hyperlink powerpoint presentation

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How to Put a Hyperlink in Microsoft PowerPoint

Last Updated: July 18, 2022

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 31 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 427,868 times. Learn more...

Do you want to add a link to a website or document to your PowerPoint presentation? Adding hyperlinks to PowerPoint slides is incredibly easy. This wikiHow will teach you how to insert hyperlinks into PowerPoint slides using Windows and macOS.

Select a slide.

Select the hyperlink text.

• You can also make an image a hyperlink—just click the desired image to select it.

Click the "Insert" tab.

Click the "Link" icon.

Add a location or address to link to.

• To link to a file or website, select Existing File or Web Page at the top-left. Then, enter the full URL of the website or select the document.
• To link to another location in your presentation, select Place in This Document , then select a slide title.
• To create an email hyperlink, select E-mail address , then enter an email address. Clicking the link will simply compose a new message to this address.

Click "OK" to create the link.

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• ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-hyperlink-to-a-slide-239c6c94-d52f-480c-99ae-8b0acf7df6d9

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How to Hyperlink in PowerPoint? [The Complete Guide!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

If you wish to jump a few slides when delivering your PowerPoint presentation, you will need to make use of the “Hyperlink” feature in PowerPoint!

To insert a hyperlink in PowerPoint, first, select and highlight the text or object. Next, right-click and choose the “Link” option. Select the destination of the link. You can link to an existing file, web page, or a specific slide within the presentation. Once the destination is chosen, click “OK”.

In this article, you will get to understand the hyperlink feature in PowerPoint in great detail. I’ll share with you how to add a hyperlink (in further detail), how do you edit a hyperlink, and even how to link to files outside of PowerPoint! That and much more!

So, let’s get started!

1. How to Add a Hyperlink in PowerPoint?

Let’s get straight to the key reason why you are here reading this article i.e. how do you insert a hyperlink in PowerPoint?

A hyperlink is a link added to a text or image that leads to a new document or a new section within the document when clicked on.

In Microsoft PowerPoint, even though you can add a hyperlink to texts or images, the process of doing so is quite similar for both.

Let’s take a look at the step-by-step process involved in adding a hyperlink in PowerPoint.

Step-1: Select the Text and Click on the “Link” option

The first step is to “Right Click” on the text or image where you want to add the hyperlink. In the dropdown menu, click on the “Link” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard.

You can also click on the “Insert” tab in PowerPoint , and click on the “Link” option from the ribbon. You can use any of the three methods, and you will be prompted with the “Insert Hyperlink” window.

Step-2: Choose the Destination of the Link

In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box, you can either link a file from your computer or an online source by clicking on the “Existing File or Web Page” button. Then, navigate to the folder containing the file, click on the file to select it, and click “ OK “.

Alternatively, you can also click on the “ Place in this document ” option to link to an existing slide. (I shall show the exact steps later in this article).

2. How to Edit Hyperlink Text in PowerPoint?

In PowerPoint, adding a hyperlink does not change the behavior of text or the text box. Thus, the process of editing a hyperlink text is similar to the way you would edit the text in PowerPoint normally.

All you have to do is click inside the text box and delete or add text. You can also change the appearance of the hyperlink text by using the tools in the “Font” section of the “Home” tab in PowerPoint .

3. How to Edit the Hyperlink in PowerPoint?

Once a hyperlink is added to a text or image in a PowerPoint slide, you can go back and edit it. To do so, “Right Click” on the hyperlinked text and select the “Edit Link” option from the dropdown menu.

This will open the familiar “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box that we saw in section 1 of this article. Simply select another file or slide from the presentation in order to edit the link.

4. How to Remove Hyperlink in PowerPoint?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can remove the hyperlink from a text or an image with only one click. “Right Click” on the text or image to open the dropdown menu.

Now all you have to do is click on the “Remove Link” option to remove the hyperlink.

5. How to Hyperlink to Another Slide in PowerPoint

As mentioned earlier in the article, you can even link one slide to another within the same presentation using the hyperlink feature. This has great benefits especially when you want to specifically jump to a section in the presentation that you want to show in further detail.

Here’s what you need to do in order to link to another slide within the same presentation using the hyperlink feature in PowerPoint –

Step-1: “Right Click” on the selected text or image

In the selected slide, “Right Click” on the text or image where you want to link another slide. Then click on the “Link” option from the dropdown menu.

You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard. This will open a dialog box.

Step-2: Click on the “Place in This Document” option

In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box, click on the “Place in This Document” option from the left sidebar. Then select the slide you want to link.

You can see the selected slide in the “Slide preview” section in the dialog box. Finally, you have to click on the “OK” button to finish the process.

5a. How to Return Back to the Main Slide?

During a presentation, it may be important to return to the main slide in one click after jumping to the linked slide. To do so, you can add a shape and hyperlink it back to the main slide.

Here’s how to create a hyperlink back to the main slide –

Step-1: Click on the “Shapes” option

The first step is to open the linked slide. Then click on the “Insert” tab from the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen. In the “Insert” menu, click on the “Shapes” option and select your preferred shape from the dropdown menu.

Step-2: Edit the shape

Now you can select the shape and click on the “Shape Format” tab from the menu ribbon. In the “Format Shape” sidebar located on the right side of the screen, edit the color and of the shape to visually match the rest of the slide.

I would highly recommend adding a text to the shape something to the effect of “Go back to slide X” (where “X” is the slide number of the main slide you want to return). This will help you and others take note of why a shape exists on the slide and prevent others from deleting it accidentally.

Step-3: “Right Click” on the shape

Now, all we need to do is simply create a hyperlink that links back to the original slide.

Select the shape and “Right Click” on the shape. Then, click on the “Link” option. You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard to open the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box.

