The simplest way to add a link in PowerPoint

To add a clickable link in PowerPoint, select the text or image you want to turn into a link, then use the Insert menu to add the web address. The link will work when you play the slideshow, but not while you are editing. Most people use this to link to websites, but you can also link to other slides in the same presentation, to files on your computer, or to an email address.

The steps are the same whether you are using PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The only difference is where the buttons live in the menu — but the names stay the same, so you will find them even if your screen looks slightly different.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text or image first, then go to Insert and choose Link to add the web address or file path.
  • Links only work during a slideshow — they do nothing when you are editing slides.
  • You can link to a website, another slide in the same presentation, a file on your computer, or an email address.
  • To test whether a link works, start the slideshow, find the linked text, and click it while holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac).
  • If you want to remove a link, right-click the linked text and choose Remove Link from the menu.

Adding a link to a website

Start by clicking on the word or phrase you want to turn into a link. If you want to link an image instead, click the image once. The text or image should now have a border around it showing it is selected.

Go to the Insert menu at the top of the screen. In the menu that drops down, look for a button called Link (or Hyperlink on some versions). Click it. A box will open asking you where the link should go. Type or paste the full web address into the field — for example, https://www.example.com. Then click OK or Insert. The text will now appear underlined and in a different color, usually blue, to show it is a link.

If you selected multiple words, all of them become one link — clicking any part of them will open the same destination. If you want different words to link to different places, you have to add each link separately.

Linking to another slide in the same presentation

Select the text or image you want to turn into a link, then go to Insert and choose Link. In the box that opens, look for an option that says "Place in This Document" or "Link to Slide" — the exact wording depends on your version. Click it.

A list of all the slides in your presentation will appear. Click the slide you want the link to jump to. When someone clicks the link during a slideshow, PowerPoint will jump straight to that slide. This is useful for presentations where you want to skip around — for example, a sales pitch where you might jump to a pricing slide only if someone asks about cost.

Linking to a file on your computer

Select the text or image, go to Insert, and choose Link. In the box that opens, look for an option called "Existing File" or "Browse". Click it, then navigate to the file you want to link to — it can be a Word document, a PDF, an Excel spreadsheet, or any other file type. Click the file once to select it, then click OK.

When someone clicks the link during a slideshow, that file will open in whatever program is set up to handle it on their computer. If the file does not exist on their computer, or if it has been moved or renamed, the link will not work. For this reason, file links work best when you are presenting on your own computer or when you have sent the linked files to the audience ahead of time.

Creating a link to an email address

Select the text or image, go to Insert, and choose Link. In the box that opens, look for an option that says "Email Address" or "mailto". Click it. A field will appear where you can type an email address. Type the address and click OK.

When someone clicks the link during a slideshow, their default email program will open with a new message addressed to that email. This is useful if you want the audience to contact you after the presentation, but be aware that it only works if the person has an email program set up on their computer.

Testing your links before you present

Links do not work while you are editing slides — you can click a linked word and nothing will happen. To test whether a link actually works, you have to start the slideshow. Press F5 on Windows or Shift+Command+Return on Mac to start the slideshow from the beginning, or press Shift+F5 to start from the current slide.

Navigate to the slide with the link you want to test. Move your mouse over the linked text — the cursor should change to a hand. Now hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click. The link should open. If it does not, go back to editing mode, right-click the link, and choose Edit Link to check the address you entered.

Removing or changing a link

If you want to remove a link entirely, right-click the linked text and choose Remove Link from the menu that appears. The text will stay on the slide, but it will no longer be underlined or colored, and clicking it will do nothing.

To change where a link points, right-click the linked text and choose Edit Link. The same box that appeared when you first added the link will open. Change the address or destination and click OK. You can also use this method to change a website link to a file link, or vice versa — just choose the new link type from the options in the box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my link not work when I click it while editing?

Links in PowerPoint only work during a slideshow, not while you are editing. Start the slideshow by pressing F5 (Windows) or Shift+Command+Return (Mac), then hold Ctrl or Command while clicking the link to test it.

Can I make a link that opens a file on someone else's computer?

No — file links only work if the file exists on the computer where the presentation is being shown. If you want the audience to access a file, either send it to them beforehand or use a web link instead.

What if I want the link to look like regular text instead of blue and underlined?

Right-click the link and choose Format Link or Edit Link. Look for options to change the color or remove the underline. The exact steps vary by version, but the link will still work even if it does not look like a traditional link.

Can I link to a specific part of a website, like a heading on a long page?

Yes — if the website uses anchors or bookmarks, you can add #anchor-name to the end of the web address. For example, https://www.example.com#pricing. Not all websites support this, so test it first.

How do I know if a link is broken before I present?

Start the slideshow and test each link by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking. If a link does not open or shows an error, edit it to check the address. For website links, make sure you typed the full address including https://.