What a hyperlink is and why you need one

A hyperlink is clickable text or an image that takes you to another webpage, email address, or document when you click it. In Word documents and Google Docs, hyperlinks appear as colored, underlined text — usually blue. When someone reading your document clicks that text, their browser opens the link you attached to it.

You create hyperlinks when you want readers to visit a website without typing out a long URL, or when you want to link to another section of the same document. A hyperlink keeps readers in your document longer and makes it clear where they should go next.

Key Takeaways

  • In Word and Google Docs, select the text you want to turn into a link, then use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) to open the link dialog.
  • Paste or type the full web address into the URL field, including the https:// part at the beginning.
  • You can link to websites, email addresses, or other documents on your computer or in cloud storage.
  • Test your hyperlink by holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and clicking it to make sure it goes where you intended.

Creating a hyperlink in Microsoft Word

Open your Word document and find the text you want to turn into a link. Click at the start of that text and drag to select it — the text will highlight in blue. Do not select the entire paragraph, just the words you want clickable.

Press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. A dialog box titled "Insert Hyperlink" will appear. In the field labeled "Address," paste or type the full web address you want to link to. Include the https:// at the beginning — if you leave it out, Word may not recognize it as a web link.

Click the "OK" button. Your selected text will now appear in blue and underlined. To test it, hold down Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click the link. Your default web browser should open and take you to that address. If it does not, go back and check that you typed the address correctly, including the https:// part.

Creating a hyperlink in Google Docs

In Google Docs, select the text you want to turn into a link by clicking and dragging across it. Press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. A small box will pop up below your selected text with a field for the URL.

Type or paste the web address into that field. Again, include https:// at the start. Press Enter or click the checkmark icon. The text will turn blue and underlined. To test the link, hold Ctrl (or Cmd) and click it — your browser should open the webpage.

If you want to remove a hyperlink later, select the linked text, press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K), and click the trash icon or "Remove" option in the dialog that appears.

Linking to email addresses

You can create a link that opens someone's email program when clicked. Select the text you want to use as the link, then press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K). In the URL field, type mailto: followed immediately by the email address, with no space. For example: mailto:support@company.com

Click OK. When someone clicks that link, their default email program will open with a new message addressed to that email. This is useful in documents you share with others, because it saves them from typing the address by hand.

Linking to other documents and files

You can link to another file on your computer or in cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive. Select your text and press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K). In the dialog that appears, look for an option that says "Browse," "Choose a file," or a folder icon. Click it to open a file browser.

Navigate to the file you want to link to and select it. Click "Open" or "Insert." The link is now attached to your text. When someone clicks it, that file will open — as long as they have access to it and the file stays in the same location. If you move the file later, the link may break.

In Google Docs, you can also link to another section of the same document. Select your text, press Ctrl+K, then click "Headings" or "Bookmarks" to jump to a specific part of the document.

Fixing a broken hyperlink

A hyperlink breaks when the webpage no longer exists, the file has been moved, or the address was typed incorrectly. To fix it, right-click the blue linked text and select "Edit Hyperlink" (in Word) or select the text and press Ctrl+K (in Google Docs). The link dialog will open again.

Check the address in the URL field. If the website has moved, search for the correct address and paste it in. If you linked to a file and it has been moved, use the "Browse" button to find the file in its new location. Click OK to save the change. Test the link again by holding Ctrl and clicking it.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is forgetting the https:// at the start of a web address. Without it, Word and Google Docs may not recognize it as a link, or the link may not work when clicked. Always include the full address exactly as it appears in your browser's address bar.

Another mistake is selecting too much text. If you select an entire sentence or paragraph, the whole thing becomes clickable, which looks messy and confuses readers. Select only the key words — usually two to five words that make sense as a link on their own.

Do not create a link that says "Click here" or "Link." Instead, use descriptive text that tells the reader what they will find. For example, link the words "our privacy policy" rather than "click here" so readers know what to expect before they click.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of a hyperlink?

In Word, right-click the link, select "Font," and change the color. In Google Docs, select the text and use the text color tool in the toolbar. Keep in mind that blue is the standard color readers expect for links, so changing it may confuse them.

What if the link works for me but not for someone else?

If you linked to a file on your computer, other people cannot access it unless you share the file with them first. For shared documents, use links to cloud storage files or websites instead. If you linked to a website and it works for you but not them, the website may be blocked in their location or by their internet provider.

How do I make an image clickable?

Right-click the image and select "Add Hyperlink" (Word) or select the image and press Ctrl+K (Google Docs). Enter the URL the same way you would for text. The image will now be clickable, though there is no visual change to show it is a link.

Can I link to a specific part of a webpage?

Yes, but only if that webpage has anchor links set up. Look for a small link icon or "#" symbol next to section headings on the page. Right-click it and copy the link address, then paste that full address into your hyperlink dialog. This takes readers directly to that section instead of the top of the page.