The fastest way: select text, then paste or type the URL

To add a hyperlink in Microsoft Word, select the text you want to turn into a link, then right-click and choose Link from the menu. A dialog box opens where you paste or type the web address. Click OK and Word converts your text into a clickable link.

If you are working on a Mac, the menu option is the same — right-click the selected text and choose Link. The dialog that appears works identically to the Windows version.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) instead of right-clicking. Select your text first, press the shortcut, and the link dialog opens when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text you want to link, right-click, and choose Link to open the dialog where you paste the web address.
  • Use Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) as a faster alternative to right-clicking if you link frequently.
  • Word automatically detects web addresses you type and converts them to links, but you can turn this off in settings if you prefer manual control.
  • To remove a link, right-click it and choose Remove Link, or select it and press Ctrl+Shift+F9 (Windows).
  • You can link to files on your computer, email addresses, or bookmarks within the same document using the same dialog.

Linking to files on your computer or network

When you want to link to a document stored locally instead of a web page, the process is the same up to the dialog box. Select your text, right-click, and choose Link. In the dialog, click the folder icon on the left side labeled Current Folder or Browse, then navigate to the file you want to link to.

Word shows you the file path at the bottom of the dialog. If you plan to email this document or move it to a different folder, use a relative path (just the filename if the files are in the same folder) rather than the full path. This way the link still works if you move both files together.

Creating a link to an email address

To create a link that opens someone's email when clicked, select your text and open the Link dialog with Ctrl+K or right-click. At the bottom left of the dialog, click E-mail Address. Type the email address in the field that appears, and optionally add a subject line in the Subject field.

When someone clicks this link in your document, their default email program opens with a new message addressed to that person. The subject line you entered appears in the subject field if you included one.

Turning off automatic link detection

By default, Word automatically converts any web address you type (like www.example.com or https://example.com) into a clickable link. If this behavior bothers you, you can turn it off. Go to File > Options (Windows) or Word > Preferences (Mac).

In the Options window, click Proofing on the left, then click AutoCorrect Options. Find the tab labeled AutoFormat As You Type. Uncheck the box next to Internet and network paths with hyperlinks. Click OK twice to save the change. Word will no longer auto-link addresses you type, though you can still create links manually whenever you want.

Editing or removing a link

To change the URL a link points to, right-click the link and choose Edit Link. The dialog opens with the current address highlighted. Type or paste the new address and click OK.

To remove a link entirely while keeping the text, right-click the link and choose Remove Link. The text stays in your document but is no longer clickable. On Windows, you can also select the link and press Ctrl+Shift+F9 to remove it.

Linking to a specific place in your document

Word lets you create links that jump to a bookmark or heading elsewhere in the same document. First, go to the location you want to link to and create a bookmark. Select the text or position your cursor, then go to Insert > Bookmark and give it a name (no spaces allowed).

Now go back to where you want the link to be, select your text, and open the Link dialog with Ctrl+K or right-click. In the dialog, click Place in This Document on the left side. You see a list of bookmarks and headings. Click the one you want to link to and click OK. When someone clicks this link, Word jumps to that bookmark.

Changing how links look

By default, Word shows links in blue and underlined. If you want to change this appearance, select a link and use the font formatting tools on the ribbon — you can change the color, remove the underline, or make it bold. These changes explore only to that one link.

To change how all links look in your document at once, go to Design or Layout on the ribbon (depending on your Word version), click Colors, and choose a color scheme. You can also right-click a link, choose Styles, and modify the Hyperlink style to change all links throughout the document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a link open in a new window or tab?

Word itself does not have a built-in option for this. When someone clicks a link in a Word document, it opens in their default browser in the same window. If you need links to open in new tabs, convert your document to HTML or PDF, where this behavior is easier to control.

What if the link address has special characters or spaces?

Paste the full address into the Link dialog rather than typing it. Word handles special characters and spaces correctly when you paste. If you type it manually, spaces can break the link.

How do I know if a link is working before I send the document?

Hold Ctrl and click the link in your document. Word opens the destination in your browser or email program. If nothing happens, the address is wrong or unreachable. Fix it by right-clicking the link and choosing Edit Link.

Can I link to a specific page in a PDF file?

Word can link to a PDF file, but not to a specific page within it. When someone clicks the link, the entire PDF opens. To link to a specific page, you would need to use a PDF viewer that supports page anchors, or convert the PDF to another format.

What happens to links if I save my document as a PDF?

Links remain clickable in the PDF. Web links, email links, and links to bookmarks all work the same way. Links to local files may break if you move the PDF to a different folder, so use web links or email links when sharing documents you expect people to open on different computers.