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In Word for Windows or Mac, select the text or object, choose Insert > Link (or press Ctrl+K on Windows, Command+K on Mac), enter the destination, and select OK or Insert. To remove one link while preserving its words, right-click it and choose Remove Hyperlink. These instructions cover desktop Word and Word for the web; menu names and available options vary by platform.
What a hyperlink can do in Word
A hyperlink can be attached to selected text, a picture, shape, screenshot, SmartArt graphic, icon, or another selectable object. It can open a webpage, file, email address, heading or bookmark in the current document, or a destination in another compatible document. See Microsoft’s overview at Create or edit a hyperlink.
The clickable connection is the hyperlink. A bookmark is only a named destination inside a document; it becomes useful for navigation when a hyperlink points to it.
Insert a hyperlink
- Select the text or object that should be clickable.
- Choose Insert > Link, or right-click the selection and choose Link. You can also press Ctrl+K on Windows or Command+K on Mac.
- Choose the destination type, enter the address or select the internal destination, and review Text to display.
- Optionally select ScreenTip to add text shown when the pointer rests over the link.
- Select OK (desktop Word) or Insert (some web interfaces).
The dialog keeps the destination, visible text, ScreenTip, and visual formatting as separate properties. You can change one without necessarily changing the others.
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Link to a website
- Select the words or object.
- Open Insert > Link (or press Ctrl+K/Command+K).
- Under Link to, choose Existing File or Web Page.
- Paste the URL into Address, edit Text to display if needed, and select OK.
Word commonly converts a URL into a link when you type it and press Enter or Spacebar. This automatic formatting depends on your settings and version. Use descriptive text such as “Microsoft accessibility guidance” instead of exposing a long URL or writing “click here.” Microsoft’s accessibility guidance is at Make your Word documents accessible.
Link to a file
Desktop Word can link to a local, network, or shared file:
- Select the text or object and choose Insert > Link.
- Select Existing File or Web Page.
- Use the Look in control to locate the file, select it, and confirm.
A file hyperlink normally stores a location; it does not embed the target file or grant permission to open it. A path such as C:Reportsbudget.xlsx works only where that path exists. Renaming, moving, or deleting the file breaks the link, and a network or cloud target still requires access rights. For documents shared through OneDrive or SharePoint, a sharing URL is usually more portable than a local path, but permissions remain decisive. Microsoft documents desktop handling of hosted Office links at Open file links directly in Office desktop apps.
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Desktop Word
- Select the text or object and open Insert > Link.
- Choose Email Address.
- Enter the recipient and, optionally, a subject.
- Select OK.
Word for the web
Enter a mailto: address such as mailto:[email protected] in the link field. Selecting it normally invokes the operating system’s configured mail app or service. Browser, operating-system, and default-mail settings determine the result, and some combinations do not recognize a subject line. See Links in Word for the web.
Link to a heading or another place in the document
Use a built-in heading
- Apply a real heading style (such as Heading 1 or Heading 2) to the destination.
- Select the link text or object.
- Choose Insert > Link, then Place in This Document in desktop Word, or Headings and Bookmarks on the web.
- Select the heading and confirm.
Heading styles also power the Navigation pane and table of contents, so manually bolding a paragraph is not an equivalent substitute.
Create a bookmark
- Place the cursor at the destination or select the destination content.
- Choose Insert > Bookmark, enter a name, and select Add.
- Use a name beginning with a letter; numbers are allowed, but spaces are not. An underscore can separate words, for example
First_heading. - To link to it, select link text, open Insert > Link > Place in This Document, choose the bookmark, and confirm.
To jump directly to a bookmark in desktop Word, press Ctrl+G, choose Bookmark, select or enter its name, and choose Go To. To delete one, return to Insert > Bookmark, select it, and choose Delete. Deleting a bookmark can leave a hyperlink aimed at a missing destination; remove or repair that link separately. Microsoft’s bookmark instructions are at Add or delete bookmarks.
Edit a hyperlink
- Right-click the hyperlink and choose Edit Hyperlink.
- Change the address, selected file, email address, or Text to display.
- Select ScreenTip to edit hover text, then select OK.
In Word for the web, click in the link and choose Insert > Link, or right-click and choose Edit Link. Touch devices may show the command after tapping and holding. Changing visible words does not automatically change the destination, and changing the destination does not necessarily change the words.