Step-4: Hyperlink the main slide

In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box, click on the “Place in This Document” button from the sidebar located on the left side. Then select the main slide and click on the “OK” button.

Now all you have to do is click on the shape to return to the main slide during the presentation.

Note that this link will only work when you are viewing the presentation in slideshow mode!

6. How to Hyperlink Without Underline?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you cannot hyperlink text without the underline directly. However, there is a workaround.

To add a hyperlink without underlining a text in PowerPoint, you will need to use a transparent shape. Insert a shape over the text. Right-click and add a hyperlink to the shape. Then, select the “No Fill” options to remove the “Fill” and “Line” colors in the “Format Shape” settings.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step process that you will need to follow –

Step-1: Click on the “Remove Link” option

The first step is to remove the hyperlink from the text. “Right Click” on the hyperlink text and select the “Remove Link” option from the dropdown menu.

This will ensure that the underline from the text gets removed.

Step-2: Click on the “Shapes” option

Now click on the “Insert” tab from the menu bar and click on the “Shapes” button in the “Insert” menu. From the dropdown menu, select the “Rectangle” option.

Then insert the rectangle shape over the hyperlink text.

Step-3: Add a hyperlink to the shape

The next step is to add the hyperlink to the shape instead of the text.

“Right Click” on the shape and click on the “Link” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard.

In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box, paste the link that was previously on the text (as we did before in the previous sections). Then click on the “OK” button.

Step-4: Click on the “Format Shape” option

Now all you have to do is “Right Click” on the shape and click on the “Format Shape” option at the bottom of the dropdown menu.

This will open a “Format Shape” sidebar located at the right side of the screen.

Step-5: Click on the “No fill” and “No line” options

In the “Format Shape” sidebar, click on the “No fill” option under the “Fill” section. Then click on the “No line” option under the “Line” section.

This will make the shape completely transparent and make the text visible while removing the underline from the text. You can now click on the text and access the hyperlink in the slideshow mode.

7. How to Add a YouTube Link in PowerPoint?

To add a Youtube link in a PowerPoint slide, you have to first open the Youtube video that you want to link and copy the link address. Then follow the 2 quick steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Link” option

First, you have to select the text to hyperlink. Then “Right Click” on the selected text and click on the “Link” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard.

Step-2: Paste the Youtube link

Click on the “Existing File or Web Page” option in the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box. Then paste the Youtube link in the “Address” box at the bottom.

Now all you have to do is click on the “OK” button to hyperlink the Youtube video.

8. How to Insert a Website Link in PowerPoint?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can hyperlink to any resource available on the web. To insert a website link, you have to first obtain the link from the website. Then follow the 3 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on “Link”

In the open slide, select the text or image which you want to hyperlink. Then “Right Click” on the selected text or image. Click on the “Link” option from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard.

Step-2: Paste the link to the website

The next step is to paste the website link in the “Address” box in the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box. “Right Click” on the “Address” box and click on the “Paste” option from the dropdown menu.

This will paste the copied website link. You can alternatively press the “Ctrl+V” keys on your keyboard.

Step-3: Click on the “OK” option

Now all you have to do is click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box to insert the link to the website (as shown in the image in step 2).

9. How to Hyperlink in PowerPoint to an Excel File?

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to add both links from the web as well as links to existing files in your computer as a hyperlink. To hyperlink to an Excel file in a slide, follow the 3 simple steps.

Step-1: “Right Click” on the selected text

The first step is to select the text or image where you want to insert the link. Then you have to “Right Click” on it. From the dropdown menu, click on the “Link” option.

Step-2: Click on the “Browse for File” option

The next step is to click on the “Browse for File” option in the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog box. It is the third icon at the right side of the “Look in” box and looks like a folder.

This will open another dialog box.

Step-3: Click on the “Search Documents” box

In the “Link to File” dialog box, click on the “Search Documents” box located at the top and right corner. Then type in the name of the Excel file you want to hyperlink.

Select the Excel file and click on the “Open” button at the bottom of the dialog box to insert the link to the Excel file.

10.  How to Hyperlink in PowerPoint to a PDF File?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can add a hyperlink to a PDF file. This can be an efficient way for you to link to references for your presentation content.

The process is similar to that of adding a link to an excel file. Here’s what you need to do –

You have to first select a text or image and then “Right Click” on it. Click on the “Link” option from the context menu. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+K” keys on your keyboard.

Step-2: Click on “Browse for File”

In the “Insert Hyperlink” dialog, click on the “Browse for File” option which is the icon that looks like a folder. It will open the “Link to File” dialog.

Step-3: Click on “Search This PC”

In the “Link to File” dialog box, click on the “Search This PC” option and type in the name of the PDF file you want to link.

Then select the PDF file and click on the “Open” button at the bottom of the dialog box. This will hyperlink the PDF file to the presentation.

11. How to Open a Hyperlink in PowerPoint?

To open a hyperlink, “Right Click” on the hyperlink text or image. From the dropdown menu click on the “Open Link” option. This will open the hyperlink in a new window.

Alternatively, you can press down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard and click on the hyperlink text or image simultaneously to open the hyperlink.

Using the keyboard shortcut is more practical in the “Slide Show” screen during a presentation.

12. Hyperlink Not Working in PowerPoint

When inserting or accessing a hyperlink in Microsoft PowerPoint, sometimes, you might run into some issues. For instance, the option to hyperlink a text or image may be greyed out and you may not be able to insert a hyperlink.

These and other issues can be solved quite easily.

12a. Hyperlink is Greyed Out

In the “Insert” menu, you may find that the “Link” option is greyed out. But, this problem can be easily fixed! Here’s what you need to do –

Step-1: Click on the “Insert” tab

In the open PowerPoint presentation, click on the “Insert” tab in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen. In the “Links” section of the “Insert” menu, you will notice that the “Link” option is greyed out.

