small box will pop up with a field for the web address. Paste your URL there and press Enter. The text turns blue and underlined automatically.
To edit or remove the link later, click on the linked text and the same box will reappear. You can change the address, or click the trash icon to remove the link without deleting the text itself.
Making a link in email
The process is nearly identical in Gmail, Outlook, and most other email programs. Type or paste the text you want to become a link, highlight it, then look for a link icon in the toolbar — it usually looks like a chain. Click it, paste your web address into the field that appears, and press Enter or click OK.
In Gmail, you can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac). Always test the link before you send the email by holding Ctrl and clicking it, or by sending a test message to yourself first.
Making a link on a website or blog
If you are writing a post or page on WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, or a similar website builder, highlight your text and look for a link icon in the editing toolbar — usually near the bold and italic buttons. Click it and paste your web address into the field. Some builders also let you search for pages within your own site to link to.
Website builders often let you set whether the link opens in the same window or a new tab. If you are linking to another website, choosing "open in new tab" keeps your site open in the background, which many readers prefer. For links to your own pages, opening in the same window is usually fine.
Making a link on social media
Most social media platforms do not let you make clickable links inside post text the way a word processor does. Instead, if you paste a web address directly into a post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, the platform automatically detects it and makes it clickable. You do not need to do anything extra — just paste the full URL and the platform handles the rest.
Some platforms like LinkedIn do let you highlight text and create a link manually using a toolbar button. Check your platform's help section if you are unsure, but in most cases, simply pasting the web address is enough. The platform will usually show a preview of the page you are linking to.
Fixing links that do not work
If you create a link and it does not work, the most common reason is a typo in the web address. Click the link and check the address bar at the top of your browser to see exactly where it tried to go. If the address is wrong, go back to your document, right-click the link, and edit it to fix the mistake.
Another common problem is forgetting to include https:// at the beginning of the address. Most programs add this automatically, but if your link does not work, try editing it and making sure it starts with https:// or http://. Test the link again after you make the change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a link out of an image instead of text?
Yes. Instead of selecting text, click on the image you want to link, then use the same link tool — right-click and choose Link, or use Ctrl+K. Paste the web address and the image becomes clickable. The image itself will not change appearance, but clicking it will take you to the linked page.
What is the difference between a relative link and an absolute link?
An absolute link is the full web address, like https://www.example.com/page. A relative link is a shorter path used only on websites, like /page, which assumes you are already on the same website. Most people use absolute links because they work everywhere. Website builders usually handle relative links automatically.
How do I make a link that sends an email instead of going to a website?
Select your text, open the link tool, and instead of pasting a web address, type mailto:yourname@example.com. When someone clicks that link, it will open their email program with your address already filled in. This works in Word, Google Docs, and most website builders.
Can I change the text of a link without breaking it?
Yes. Select the linked text and edit it the same way you would edit any other text — just type the new words. The link itself stays attached to the text and continues to work. You only need to edit the link's destination if the web address changes.
What happens if I delete a link by accident?
The text or image stays in your document — only the link is removed. If you need the link back, you can undo the deletion by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac), or you can simply create the link again by selecting the text and following the steps for your program.