The quickest way to add a hyperlink

To add a hyperlink in PowerPoint, select the text or object you want to link, then right-click and choose "Link" (or use Ctrl+K on Windows, Cmd+K on Mac). A dialog box opens where you paste the web address or file path. Click "OK" and you're done — the text turns blue and underlined, showing it's now clickable.

This works the same way whether you're linking to a website, another slide in your presentation, a file on your computer, or an email address. The method is consistent across Windows and Mac versions of PowerPoint, and also works in Google Slides and other presentation software with minor differences in menu names.

Key Takeaways

  • Select text or an object, press Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac), paste the web address or file path, and click OK to create a hyperlink.
  • You can link to websites, other slides in your presentation, files on your computer, or email addresses using the same dialog box.
  • Hyperlinked text appears blue and underlined by default, but you can change the color by editing the hyperlink style in your slide design.
  • Test your hyperlinks before presenting by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and clicking the link in edit mode, or by running the slideshow.
  • Remove a hyperlink by right-clicking it and selecting "Remove Link," which keeps the text but deletes the connection.

Linking to websites and web pages

When you want to link to a website, select the text first — this could be a single word, a phrase, or even a button shape you've drawn. Right-click and choose "Link" from the menu. In the dialog box that appears, paste the full web address into the "Address" field. Make sure to include "https://" at the start, or PowerPoint may not recognize it as a web link.

If you're linking to a specific page on a website rather than just the homepage, paste the full URL. For example, if you want to link to a specific article, paste the complete link to that article, not just the domain name. PowerPoint stores the exact address you enter, so the link goes exactly where you intend.

Linking to other slides in your presentation

To create a link that jumps to a different slide in the same presentation, select your text or object and press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac). In the dialog box, look for the option that says "Place in This Document" or "Link to Slide" — the exact wording varies by PowerPoint version. A list of all your slides appears, numbered by order. Click the slide you want to link to, then click OK.

This is useful for creating a table of contents at the start of your presentation, or for jumping between sections during a talk. When you run the slideshow, holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and clicking the link takes you directly to that slide. You can also add a "back" link on that slide to return to where you came from.

Linking to files on your computer

To link to a document, spreadsheet, or other file stored on your computer, select your text and press Ctrl+K. In the dialog box, look for "Browse" or a folder icon. Click it to open your file browser, then navigate to the file you want to link to and select it. PowerPoint inserts the file path automatically.

When someone clicks this link during a presentation, the file opens in its default program — a Word document opens in Word, a PDF opens in your PDF reader, and so on. This works best when you're presenting on your own computer or when the file is stored in a location everyone can access. If you're emailing the presentation to others, include the linked file in the same folder so the link still works on their computer.

Linking to email addresses

To create a link that opens someone's email program, select your text and press Ctrl+K. In the dialog box, type "mailto:" followed by the email address with no space — for example, "mailto:contact@example.com". Click OK. When someone clicks this link, their default email program opens with a new message addressed to that person.

This is useful when you want viewers to contact you or a team member directly from your presentation. The email address itself doesn't appear in the link text — you can write "Contact us" or "Email the team" instead, which looks cleaner than showing the raw email address.

Changing how hyperlinks look

By default, hyperlinked text appears blue and underlined. If you want to change this appearance — perhaps to match your slide design or make links less obvious — right-click the hyperlink and choose "Edit Link" or "Format Link" depending on your PowerPoint version. Some versions let you change the color directly from this menu.

For more control, go to the "Design" tab, find "Variants" or "Colors," and look for an option to edit the color scheme. This changes the hyperlink color across your entire presentation at once. You can also manually select hyperlinked text and change its color using the font color tool, though this only affects that single link.

Testing and removing hyperlinks

Before you present, test your hyperlinks to make sure they work. In edit mode, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click the link — it should open the website, file, or slide you intended. If you're running a slideshow, you can also click links normally during the presentation to test them.

If a link is broken — perhaps because you moved a file or a website changed its address — right-click the hyperlink and choose "Edit Link." Update the address to the correct one. To remove a hyperlink entirely without deleting the text, right-click it and select "Remove Link." The text stays on your slide but is no longer clickable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a hyperlink to a shape or image instead of text?

Yes. Right-click the shape or image and choose "Link," then enter the web address or file path the same way you would for text. The entire shape or image becomes clickable. This is useful for creating button-like navigation elements in your presentation.

What if my hyperlink doesn't work when I click it during a presentation?

First, check that you included "https://" in web addresses. If you're linking to a file on your computer, make sure the file is still in the location you linked to — moving or renaming it breaks the link. Test the link in edit mode by holding Ctrl and clicking it before you present.

Can I make a hyperlink open in a new window instead of replacing my presentation?

PowerPoint doesn't have a built-in option for this. When someone clicks a web link during a slideshow, it opens in their browser, which typically stays on top of your presentation. For files, the file opens in its default program. You can manually switch back to PowerPoint using Alt+Tab (Windows) or Cmd+Tab (Mac).

How do I change the hyperlink color to match my slide theme?

Go to the "Design" tab and look for "Variants" or "Colors." Some themes let you edit the color scheme directly. Otherwise, select a hyperlinked word, go to the "Home" tab, and use the font color dropdown to pick a new color. This changes only that one link unless you apply it to your slide master.

What happens to hyperlinks if I save my presentation as a PDF?

Web links and email links stay active in PDFs. Links to other slides in your presentation become links to pages in the PDF instead. Links to files on your computer may not work unless the file is in the same folder as the PDF and you update the link path before converting.