Step-2: Click on an object

The “Link” option is usually greyed out because there are no objects selected yet. In Microsoft PowerPoint, you cannot insert a hyperlink to a slide. You can only insert hyperlinks to an object.

To be able to insert a hyperlink, all you have to do is click on any object in the open slide. You will now see that the “Link” option is no longer grayed out, and you can click on it.

12b. Hyperlink in PowerPoint is Not Clickable

After inserting a hyperlink in a PowerPoint presentation, you will notice that the hyperlink is not clickable. This is because you cannot click on the hyperlink in “Normal View” .

In Microsoft PowerPoint, “Normal View” is the default view where you can edit the slides. You can fix this problem in 3 easy methods.

Method-1: Click on “Ctrl+Save”

In the “Normal View” , you cannot open a hyperlink with a click. Instead, you have to press the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard and click on the hyperlink simultaneously. This will allow you to access the link.

Method-2: Click on the “Slide Show” tab

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “Slide Show” tab. Then click on the “From Current Slide” option in the “Slide Show” menu.

Alternatively, you can press the “Shift+F5” keys on your keyboard. This will start the slideshow where the hyperlink is clickable.

Method-3: Click on the “Reading View” option

In the menu ribbon, click on the “View” tab. Then click on the “Reading View” option from the “Presentation Views” section (as shown in the image in method 2 above).

For the shortcut, all you have to do is click on the “Reading View” option which is the icon that looks like an open book in the status bar located at the bottom of the screen.

This will open the reading view screen where the hyperlinks are clickable.

Credit to cookie_studio (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited)

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How to hyperlink in PowerPoint (best practices)

• PowerPoint Tutorials
• Shortcuts & Hacks
• February 14, 2024

In this post you’ll learn how to hyperlink in PowerPoint.

And the reason that hyperlinking in PowerPoint is important is that it allows you to jump around within your presentation or open documents outside of your presentation without leaving Slideshow Mode.

This allows you to create interactive and non-linear presentations. Common things you might use hyperlinks for in PowerPoint are:

• Hyperlinking to another slide in your presentation
• Opening a document or file on your computer Jumping to a page on the internet
• Open another PowerPoint presentation or slide show
• Create the mouseover text effect in PowerPoint (using ScreenTips)

The other great thing about hyperlinks in PowerPoint is that they automatically convert to the PDF file format. For details on how to convert PowerPoint into the PDF file format, read our guide here .

Table of Contents

What is a hyperlink in powerpoint.

A hyperlink is typically clickable text that jumps you to a location online, opens a file on your computer or performs some other action when you click it.

An online hyperlink can be written in two ways:

• As the full URL address you are jumping to: For example, visit our website www.nutsandboltsspeedtraining.com
• As shortened text with the hyperlink embedded inside the text (which is how it works in the Microsoft Office suite): For example: Visit our website here (with the entire URL address embedded in the text ‘ here ‘).

This is an important distinction to make, as most of the hyperlinks you add in PowerPoint, Word and Excel are clickable text or objects, with the hyperlink embedded within.

You can use hyperlinks in the Microsoft Office suite to do a variety of things like:

• Open a web page online
• Open files or documents on your computer
• Jump to a specific section in your document
• Create new documents (that you can begin editing)
• Start an email message

These hyperlinks can be embedded (as you’ll learn to do below) in text, shapes, pictures, charts, etc., allowing you to create interactive documents.

That is, people can click on things within your document to perform certain tasks, navigate to specific sections of your presentation or even open custom slide shows (if you have already set them up).

NOTE:  In PowerPoint, you can also use clickable objects to trigger animated effects, but these are NOT hyperlinks. To learn how to set up trigger objects to fire your animations (like making objects appear and disappear),  read our guide here .

Take your PPT skills to the next level

How to hyperlink to another slide in powerpoint.

To hyperlink to another slide in PowerPoint, the first thing you need is some text or an object to anchor your hyperlink in. Once you have the object, simply select the text or object and hit Ctrl+K on your keyboard to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

If you do not like keyboard shortcuts, you can alternatively open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box using your Ribbon.

To add a link to an object (or block of text) using the PowerPoint Ribbon, simply:

• Select your text or object that you want to use as the anchor for link
• Click the Insert tab
• Open the Link drop down
• Select Insert Link…

For this example, I have done the following in the Insert Hyperlink dialog box:

• Selected a Place in this Document
• Selected Slide 3 (the slide I want to jump to within this presentation)

You can choose for yourself where you want your hyperlink to link to. Just keep in mind that a hyperlink can only have a single destination. A hyperlink cannot link to multiple locations at the same time.

Instead of using hyperlinks to jump around your presentation, you can also use action buttons. To learn about action buttons, see GFC Global’s blog post here .

Note. To use the Show and Return feature at the bottom of the Slide preview window, you need to hyperlink to a Custom Slideshow.  That is, a smaller subset of your slides that you set up. 

How to trigger a hyperlink

Once you’ve inserted a hyperlink into PowerPoint, there are two ways to trigger it.

#1. Slideshow mode (Presentation View)

When in any of the Presentation Views (like Presenter View), simply hover your mouse over your hyperlink and click it like you would any online link. Triggering the hyperlink then jumps you to the destination you selected (see details above).

To expand your knowledge and learn the different ways to start a PowerPoint slideshow (including how to start Presenter View), read more about it here .

#2. Normal View

In the Normal View in PowerPoint (the standard editing view), you can trigger a hyperlink by holding the Control  key and clicking the hyperlink with your mouse. This creates the same effect as simply clicking a hyperlink in the Presentation View.

Hyperlinking text vso Objects

When given the choice of what to use as your hyperlink trigger, the best practice is to use the object itself, rather than text. That’s because you have little control over the default hyperlink text formatting as pictured below.

