What a hyperlink is and why you'd use one
A hyperlink is text or an image in your document that, when clicked, takes the reader to a website, an email address, or another part of your document. You create one by selecting the text you want to turn into a link, then telling your document editor where that link should point.
The most common reason to add a hyperlink is to let readers jump to a source you're citing without having to type a URL by hand. You might also link to your own website, to a form someone needs to fill out, or to another page within a long document so readers can skip to the section they need.
Every major document editor — Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, Apple Pages — handles hyperlinks the same basic way, though the exact steps differ slightly. The process takes about 30 seconds once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- Select the text you want to turn into a link, then use the Insert or Link menu to paste the URL where it belongs.
- In Word, right-click the selected text and choose "Link" from the menu; in Google Docs, use Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac).
- You can link to a website, an email address, or another section of your own document.
- Test every link before you share the document to make sure it points where you intended.
- A hyperlink appears as colored, underlined text by default, though you can change how it looks without breaking the link itself.
Creating a hyperlink in Microsoft Word
Open your document and find the text you want to turn into a link. Click at the start of that text, then drag to select it — the selected text will highlight in blue. Do not select the whole paragraph, just the words you want readers to click on (usually three to seven words).
Right-click on the selected text. A menu will appear. Click "Link" (or "Insert Link" depending on your Word version). A dialog box opens. In the field labeled "Address", paste the full URL — for example, https://www.example.com. If you're linking to an email address instead, type mailto:name@example.com in that same field. Click "OK" and the link is created.
The text now appears in blue and underlined. When you hover your mouse over it, the cursor changes to a hand. Ctrl+click (or Cmd+click on Mac) to follow the link and test it.
Creating a hyperlink in Google Docs
Select the text you want to turn into a link by clicking and dragging. With the text highlighted, press Ctrl+K on Windows or Cmd+K on Mac. A small box appears below your selected text with a field for the URL.
Paste the full web address into that field — for example, https://www.example.com — and press Enter. The link is created when ready. Google Docs turns the text blue and underlined automatically. Click the link while holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) to test it.
If you want to link to another part of the same document, press Ctrl+K as usual, but instead of pasting a URL, click the heading icon that appears in the box. Google Docs shows you a list of all the headings in your document. Click the heading you want to link to, and the link is set.
Creating a hyperlink in LibreOffice and Apple Pages
In LibreOffice Writer, select your text, then go to the Insert menu at the top and click "Hyperlink". A dialog opens. Paste your URL into the "URL" field and click "Insert". The link is created and appears in blue.
In Apple Pages, select your text, then go to the Insert menu and choose "Link". Paste your URL into the field that appears and press Enter. Pages turns the text blue and underlined.
Both editors let you link to websites, email addresses, or other parts of your document. The process is nearly identical to Word and Google Docs — select, open the link dialog, paste the address, and confirm.
Linking to an email address
When you want readers to email you directly from your document, create a link to an email address instead of a website. Select the text (usually your email address or a phrase like "contact us"), then open the link dialog as you normally would.
In the address field, type mailto: followed when ready by the email address with no space — for example, mailto:help@example.com. When someone clicks that link, their default email program opens with a new message addressed to that email.
This works the same way in Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and Pages. Test the link before sharing the document to make sure your email address is spelled correctly.
Linking to another section of your own document
If you're writing a long document with multiple sections, you can create links that jump readers to a specific heading or section. This is especially useful in a table of contents or when you're referring back to something you explained earlier.
In Google Docs, select your text, press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K), and click the heading icon. A list of all headings in your document appears. Click the heading you want to link to. In Word, select your text, right-click, choose "Link", then click "Place in This Document" on the left side of the dialog. Select the heading you want to link to and click OK.
In LibreOffice, select your text, go to Insert > Hyperlink, and in the left panel click "Target in Document". Choose the section you want to link to. In Pages, this feature is more limited — you may need to use a workaround or stick to linking to websites instead.
Changing how a hyperlink looks
By default, hyperlinks appear in blue and underlined. You can change the color or remove the underline without breaking the link. Select the hyperlink text, then format it as you would any other text — change the color, make it bold, remove the underline, or adjust the font size.
In Word and Google Docs, you can also right-click the link and choose "Edit Link" to change the URL it points to without retyping the whole thing. This is faster than deleting the link and creating a new one.
Be careful not to make a link so subtle that readers don't notice it's clickable. If you remove the underline, consider keeping the color different from your regular text, or make it bold so readers know it's interactive.
Testing and troubleshooting your links
Before you share your document, test every link by clicking it (use Ctrl+click or Cmd+click in most editors). The link should open the correct website or email program. If it doesn't, right-click the link, choose "Edit Link", and check that the URL is spelled correctly and includes https:// at the start.
A common mistake is forgetting the https:// part. If you paste only www.example.com, the link may not work. Always include the full address starting with https:// or http://.
If you're sharing the document as a PDF, test the links in the PDF version too — sometimes links behave differently depending on how the document is converted. If a link doesn't work in the PDF, you may need to recreate it or share the document in its original format (Word, Google Docs, etc.) instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a hyperlink without changing the text color?
Yes. After you create the link, select it and change the text color back to black or whatever color you prefer. The link will still work even though it no longer looks blue. However, readers may not realize it's clickable, so consider keeping some visual difference — like bold text or a different color — so they know to click it.
What if the website I'm linking to no longer exists?
The link will be broken. Readers who click it will see an error message. Before sharing your document, test all links to make sure the websites still exist. If a site has moved, update the link to point to the new address. If a site has disappeared entirely, consider removing the link or replacing it with a note explaining why the source is no longer available.
Can I link to a file on my computer instead of a website?
Yes, but only if the person reading the document has access to that file in the same location on their computer. In Word and LibreOffice, you can create a link to a file by choosing "Browse" in the link dialog and selecting the file. This works best when you're sharing documents within a team or organization where everyone has the same folder structure. For documents shared with the general public, stick to linking to websites.
How do I remove a hyperlink without deleting the text?
Right-click the link and choose "Remove Link" or "Delete Link" (the exact wording depends on your editor). The text stays in your document, but it's no longer clickable. In Google Docs, you can also select the link and press Ctrl+Shift+K (or Cmd+Shift+K on Mac) to remove it.
Can I link to a specific part of a website?
Yes, if the website has anchor links set up. Some websites use anchor links to let you jump to a specific section of a long page. The URL will look like https://www.example.com/page#section-name. You can paste this full URL into your hyperlink dialog just like any other link. Not all websites support this, so test the link first to make sure it works.