Hyperlinks let you link text to websites or email addresses. This makes it easy to access web pages or send emails directly from your document. You can add a hyperlink in different ways. Word can automatically format web and email addresses as links. You can also turn selected text into a hyperlink.

Understanding Hyperlinks

A hyperlink has two main parts:

  1. The address (URL) – This is the website link, like http://www.popsci.com.
  2. The display text – This is the visible text, like Popular Science Magazine.

When you create a hyperlink, you can choose both the address and the display text.

Word often detects web addresses and email addresses. After you press Enter or space, Word will turn them into clickable links.


To open a hyperlink in Word, hold the Ctrl key and click the link.


How to Add a Hyperlink

  1. Select the text you want to link.

  2. Click the Insert tab.

  3. Click the Hyperlink command.

Or, you can right-click the selected text and choose Hyperlink...

The Insert Hyperlink box will open.

  • Choose what you want to link: a webpage, file, email, or place in the document.
  • The selected text appears in the Text to display field. You can edit it.
  • Enter the link in the Address field.
  • Click OK to add the hyperlink.

The text will now be a clickable link.

Testing the Link

Always test your hyperlink after creating it. If it links to a website, your browser should open the page. If the link does not work, check for spelling mistakes in the web address.

Editing or Removing a Hyperlink

You can right-click the hyperlink to:

  • Edit the link

  • Open the link
  • Copy the link

  • Remove the link

To remove a hyperlink, right-click it and select Remove Hyperlink.