All the objects in the graphic above have the same exact hyperlink applied to them. Notice how the hyperlinked text displays formatting, while the hyperlinked objects do not show any formatting.

When you add a hyperlink to text, it not only gets that underlined hyperlink formatting, but it also changes color once you have clicked the hyperlink. In PowerPoint, this is known as the Followed Hyperlink color. On the other hand, when you anchor your hyperlink on an object, the text never displays the hyperlink formatting. This is why most presenters prefer to anchor their hyperlink on their object instead of anchoring it on their text.

If you do decide to use text hyperlinks in your slides, you can always change the used hyperlink formatting by resetting your hyperlinks (see the next section).

When would using text hyperlinks make sense? When you want to see what you’ve already clicked on inside your presentation.  That’s because the Followed Hyperlink color (I’ll show you how to change that in a second) shows you exactly what you have already clicked on.

How to reset a hyperlink's color

If you are using text hyperlinks, as you click them in your presentation, the hyperlink color changes to the Followed Hyperlink color. This is fine if you want them to change colors (demonstrating what you have already clicked on), but it’s annoying if you don’t.

If you are using text hyperlinks, this means that after you have tested them out, you will need to reset the hyperlinks, so they start with the unfollowed hyperlink color.

To reset the color of a text hyperlink in PowerPoint, simply:

• Select the hyperlinked text
• Open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box (Ctrl+K)
• Immediately click OK

Clicking OK automatically resets the used hyperlink formatting back to the default unused text hyperlink formatting.

If you do go with text hyperlinks, the used formatting gives you a sense of what you’ve already clicked on. That means you won’t waste time navigating to something you’ve already covered. That said, you will need to reset the text formatting each time before you give your presentation.

How to change your hyperlink color in PowerPoint

To change the colors of your Hyperlinks and Followed Hyperlinks in PowerPoint, simply:

• Navigate to the Design tab
• Open the  More option (downward facing arrow)
• Open the Color drop down
• Select  Customize Colors
• Set a new  Hyperlink  and  Followed Hyperlink  color
• Select  Save

Selecting Save saves your new color combination as a PowerPoint Theme and apply it to your current presentation. When selecting your own colors for your hyperlinks, stark colors work best so they stand out from your presentation.

To learn all about creating your PowerPoint template (including selecting your own theme colors, etc.), read our guide here .

Next, you’ll see how to reset your Followed Hyperlink color back to the default color you set.

How to remove a PowerPoint hyperlink

To remove a hyperlink in PowerPoint:

• Select the hyperlinked text or hyperlinked PowerPoint object
• Right-click the object (or text)
• Select Remove Link

Regardless of what the link was pointing to, Remove Link removes the hyperlink formatting and the link. 

New Zoom Transition Hyperlink

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, there is a new way to add hyperlinks to PowerPoint called the Zoom transition. To make it easier to refer to, I will simply call them Zoom slides below.

To create a Zoom transition, simply click and drag a slide from the Thumbnail view on the left of your presentation, onto the slide you are currently using as pictured below.

Once you have created a Zoom slide, selecting it on your slide opens the Zoom Tools Format tab. From this tab, you have a variety of different formatting and transition options to choose from.

For example, do you want your Zoom transition to return to the slide it started on?

If yes, then in the Zoom Tools Format tab Zoom Options, simply select Return to Zoom (see picture below).

Selecting  Return to Zoom  means that after jumping to your Zoom slide, when you advance your slideshow, you will automatically return to the jumping off point within your presentation.

That allows you to create a dashboard like effect within your presentation. For example, you could present your audience with options – have them vote – and then click the link to jump to that section of your presentation.

And while this might seem complicated, you are in fact just creating hyperlinks (with a cool zoom effect).

For a FULL walk through of how to create a Zoom link and everything you can do with it, see the Presentation Guild’s full training online seminar here .

How to troubleshoot hyperlinks that are not working

First off, hyperlinks are meant to work in Slideshow Mode or Presentation View of PowerPoint.

So before troubleshooting your hyperlinks, make sure you have tried them out in the proper view first.

If your hyperlinks are still not working, the probable cause is that your hyperlink is broken. That is, whatever you were hyperlinking to has been deleted or moved. If this is the case, you simply need to reset your hyperlink.

To reset (or fix) a hyperlink in PowerPoint, simply:

• Make sure you have access to the file, slide or location you want to hyperlink to
• Select your hyperlinked text or object
• Open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box ( Ctrl+K on your keyboard)
• Set up your hyperlink to the correct slide, document, or location on your computer

Clicking  OK , your hyperlink resets, and will properly take you the slide, document, or location that you set it to.

Hyperlink ScreenTip Trick (the Mouseover Text Effect)

Another way to user hyperlinks in PowerPoint is to leverage the ScreenTip functionality to create the mouse pop-up text effect in PowerPoint that you can see in the picture below.

In this case, you are not using the hyperlink to jump around your presentation. Instead, you are leveraging the ScreenTip functionality, to display text as you hover your mouse over an object in PowerPoint.

To expand your knowledge for creating this effect, see my guide on how to create this mouseover text effect in PowerPoint .

As you can see, there is more to hyperlinking in PowerPoint than just inserting the link. There are considerations on what you anchor your link to, how to change the color of your hyperlinks, and how to reset them as well.

I always hyperlink objects instead of text whenever possible as it creates fewer formatting issues as you click through the slides. That said, if you want a visual cue of which links you’ve already clicked in your presentation, you will want to hyperlink your text directly.

In short, hyperlinks are a great way to create choices within your presentation. That is, giving your audience a choice and then jumping to topics within your presentation that they are most interested in learning more about.

If you enjoyed this article, you can learn more about our PowerPoint training and free tutorials  here .

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This Post Has One Comment

On a different machine with Powerpoint 2016 Home, my hyperlinks are clickable in Normal Edit View, but on another machine with Powerpoint 2016 Professional I have to view in Slideshow to click the hyperlinks. What gives?

