The basic way to link text to a web address

To create a hyperlink in Word, select the text you want to turn into a link, then use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac). A dialog box opens where you paste the web address. Click OK, and Word turns that text blue and underlined — the standard hyperlink appearance.

The text you select becomes what readers see and click on. The web address you paste into the dialog stays hidden behind it. So if you select the words "Housing Authority" and link it to www.example.gov/housing, readers see only "Housing Authority" as a clickable link, not the full web address.

This works the same way in Word documents, emails, and web-based versions of Word. The link stays active as long as the document stays in a format that supports links — which includes .docx files, PDFs, and emails, but not plain text files.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text you want to link, press Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac), paste the web address into the dialog, and click OK.
  • The text you select is what readers click on; the web address stays hidden behind it.
  • You can link to external websites, email addresses, or other places within the same document.
  • Links work in .docx files, PDFs, and emails, but disappear if you save the document as plain text.
  • Right-click a link and choose "Remove Link" to delete it without deleting the text itself.

Linking to email addresses instead of websites

Word can create links that open an email window instead of a web page. Select your text, press Ctrl+K, and in the dialog box type mailto: followed by the email address — for example, mailto:contact@example.com. When someone clicks that link, their default email program opens with the address already filled in.

This is useful in documents you plan to share with others who might want to contact someone. The link works on any device that has an email program set up, though it may not work on phones or tablets that don't have a default email app configured.

Linking to other pages within the same document

You can link to a heading or bookmark elsewhere in the same Word document. This is helpful in longer documents where you want readers to jump to a specific section without scrolling through everything.

First, create a bookmark at the place you want the link to point to. Select the text or heading where you want the bookmark, go to the Insert tab, click Bookmark, give it a straightforward name (no spaces), and click Add. Then select the text you want to turn into a link, press Ctrl+K, and in the dialog choose "Place in This Document." Select the bookmark you just created and click OK.

Editing or removing a hyperlink

To change the web address a link points to, right-click the link and select "Edit Link." The dialog opens again so you can paste a new address. To remove the link entirely while keeping the text, right-click and choose "Remove Link." The text stays in the document but is no longer clickable.

If you want to change the text that appears (not the address it points to), you have to delete the link first, edit the text, and then create a new link. Word does not let you change the visible text while keeping the same link intact.

Why links sometimes break or stop working

A hyperlink in Word only works if the web address is correct and the website still exists. If you link to a page that gets deleted or moved, the link becomes broken — it still looks like a link, but clicking it produces an error.

Links also stop working if you save the document in a format that does not support them, such as .txt or .rtf. If you need to share a document with links, save it as .docx or convert it to PDF. PDFs preserve links as long as you use Word's "Export as PDF" feature rather than printing to PDF.

If you email a Word document with links, the links usually stay active. However, some email systems or security settings may disable links for safety reasons, so do not assume a link will work for everyone who receives the file.

Using the Insert menu instead of the keyboard shortcut

If you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts, you can create a link through the menu. Select the text, go to the Insert tab at the top, and click the Link button (it looks like a chain link). The same dialog opens, and you paste the web address the same way.

The Insert menu method takes more steps but works identically to Ctrl+K. Use whichever feels more natural to you — many people find the keyboard shortcut faster once they remember it.

What happens to links when you convert Word to PDF

Links survive the conversion from Word to PDF, but only if you use the right method. In Word, go to File, then Export As, then Create PDF/XPS. This preserves all hyperlinks. If you instead print the document to PDF (using a print dialog), the links may not carry over.

Once the document is a PDF, readers can click links the same way they would in Word. However, you cannot edit the links anymore — you would have to go back to the Word file, change the link, and export to PDF again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a link that opens a document on my computer instead of a website?

Yes. Select your text, press Ctrl+K, and in the dialog click the folder icon to browse your computer. Select the file you want to link to and click OK. The link will open that file when clicked, but only if the file stays in the same location on the computer. If you move the file, the link breaks.

Why does Word underline all my links in blue even though I want them to look different?

Word applies a default style to all links. To change how links look, go to the Home tab, click the arrow next to Styles, right-click "Hyperlink," and choose Modify. You can change the color, remove the underline, or adjust the font. The change applies to all links in that document.

Can I create a link that opens a document in a new window instead of replacing the current one?

Word does not have a built-in option for this. Links in Word documents always open in the same window or tab. If you need links to open in new windows, you would have to save the document as a webpage (.html) and edit the HTML code directly, which is beyond what Word's interface allows.

What if I paste a web address into Word and it automatically becomes a link?

Word detects web addresses and email addresses and turns them into links automatically. If you do not want this, you can undo it when ready with Ctrl+Z. To turn off automatic linking permanently, go to File, Options, Proofing, AutoCorrect Options, and uncheck "Internet and network paths with hyperlinks" under the AutoFormat tab.

Do links work the same way in Word Online as they do in the desktop version?

Yes. The Ctrl+K shortcut works in Word Online, and the dialog looks nearly identical. The main difference is that Word Online may not support links to local files on your computer — it works best with web addresses and email links.