The simplest way to add a clickable 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 the web address you want to link to. Click OK and you're done — that text or image is now clickable during your presentation.

The link works in slideshow mode (when you're actually presenting) and in edit mode. When you hover over a linked word during a presentation, your cursor changes to a hand, and clicking it opens the web address in your default browser. This pulls your audience away from your slides, so use links sparingly and only when you actually need to show something live.

If you're linking to a website that's long or straightforward to mistype, pasting the full address is safer than typing it by hand. Copy the address from your browser's address bar and paste it directly into the Link dialog so there's no chance of a typo breaking the link during your presentation.

Key Takeaways

  • Select text or an image, right-click, choose Link, paste the web address, and click OK to create a clickable link.
  • Links only work during a presentation if you're connected to the internet, so test them before you present.
  • You can link to a website, an email address, or another slide within the same presentation.
  • Linked text usually appears underlined and in a different color so your audience knows it's clickable.

Linking to a website from text

Click on the word or phrase you want to turn into a link. If the text doesn't exist yet, type it first, then select it. Right-click on the selected text and look for the option that says Link (in some versions of PowerPoint it may say Insert Link or Hyperlink).

A dialog box appears with a field labeled Address or URL. Paste the full web address here — for example, https://www.example.com. Do not include extra spaces before or after the address. Click OK and the text now appears underlined and colored (usually blue), showing it's a link.

If you want to change what the link text says without changing where it points, right-click the linked text again, choose Edit Link, and you can update the text in the dialog. The web address stays the same.

Linking to an image instead of text

You can make an image clickable the same way you make text clickable. Click the image once to select it (you'll see small squares around the edges), then right-click and choose Link. Paste the web address and click OK.

When you present, your audience won't see any visual change to the image — there's no underline or color shift like there is with text. This can be confusing, so consider adding a small text link nearby that says something like "Click the image to learn more" so people know the image is clickable.

Linking to another slide in the same presentation

You can create a link that jumps to a different slide within your presentation instead of opening a website. This is useful if you want to skip ahead to answer a question or jump back to a previous point without clicking through every slide in order.

Select the text or image you want to turn into a link, right-click, and choose Link. Instead of pasting a web address, look for an option that says Place in This Document or Link to Slide. A list of all your slides appears — click the slide you want to jump to, then click OK.

During your presentation, clicking this link jumps directly to that slide. When you're done there, you can click forward through slides normally or use the slide sorter to jump back to where you were.

Linking to an email address

You can create a link that opens the viewer's email program instead of a website. Select the text you want to turn into a link, right-click, and choose Link. In the dialog, look for an option that says Email Address or mailto.

Type the email address in the field that appears — for example, contact@example.com. You can also add a subject line if you want the email to open with text already in the subject field. Click OK and the link is created.

When someone clicks this link during your presentation, their default email program opens with a new message addressed to that email. This only works if the person viewing has an email program set up on their computer, so it's less reliable than a website link.

Testing your links before you present

Always test every link before you present to an audience. Start your slideshow by pressing F5 (or Shift + F5 if you want to start from the current slide). Navigate to the slide with the link and click it to make sure it opens what you expect.

If a website link doesn't work, check that your internet connection is active. If you're presenting in a location with unreliable wifi, consider downloading the webpage or taking a screenshot beforehand so you have a backup plan. Links to other slides and email addresses don't require internet, so those are safer to rely on.

If a link is broken or you want to remove it, right-click the linked text or image and choose Remove Link or Delete Link. The text or image stays in your slide — only the link is removed.

Changing how linked text looks

By default, linked text appears underlined and in a color that stands out from your slide background (usually blue). If you want linked text to look different, you can change its color or remove the underline, but this can confuse your audience about what's clickable.

To change the color of all linked text in your presentation at once, go to the Design tab, click Variants (or Colors depending on your PowerPoint version), and look for options to change hyperlink colors. To change just one link's appearance, select the linked text and use the font color and underline buttons in the toolbar.

Keep in mind that removing the underline or using a color that blends with your slide makes it harder for people to spot clickable links. If you do change the appearance, make sure linked text still looks visibly different from regular text.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do links work if I'm not connected to the internet?

Links to websites require an active internet connection to work. Links to other slides in the same presentation and email links work without internet. If you're presenting somewhere with unreliable wifi, test your connection beforehand and have a backup plan for website links — such as a screenshot or downloaded webpage.

Can I link to a PDF or a file on my computer?

Yes. Select your text or image, right-click, choose Link, and look for an option that says Existing File or Browse. Navigate to the file on your computer and select it. The file opens when someone clicks the link, but only if that file exists in the same location on the computer you're presenting from.

What if I accidentally click a link while editing my presentation?

Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) while you click to select a linked word without opening the link. This lets you edit or delete the link without it taking you away from your slide.

Can I see all the links in my presentation at once?

PowerPoint doesn't have a built-in list of all links, but you can search for them manually by going through each slide. If you need to update many links at once, consider using the Find and Replace feature to search for specific text, then right-click each result to edit its link.