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How to Insert a Hyperlink in Powerpoint 2019: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding a hyperlink to your Powerpoint presentation can truly elevate your game. It’s a simple way to direct your audience to additional resources, websites, or email addresses directly from your slides. Want to know how? Just follow along with these quick and easy steps and you’ll be linking away in no time.

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Insert a Hyperlink in Powerpoint 2019

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we are aiming for. Inserting a hyperlink in Powerpoint 2019 allows you to link to another slide, a web page, an email address, or even a file on your computer. This can make your presentation more interactive and accessible.

Step 1: Open Your Powerpoint Presentation

Open the Powerpoint presentation where you want to insert the hyperlink.

This first step is pretty straightforward, right? Just make sure you’re on the slide where you want the hyperlink to be.

Step 2: Select the Text or Object

Click on the text or object that you want to turn into a hyperlink.

Remember, hyperlinks aren’t limited to text only. You can make images or shapes clickable too!

Step 3: Access the Hyperlink Function

Right-click on the selected text or object and choose ‘Hyperlink,’ or go to the ‘Insert’ tab and click on ‘Hyperlink.’

You’ll find the ‘Hyperlink’ option easily on the right-click menu. Alternatively, the ‘Insert’ tab on the ribbon has it all laid out for you.

Step 4: Insert the Link

In the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box, paste or type in the URL, link to a file, place in the document, or an email address.

Make sure to check that your link works by clicking on the ‘Test this link’ button in the dialog box. It’ll save you from any embarrassment during the presentation.

Step 5: Customize Your Display Text

Customize the text to display if you do not want the URL to show on the slide.

You can get creative here. Instead of showing a long, ugly link, use relevant and catchy phrases like ‘Click Here’ or ‘Learn More.’

After you’ve completed these steps, voila! Your hyperlink is now inserted into your Powerpoint slide. When you’re presenting, all you’ll need to do is click on the hyperlink, and it’ll take you (or your audience) straight to the linked content.

Tips for Inserting a Hyperlink in Powerpoint 2019

• Double-check your URLs to ensure they are correct before adding them to your presentation.
• Use descriptive text for your display link to give your audience a clear idea of where the link will take them.
• If you’re linking to another slide in the same presentation, remember to update the hyperlink if you move the slides around.
• For a more streamlined look, match the hyperlink text color to your presentation’s theme.
• Consider using hyperlinking as a way to create non-linear presentations, allowing you to jump to different sections based on audience interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i link to a specific part of a webpage.

Yes, if the webpage has anchor links set up, you can link directly to a specific section by including the ‘#’ followed by the anchor name in the URL.

Can I remove a hyperlink?

Absolutely, just right-click on the hyperlink, and select ‘Remove Hyperlink’ to delete it.

What if my hyperlink isn’t working?

Check the link for any typos, and ensure that all web addresses begin with ‘http://’ or ‘https://’. Testing the link beforehand always helps.

Can I change the color of the hyperlink text?

Yes, after inserting the hyperlink, you can change the text color through the regular text formatting options.

Can I add a hyperlink to a video?

Indeed, you can hyperlink a video just like text or images. Just make sure the video file is accessible to your audience if you’re sharing the presentation.

• Open your Powerpoint presentation.
• Select the text or object to hyperlink.
• Access the Hyperlink function via right-click or the Insert tab.
• Insert the desired link into the dialog box.
• Customize your display text for the hyperlink.

Mastering the art of hyperlinking in Powerpoint can truly transform your presentations from static slides to dynamic, interactive experiences. Whether it’s guiding your audience to a helpful webpage, cross-referencing to another slide, or providing a quick email contact, the power of a hyperlink is immense. It’s also a fantastic way to keep your presentations clean and organized, ensuring that additional resources are just a click away without cluttering your slides. And remember, practice makes perfect. Don’t hesitate to play around with different types of hyperlinks and their formatting to see what works best for your narrative style. Now that you know how to insert a hyperlink in Powerpoint 2019, the only limit is your creativity. So, go ahead, give it a try, and watch your presentations come to life!

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.

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Add Hyperlinks to PowerPoint Presentations

Link to another slide, presentation file, website, or file on your computer

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In This Article

Jump to a Section

Insert a Hyperlink

• Add a Hyperlink to a Slide
• Add a Hyperlink to Another File

Add a Hyperlink to a Website

• Add a Screen Tip to a Hyperlink

Create links to quickly access all kinds of things in your presentation. Link to a slide in the same PowerPoint presentation , another presentation file, a website, a file on your computer or network, or an email address. To help explain the purpose of the link, add a screen tip to the hyperlink .

Instructions in this article apply to PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2013, PowerPoint 2010, PowerPoint 2016 for Mac, and PowerPoint 2011 for Mac.

To use text or a picture as a hyperlink:

Open a file in Powerpoint that you want to add a link to.

Select the text or graphic object that will contain the hyperlink.

Select Insert .

Select Hyperlink or Link. The Insert Hyperlink dialog box opens.

Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

Decide what type of link you want to insert. Your options include Existing File or Web Page , Place in This Document , and Email Address .

Add a Hyperlink to a Slide in the Same Presentation

To add a link to a different slide in the same presentation:

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, select Place in This Document . The options include:

• First Slide
• Previous Slide
• Slide Titles

Choose the slide that you want to link to. A preview of the slide appears to help you make your choice.

Select OK to close the dialog box and create the link.

If you want to edit the hyperlink, select the link text and select Insert > Link or Insert > Hyperlink to open the Edit Hyperlink dialog box.

Add a Hyperlink to Another File on Your Computer or Network

You are not limited to creating hyperlinks to other PowerPoint slides . Create a hyperlink to any file on your computer or network, no matter what program was used to create the other file.

