When working with Microsoft Word, adding hyperlinks can significantly enhance your document’s interactivity and usefulness for both you and your readers. Hyperlinks allow readers to easily navigate to web pages, files, specific locations within the document, or even send emails with a single click, eliminating the need for manual steps.
Linking to a Web Page in Word
Creating a link to a website or a specific web page is a great way to provide your readers with quick access to sources mentioned in your document, such as footnotes or references. Follow these simple steps:
1.
Select the text:
Highlight the text in your Word document that you want to convert into a hyperlink.2.
Navigate to Insert tab:
Click on the ‘Insert’ tab in the Word ribbon.3.
Choose ‘Links’:
Select ‘Links’ from the ‘Insert’ tab and then click on ‘Link’. Alternatively, you can right-click on the selected text, hover over ‘Link’, and choose ‘Insert Link’.4.
Insert Link window:
The ‘Insert Link’ window will appear. Select ‘Existing file or web page’ from the left-hand side.5.
Select the webpage:
If the page you want to link to is recently viewed, it might appear in the list. Choose ‘Browsed pages’ in the center window and select the desired page. The webpage address will automatically appear in the ‘Address’ box. If the page is not in the list, manually enter or paste its URL into the ‘Address’ box.6.
Apply the link:
Click ‘OK’ to apply the link to the selected text. The text will now appear underlined and blue, indicating it is a hyperlink. When you click the link, your default web browser will open the linked website or webpage.Linking to Another File in Word
Hyperlinks are incredibly useful for authors as they allow you to link to related files such as documents, spreadsheets, or other relevant materials. Here’s how to link to another file:
1.
Select the text:
Highlight the text in your Word document that will serve as the link.2.
Navigate to Insert tab:
Click on the ‘Insert’ tab in the Word ribbon.3.
Choose ‘Links’:
Select ‘Links’ from the ‘Insert’ tab and then click on ‘Link’. Alternatively, right-click on the selected text, hover over ‘Link’, and choose ‘Insert Link’.4.
Insert Link window:
The ‘Insert Link’ window will appear. Select ‘Existing file or web page’ from the left-hand side.5.
Choose the file:
Select the desired file by following one of these options:*
Current folder:
If the file is in the same folder as your current Word document, choose ‘Current folder’ and select the file.*
Recent files:
If you have recently opened or created the file, choose ‘Recent files’ and select it from the list.*
Full path:
Enter the complete file path in the ‘Address’ box.6.
Apply the link:
Click ‘OK’ to apply the link to the text. The selected text will now be linked, and clicking it will open the linked file.Linking to a Specific Location within the Document
One of the less known but very handy features in Word is the ability to link to specific sections of your document, making navigation easier. You can link to headings, bookmarks, or even the top of the document. Follow these steps:
1.
Select the text:
Highlight the text in your Word document that will act as the link.2.
Navigate to Insert tab:
Click on the ‘Insert’ tab in the Word ribbon.3.
Choose ‘Links’:
Select ‘Links’ from the ‘Insert’ tab and then click on ‘Link’. Alternatively, right-click on the selected text, hover over ‘Link’, and choose ‘Insert Link’.4.
Insert Link window:
The ‘Insert Link’ window will appear. Select ‘Place in this document’ from the left-hand side.5.
Choose the document location:
A list of options will appear on the right side of the window. If you haven’t added any headings or bookmarks, the only option will be ‘Top of the document’. Select the desired location within your document and click ‘OK’ to apply the link.6.
Linked text:
The selected text will be linked, and clicking it will jump directly to the chosen location in your document.Linking to an Email Address
If you have a list of contacts in your Word document or want to provide your email address for readers to contact you, you can create a clickable email link. This link can also optionally include a subject line for the email.
1.
Select the text:
Highlight the text in your Word document that you want to link to the email address.2.
Navigate to Insert tab:
Click on the ‘Insert’ tab in the Word ribbon.3.
Choose ‘Links’:
Select ‘Links’ from the ‘Insert’ tab and then click on ‘Link’. Alternatively, right-click on the selected text, hover over ‘Link’, and choose ‘Insert Link’.4.
Insert Link window:
The ‘Insert Link’ window will appear. Select ‘E-mail address’ from the left-hand side.5.
Choose the email address:
If the email address you want to use is in the ‘Recently used e-mail addresses’ box, simply select it. If the address is not in the list, enter it manually in the ‘E-mail address’ box near the top of the window.6.
Optional subject line:
You can optionally enter a ‘Subject’ in the ‘Subject’ box. This will automatically pre-fill the subject line in the email message, making it easier to identify.7.
Apply the link:
Click ‘OK’ to apply the link to the selected text. The text will become linked, and when clicked, it will open a new message window in your default email application with the email address and optional subject line pre-populated.Editing, Copying, or Removing a Hyperlink in Word
Hyperlinks you create in your Word document remain clickable even when you share the document, including when it’s converted to PDF. After creating a hyperlink, you might need to edit it, copy it, or remove it entirely.
Right-click on the hyperlink in your document and choose from the following options:
*
Edit hyperlink:
This option opens the same ‘Insert Link’ window you used to create the hyperlink, allowing you to make changes to the link.*
Copy hyperlink:
This option copies the hyperlink to your clipboard, allowing you to paste it elsewhere as needed.*
Remove hyperlink:
This option removes the hyperlink from the text, leaving the text itself untouched.Whether you’re adding links for your readers’ benefit or for your own convenience, creating hyperlinks in Microsoft Word is a straightforward process. Now that you know how to add hyperlinks, you can explore other Word features like adding watermarks or using headers and footers to enhance your documents even further.
