The simplest way to add a link in PowerPoint

To add a link in PowerPoint, select the text or image 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 you're done — the text or image is now clickable during your presentation.

The link works in presentation mode (when you press F5 or click Slide Show at the top). During the presentation, hold Ctrl and click the linked text or image to open the web address. Without holding Ctrl, a regular click just advances to the next slide.

This method works the same way in PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, and the web version. The steps below walk you through each platform, but the core action — select, right-click, choose Link — is identical everywhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Select the text or image first, then right-click and choose Link to open the dialog where you paste the web address.
  • During a presentation, hold Ctrl while clicking a link to open it; a regular click advances the slide instead.
  • You can link to external websites, other slides in the same presentation, or files on your computer.
  • Test your links before presenting by running the slide show and clicking each one to confirm it opens the right destination.

Adding a link to text in PowerPoint on Windows

Click once on the text box that contains the words you want to link. Then triple-click the specific word or phrase to select it — or click and drag to highlight multiple words. The selected text appears highlighted in blue.

Right-click the highlighted text. A menu appears with several options. Look for and click Link (or Insert Link depending on your version). The Insert Hyperlink dialog box opens.

In the dialog, you'll see a field labeled Address at the bottom. Paste or type the full web address — for example, https://www.example.com. Do not leave off the https:// part, or PowerPoint may not recognize it as a web link. Click OK and the text turns blue and underlined, showing it's now a link.

Adding a link to text in PowerPoint on Mac

Click the text box containing the words you want to link. Select the specific word or phrase by triple-clicking it or clicking and dragging. The selected text highlights.

Right-click the selected text and choose Link from the menu. The Insert Hyperlink dialog opens. In the Address field, paste or type the web address with https:// included. Click OK.

On Mac, you can also use the keyboard shortcut: select the text, then press Command + K. The same dialog opens, and you enter the address the same way.

Linking an image instead of text

Click once on the image you want to turn into a link. The image shows selection handles (small squares) around its edges. Right-click the image and choose Link. The Insert Hyperlink dialog opens.

Paste or type the web address in the Address field and click OK. The image itself doesn't change appearance, but it's now clickable. During your presentation, hold Ctrl and click the image to open the link.

Linking images is useful when you want a cleaner look — the audience sees a picture rather than blue underlined text, but clicking it still opens a web page or file.

Linking to another slide in the same presentation

Select the text or image you want to link. Right-click and choose Link. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog, look for an option on the left side that says Place in This Document or Link to (the exact wording varies by version).

Click that option and a list of all your slides appears. Click the slide number or title you want to jump to, then click OK. Now when you click that text or image during your presentation (while holding Ctrl), PowerPoint jumps directly to that slide instead of opening a web page.

This is helpful for presentations with a table of contents or when you want to jump back to a previous slide without clicking through every one in between.

Testing your links before you present

Before you present to an audience, run through your slide show and test every link. Press F5 on Windows or Shift + Command + Play on Mac to start the presentation from the beginning. Navigate to each slide that has a link.

When you reach a linked item, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click it. The link should open in your web browser or jump to the correct slide. If nothing happens, the link may be broken or the address may be typed incorrectly. Go back to edit mode, right-click the link, choose Edit Link, and check the address.

Testing takes a few minutes but prevents the awkward moment during a presentation when you click a link and nothing happens. It also confirms that your internet connection is working if you're linking to external websites.

Removing or changing a link

To change where a link points, right-click the linked text or image and choose Edit Link. The Insert Hyperlink dialog opens with the current address shown. Change the address to the new one and click OK.

To remove a link entirely, right-click the linked text or image and choose Remove Link. The text or image stays on the slide but is no longer clickable. The text color returns to normal (no longer blue and underlined).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my link work when I click it during the presentation?

You must hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking. A regular click advances to the next slide. Also check that you included https:// in the web address when you created the link. If the link still doesn't work, exit the presentation, right-click the link, choose Edit Link, and verify the address is correct.

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

Yes. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog, look for Place in This Document or a similar option on the left side. Choose the option to browse for a file, then navigate to and select the file you want to link to. When you click the link during your presentation, that file opens.

What if I want the link to open in a new browser window?

PowerPoint doesn't have a built-in setting for this. The link opens in your default browser, replacing whatever window was visible. If you need the presentation to stay visible while the link opens, you can manually open the browser before you start presenting, then Alt-Tab or Command-Tab between windows during the presentation.

Can I link to a specific part of a webpage?

Yes, if you know the anchor link for that section. For example, https://www.example.com#section-name. When someone clicks the link, the browser opens the page and scrolls to that section. Not all websites use anchor links, so this only works if the website's creator set them up.

Does the link work if I email the PowerPoint file to someone else?

Yes, as long as the person has internet access and the web address is still valid. Links to other slides in the same presentation also work. However, links to files on your computer won't work for the other person unless you also send those files and they save them in the same folder structure.