There are two scenarios available during your slide show presentation:

• If the hyperlink goes to another PowerPoint presentation, the linked presentation opens and is the active presentation on the screen.
• If the hyperlink is to a file created in another program, the linked file opens in its corresponding program. It is then the active program on the screen.

Choose Existing File or Web Page in the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

Locate the file on your computer or network that you wish to link to and select it.

If the linked file is located on your local computer, the hyperlink will be broken when showing the presentation on a different device. Keep all files that are needed for a presentation in the same folder as the presentation and copy these files to the other device.

To open a website from your PowerPoint presentation, enter the complete internet address (URL) of the website.

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, select Existing File or Web Page .

In the Address text box, enter the URL of the website you want to link to.

Select OK .

To prevent typing errors, copy the URL from the address bar of the web page and paste it into the Address text box.

Add a Screen Tip to a Hyperlink on Your PowerPoint Slide

Screen tips add additional information to hyperlinks on a PowerPoint slide. When the viewer hovers over the hyperlink during the slideshow, the screen tip appears.

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, select ScreenTip .

In the Set Hyperlink ScreenTip dialog box, enter the ScreenTip text you want to appear.

Select OK to save the screen tip text and return to the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

Select OK to exit the Insert Hyperlink dialog box and apply the screen tip.

Start a screen show and hover over the link to test the hyperlink screen tip.

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PowerPoint 2016  - Hyperlinks

Powerpoint 2016  -, powerpoint 2016 hyperlinks.

PowerPoint 2016: Hyperlinks

Lesson 30: hyperlinks.

/en/powerpoint2016/slide-master-view/content/

Introduction

Whenever you use the Internet, you use hyperlinks to navigate from one webpage to another. If you want to include a web address or email address in your PowerPoint presentation, you can choose to format it as a hyperlink so a person can easily click it. It's also possible to link to files and other slides within a presentation.

Optional: Download our practice presentation .

Watch the video below to learn more about inserting hyperlinks in PowerPoint.

About hyperlinks

Hyperlinks have two basic parts : the address of the webpage, email address, or other location they are linking to, and the display text (which can also be a picture or a shape). For example, the address could be https://www.youtube.com , and YouTube could be the display text. In some cases, the display text might be the same as the address. When you're creating a hyperlink in PowerPoint, you'll be able to choose both the address and the display text or image.

To insert a hyperlink:

• Select the image or text you want to make a hyperlink.

• If you selected text, the words will appear in the Text to display field at the top. You can change this text if you want.
• Type the address you want to link to in the Address field.

To insert a hyperlink to an email address:

• Right-click the selected text or image, then click Hyperlink .
• The Insert Hyperlink dialog box will open.

PowerPoint often recognizes email and web addresses as you type and will format them as hyperlinks automatically after you press the Enter key or spacebar .

To open and test a hyperlink:

• Your web browser should open and then navigate to the linked page. If it doesn't work, check the hyperlink address for any misspellings.

To open a hyperlink while viewing your slide show, click the hyperlink.

To remove a hyperlink:

• Right-click the hyperlink.

More hyperlinks

In PowerPoint, you can use hyperlinks to link to resources that are not online. To create a quick way to refer to another slide in your presentation, you can create a hyperlink to that slide. If you need to access a file stored on your computer, you can create a hyperlink to it. Additionally, PowerPoint allows you to format pictures and shapes as hyperlinks.

Using shapes and pictures as hyperlinks

Sometimes you might want to format objects —including shapes, text boxes, and pictures—as hyperlinks. This is especially helpful if you want the object to act like a button . To do this, right-click the desired object and select Hyperlink from the menu that appears. Click the object during the presentation to open the hyperlink.

To insert a hyperlink to another slide:

• The Insert Hyperlink dialog box will appear.

Adding a hyperlink to a shape is similar to creating an action button. We'll talk more about how to turn a shape into a button in our Action Buttons lesson.

To insert a hyperlink to another file:

• Right-click the selected text or image, then click Hyperlink . The Insert Hyperlink dialog box will appear.
• On the left side of the dialog box, click Existing File or Webpage .

If you plan on displaying your presentation on a different computer than you used to create it, your hyperlink to another file may not work. Make sure you have a copy of the linked file on the computer you are using to present, and always test hyperlinks before giving a presentation.

• Open our practice presentation .
• On slide 2, select the Accomplishments shape and create a link to slide 5.
• On slide 11, select the text Tax forms and create a hyperlink to http://irs.gov .
• On slide 12, remove the hyperlink from the text USA.gov Retirement Resources .
• When you're finished, test the hyperlinks you created.

/en/powerpoint2016/action-buttons/content/

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• PowerPoint Tutorials

How to Insert a Hyperlink in PowerPoint

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to add links to other documents, websites, multimedia resources, email addresses or even other slides in the same presentation . Any of the resources included in the presentation, such as texts, images or shapes, can be linked. 

Adding a Link to a Website

Adding a link to another slide in the same presentation, to another document, to an email address or to a new document.

• Select the resource you want to use as a link.
• On the Insert tab, click Hyperlink. You can also right-click and choose Hyperlink.
• In the “Address” field, enter the URL of the website you want to link to. If you click ScreenTip, you can define the text that will appear on the popup when hovering over the link.
• When you’re done, click OK.
• Select the desired option under “Link to”:

• By clicking the ScreenTip button, you can enter the text that will appear on the popup when hovering over the link.

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How to Add a Hyperlink to a Powerpoint Presentation

Want to link to a website, a document, or an email address in your presentation? Here's how to create hyperlinks in Microsoft PowerPoint.

PowerPoint is a great tool used for presentations and collaborative projects. But sometimes, you might need a bit more than bare slides in your presentation. If you want to make your PowerPoint presentations more effective and informative, adding a hyperlink is a great way to do that.