Change hyperlink formatting
Right-click the link and choose Font, or use the mini toolbar, to change its font, color, size, underline, or other appearance. Formatting changes the look, not the destination. A ScreenTip is optional supporting context; it should not replace clear visible link text.
Remove or delete hyperlinks
Remove one link but keep its text
Right-click the hyperlink and choose Remove Hyperlink. The displayed words remain as ordinary text. Pressing Delete instead can delete the selected text or object itself.
Remove every hyperlink in desktop Word
- Save a copy of the document.
- Press Ctrl+A to select the document content.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+F9.
Microsoft documents this as bulk hyperlink removal, but the command unlinks fields in the selection, not only web links. It can also destroy cross-references, automatic page numbers, table-of-contents fields, dates, and other dynamic content. Use Ctrl+Z immediately if unintended fields disappear, or restore the saved copy. The command and related settings are listed at Remove or turn off hyperlinks.
Stop Word from creating links automatically
Windows desktop
- Go to File > Options > Proofing.
- Choose AutoCorrect Options, then AutoFormat As You Type.
- Clear Internet and network paths with hyperlinks, then confirm both dialogs.
Mac desktop
- Open the Word menu and choose Preferences.
- Open AutoCorrect, then AutoFormat as You Type.
- Clear Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
After Word has just converted text, an AutoCorrect or formatting-options control near the text may offer a one-time undo. Its label and availability vary by version.
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Control Ctrl+Click when following links
Windows desktop Word may require Ctrl+Click to follow a link while editing, which helps prevent accidental navigation. To allow an ordinary click, go to File > Options > Advanced, clear Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlink under Editing Options, and select OK. Mac and web behavior can expose different controls.
Word for the web versus desktop Word
Word for the web supports links to external addresses, email addresses, headings, and bookmarks through Insert > Link. Desktop Word is the better choice for file links, advanced bookmark work, AutoFormat settings, Ctrl+Click control, bulk hyperlink removal, and the fullest link-dialog options. Microsoft describes the web workflow at Links in Word for the web and desktop accessibility workflows at Use a screen reader to insert a hyperlink. The interfaces are similar, not identical.
Hyperlinks, bookmarks, and cross-references: which should you use?
| Need | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Open a website, file, or email | Hyperlink | Connects directly to an external destination. |
| Jump to a stable place in this document | Heading link or bookmark | Provides internal navigation; bookmarks can target a precise location. |
| Refer to a numbered heading, figure, table, paragraph, or page | Cross-reference with Insert as hyperlink | The field can update when numbering or pagination changes. |
To create a cross-reference in desktop Word, choose References > Cross-reference, select the reference type and item, and enable Insert as hyperlink. See Create a cross-reference. A manually typed “see page 4” will not maintain itself when the document changes.
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The link works only on one computer
It likely points to a local path or an inaccessible network location. Replace it with a stable shared OneDrive, SharePoint, or network URL and verify that recipients have permission.
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The bookmark was deleted or renamed. Recreate it with the intended name, then edit the hyperlink or update the related cross-reference fields.
Clicking edits instead of opening
The document may be in editing mode or configured for Ctrl+Click. Try Ctrl+Click on Windows, or change the setting described above.
Bulk removal broke page numbers or references
Undo with Ctrl+Z immediately or restore the saved copy. Recreate affected fields only after the document is safe.
Word captured punctuation or the wrong URL
Test the link, right-click it, choose Edit Hyperlink, and correct the Address field directly. This is especially useful for unusual URLs, spaces, or punctuation.
The document is hard to navigate with a screen reader
Use descriptive link text, apply real heading styles, and avoid vague labels such as “click here.” Microsoft’s accessibility recommendations are at Make your Word documents accessible.
A link is plain text after printing or export
Printed pages cannot retain click behavior. PDF export often preserves links, but test the exported file because destination type, export settings, and document structure can affect the result.
Quick Recap
Quick reference
| Task | Command | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Insert or edit a link | Ctrl+K (Windows/web) or Command+K (Mac) | Desktop Word and web shortcut workflows |
| Remove one link, keep text | Right-click > Remove Hyperlink | Desktop Word |
| Remove links from selected content | Ctrl+A, then Ctrl+Shift+F9 | Desktop Word; also unlinks fields |
| Go to a bookmark | Ctrl+G > Bookmark | Desktop Word |
| Follow a link while editing | Ctrl+Click | Common Windows desktop default |
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