Creating a hyperlink in Word takes three steps

To add a clickable web link in Word, select the text you want to turn into a link, then use the Insert menu to add the web address. Word will format it as a blue underlined link that readers can click. The process is the same whether you are using Word on Windows, Mac, or the online version.

You do not need to know HTML or any special syntax — Word handles all the formatting for you. Once the link is created, you can test it, edit it, or remove it without affecting the rest of your document.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text you want to become a link, then go to Insert > Link (or press Ctrl+K on Windows, Command+K on Mac).
  • Paste or type the full web address into the address field, starting with https:// or http://.
  • You can add a tooltip that appears when someone hovers over the link by clicking the ScreenTip button.
  • Test the link by holding Ctrl and clicking it (or Command+click on Mac) to make sure it opens the correct page.

Step 1: Select the text you want to link

Click and drag to highlight the words you want to turn into a link. This is usually a phrase like "our website" or "click here" — something short that makes sense in context. You can select a single word or several words; Word will turn all of it into one clickable link.

If you have not yet typed the text, type it first, then go back and select it. Do not select line breaks or extra spaces at the beginning or end, as Word will include those in the link formatting.

Step 2: Open the Insert Link dialog

With your text selected, press Ctrl+K (on Windows) or Command+K (on Mac). The Insert Hyperlink dialog will open when ready. You can also reach this by clicking the Insert menu at the top, then clicking Link.

The dialog shows a text field labeled "Address" where you will paste or type the web address. Leave the "Text to display" field alone — Word has already filled it with the text you selected.

Step 3: Enter the web address

Click in the Address field and type or paste the full web address. Always include the protocol at the beginning — type https://www.example.com, not just www.example.com. If you are unsure whether the site uses https or http, type https first; most modern websites use https.

If you are copying the address from your browser, click the address bar, select all (Ctrl+A or Command+A), copy it (Ctrl+C or Command+C), then paste it into Word's Address field. This ensures you get the exact address with no typos.

Adding a tooltip that appears on hover

A tooltip is a small box of text that pops up when someone moves their mouse over the link without clicking it. This is optional, but useful if you want to give readers a hint about where the link goes. Click the ScreenTip button in the Insert Hyperlink dialog (it appears near the bottom of the dialog).

Type a short phrase like "Opens our contact page" or "External site" into the ScreenTip field, then click OK. The tooltip will now appear when anyone hovers over the link in the finished document. Note that tooltips do not appear on mobile devices, where there is no hover action.

Testing and editing your link

To test the link without leaving Word, hold Ctrl and click the link (or Command+click on Mac). Your web browser will open and navigate to the address. If the page does not load or you see an error, the address may be wrong.

To edit a link you have already created, right-click it and select "Edit Link" from the menu. The Insert Hyperlink dialog will open again, and you can change the address, the display text, or the tooltip. To remove a link entirely, right-click it and select "Remove Link" — this deletes the link but keeps the text.

Linking to a location within the same document

You can also create links that jump to a different part of the same Word document. This is useful in long documents with a table of contents. First, go to the location you want to link to and create a bookmark: select the text or place your cursor where you want the link to land, then click Insert > Bookmark, give it a name like "Chapter2", and click Add.

Now go back to the text you want to turn into a link, select it, and press Ctrl+K. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog, click "Place in This Document" on the left side. Select the bookmark you just created from the list, then click OK. The link will now jump to that location when clicked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the color of a hyperlink?

Yes. Right-click the link and select "Font" to change its color, size, or style. You can also select all links in the document at once by pressing Ctrl+A, then right-clicking and choosing Font. Keep in mind that changing link colors may confuse readers who expect links to be blue.

What if the link does not work when I click it?

Check that the address in the Address field is complete and spelled correctly. Make sure it starts with https:// or http://. If you copied the address from your browser, paste it into a new browser tab to confirm it works before trying the link in Word again.

Do I need to do anything special to send a document with links to someone else?

No. Links work in Word documents that you email or share. The person who opens the document can Ctrl+click (or Command+click) the link to open it in their browser, just as you can. Links work the same way in .docx files, PDFs, and other formats.

Can I link to a file on my computer instead of a website?

Yes. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog, click "Current Folder" on the left side, then browse to the file you want to link to. Select it and click OK. When someone clicks the link, Word will open that file. This works best if you are sharing the document with others who have access to the same folder or network location.