When your presentations have a hyperlink, you're able to connect your information to a separate resource such as a web page, or a separate document. In this article, we’ll show you various ways to add a hyperlink to your PowerPoint presentation.

How to Add a Hyperlink to a PowerPoint Presentation

If you’re looking for a time-saving hack for Microsoft PowerPoint , this is it. Hyperlinking in PowerPoint allows you to quickly refer to a separate resource as part of your presentation. You’re spoiled for choice when hyperlinking in PowerPoint because there’s more than one method. To hyperlink text, follow these instructions:

• Open your presentation in PowerPoint
• Right-click on the text and select Link .
• If you’re linking the text to a file on your PC, use the Look in box to locate your file.

How to Remove the Underline from Hyperlink Text

The intention behind inserting a hyperlink on a platform like Microsoft PowerPoint is a bit different from inserting a hyperlink in Google Docs , where you’d want your readers to know the text leads to a link. When you’re having a presentation, being unpredictable can work to your advantage, and having an underlined hyperlink in your presentation kills the fun in spontaneity.

PowerPoint doesn’t have a designated setting for removing the underline from a hyperlink text. Luckily, there’s a way around it. You can do this by adding a hyperlinked shape on top of your text instead. To do this, follow these steps:

• Go to the hyperlink text.
• Drag the shape, so it covers the text.
• Insert your link into the address bar and click on OK .
• Under Fill , select No fill , and under Line , select No line .

How to Change the Color of Hyperlink Text Throughout Your Presentation

If you're not a fan of the default color added to hyperlink text, you can change the color of all hyperlink text to fit the mood of your presentation. Here’s how:

• In the Variants section, click on the down arrow.
• Select Save .

How to Use Action Buttons

An action button is something you can create in PowerPoint to link an object or text to a website, another slide within your presentation, a separate presentation, and other resources. To hyperlink an action button, here’s what you need to do:

• In the top menu bar, click on Insert .
• In the Links section, select Action .
• Select OK once you’ve entered the details of the hyperlink.

How to Create a Hyperlinked Custom Show

If you'd like to present a mini slide show as part of your bigger presentation, you are able to hyperlink a custom slide show, but first, you must create one. Here’s how:

• Click on Custom Slide Show , then select Custom Shows .
• Check the boxes of the slides you’d like to appear in your custom show, then click on Add .
• You’ll see the pop-up Custom Shows window again; click on Show to see what your custom slide show looks like.

Now that you’ve created a custom show, you can hyperlink it to a text or object in your presentation.

• Right-click the text and select Link .
• Scroll down and click on Custom Shows .
• Select the custom show you want to present, then check the Show and return box on the right.

Elevate Your PowerPoint Presentation Skills

If you want to add value to your PowerPoint presentation, adding hyperlinks is an easy way to connect your slides to other resources. It’s also a great way to show off your presentation skills and engage your audience.

Whether you want to link text to a web page, or give your audience a subset of slides by linking a custom show, all of that is possible in Microsoft PowerPoint.

How to Use Hyperlinks and Action Buttons in PowerPoint

If you would like to link to an outside source within your PowerPoint presentation, you have the option of using a hyperlink or action button. These instructions are for Office 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007.

In PowerPoint, you can create a hyperlink using any text within your presentation. When clicked on, a hyperlink can directly link to a specific slide within your presentation, a saved file, a web page, another PowerPoint presentation, or a custom email. To insert a hyperlink into your presentation:

• Open the PowerPoint presentation.
• Highlight the text or object you would like to hyperlink.
• Right-click the highlighted text and select "Hyperlink..."
• For Existing File or Web Page , browse your computer to locate the file you wish to link to.
• For Place in This Document , choose the slide you wish to link to.
• For Create a New Document , type the name of your new PowerPoint presentation and choose when to edit the document.
• For E-mail Addresses , enter the recipient(s) email address and the subject line of the email.
• Click [OK].
• To test the action button, start your PowerPoint slideshow (Click F5 on your keyboard) and click the text with the action button.

A PowerPoint hyperlink can link to a file on one of your drives (with the exception of your C: drive, which will not work in any circumstance) only if you are presenting the PowerPoint on campus. If you are off campus, you can use a path to any portable medium you have on hand (e.g. thumb drive, CD, etc.).

Action Button

In PowerPoint, you can create an action button using shapes, images, and text within your presentation. When activated, an action button can link to either a specific slide within your presentation, a web page, or another PowerPoint presentation. In addition, PowerPoint offers action buttons that play sounds when activated. To insert an action button into your presentation:

• Click the [Insert] tab > From the "Links" group, click [Action].
• Select the "Hyperlink to:" radio button > From the drop-down menu, choose where you would like the action button to link to when activated.
• To test the action button, start your PowerPoint slideshow (Click F5 on your keyboard) and click the text or image with the action button.

To insert an action button that plays a sound into your presentation:

• Highlight the text or object you would like to play a sound when clicked on.
• If you would like the text or object to link to a slide, web page, or file and play a sound, select the "Hyperlink to:" radio button and choose a destination. If not, select the "None" radio button.
• Check the "Play sound:" box > From the drop-down menu, choose what sound you would like the action button to play when activated > Click [OK].
• To test the action button, start your PowerPoint slideshow (Click F5 on your keyboard) and click the text or object with the action button.

You can also create an action button that activates when you hover your mouse over the text or object (as opposed to clicking the action button). In the "Action Settings" dialog box, click the [Mouse Over] tab and choose where you would like the action button to link to.

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How to Hyperlink in PowerPoint (Insert, Remove or Edit Links)

Insert and Manage Links or Hyperlinks to Create Interactive PowerPoint Presentations

by Avantix Learning Team | Updated October 14, 2022

Applies to: Microsoft ® PowerPoint ® 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 365 (Windows)

You can easily add links or hyperlinks in PowerPoint presentations to add interactivity and make it easy for users to click a button or link to jump to another slide in your deck, to another presentation, to an Excel file or to a web site. You can edit hyperlinks at any time and remove hyperlinks if necessary. In PowerPoint, hyperlinks become active when you run a slide show (normally by clicking the Slide Show button on the bottom right of the screen). In newer versions of PowerPoint, the term link is used as an alternative to hyperlink (although the dialog box displays Hyperlink).

Hyperlinks can be displayed as full source URLs or internet addresses such as http://abccompany.ca, as descriptive text, as an image or as a shape.

In this article, we'll be using the Link or Hyperlink command to insert hyperlinks, not Action Settings (an alternative method for adding hyperlinks).

Recommended article: How to Crop a Picture in PowerPoint (4 Ways)

Do you want to learn more about PowerPoint? Check out our virtual classroom or in-person classroom PowerPoint courses >

Insert a text hyperlink

If you select text and use it as a hyperlink on a PowerPoint slide, it appears underlined and in a color (normally blue) and coordinates with the color theme in your document. The text color changes automatically after you click hyperlink text in a slide show (again based on color theme settings). Shapes or images with hyperlinks do not change color.

Insert a hyperlink to a slide in the current presentation

To insert a link or hyperlink to a slide in the current presentation:

• In Normal View or Slide Master View, select the text, shape or image you want to use as a hyperlink. If you are using a shape that contains text, click its edge.
• Click the Insert tab in the Ribbon.
• In the Links group, click Link or Hyperlink. You can also press Ctrl + K. The Edit Hyperlink dialog appears.
• Under Link to, select Place in This Document.
• Under Select a place in this document, select the slide you'd like to link to.
• If you are using a text hyperlink, enter the descriptive text that will become the link text in the Text to display box (if necessary).
• Click Slide Show on the bottom right of the screen to run your slide show. You can also press Shift + F5.
• Click the link to test it.
• Press ESC to exit the slide show.

Below is the Edit Hyperlink dialog box with a link to another slide in the current presentation:

Insert a hyperlink to another PowerPoint presentation

To insert a link or hyperlink to another PowerPoint presentation:

• Under Link to, select Existing File or Web Page.
• Click Browse (yellow file folder icon).
• Navigate to the other presentation and double-click it.

Below is the Edit Hyperlink dialog box with a link to another presentation:

Insert a hyperlink to an Excel workbook

To insert a link or hyperlink to an Excel workbook:

• Navigate to the Excel workbook and double-click it.

Below is the Edit Hyperlink dialog box with a link to an Excel workbook:

Use relative or absolute addresses to external files

If you are creating hyperlinks to external files such as another PowerPoint presentation or an Excel workbook, it's important to understand the difference between a relative and absolute address. A relative hyperlink uses the address relative to the address of the containing document whereas an absolute hyperlink uses the full address of the destination document including the drive location.

The following example uses an absolute hyperlink address (full path address):

C:\Documents\January\Budget.docx

The following relative hyperlink contains only the relative address or path to a Budget document in the same folder as the presentation.

January\Budget.docx

You may want to use a relative hyperlink address or path if you want to move or to copy your files to another location such as another server.

Insert a hyperlink to a web site

To insert a link or hyperlink to a web site:

• In the Address box, enter the web address or url. You can also copy the web address from a browser or select from the drop-down menu of recent web sites.

Below is the Edit Hyperlink dialog box with a link to a web site:

Create a hyperlink using the context menu

Another method of creating or editing hyperlinks is to right-click and use the context menu (you can also press Shift + F10 to display the context menu).

To insert a hyperlink using the context menu:

• Right-click and choose Link or Hyperlink from the dropd-down menu and then select Insert Hyperlink or Insert Link. The hyperlink dialog appears.
• Select the appropriate option under Link to. If you are creating an external link to a webpage or another document, select Existing File or Web Page. If you are creating an internal link within the document, select Place in This Document.
• In the address field, enter or choose the address or location where the link should lead. For external references, enter or copy the URL in the Address field. For place in the same document, select the appropriate item.

Jump to a hyperlink location

Hyperlinks become active when you run a slide show or save your presentation as a PDF (portable document format). Simply click the hyperlink to jump to the hyperlink location.

Edit a hyperlink

To edit a hyperlink:

• In Normal View or Slide Master View, right-click the hyperlink and select Edit Hyperlink or Edit Link from the drop-down menu. The Hyperlink dialog box appears.
• Select the desired options.

You can also select a hyperlink and press Ctrl + K to edit it.

Create a screen tip

You can also create a screen tip that will pop up when you hover over a hyperlink during a slide show.

To create a screen tip for an existing hyperlink:

• In Normal View or Slide Master View, right-click the hyperlink.and select Edit Hyperlink or Edit Link from the drop-down menu. The Edit Hyperlink dialog box appears.
• Click ScreenTip (on the top right). A dialog box appears.
• Enter a screen tip.
• Click OK twice.

Remove a hyperlink

To remove a hyperlink:

• In Normal View or Slide Master View, right-click the hyperlink you want to remove.
• In the context menu, select Remove Hyperlink or Remove Link.

Hyperlinks can add a new dimension of interactivity to your decks and when a PowerPoint file is saved as a PDF, they become active hyperlinks.

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More resources

How to Insert Slide Numbers in PowerPoint

How to Use the Built-in Laser Pointer in PowerPoint (with Shortcuts)

How to Cut a Shape Out of an Image in PowerPoint (Mask a Picture)

How to Remove the Background of an Image  in PowerPoint (2 Ways)

How to Break, Update or Change Links to Excel Charts or Worksheets in PowerPoint

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Why and How to Use Hyperlinks in PowerPoint

Hyperlinks are to online content what a doorway is to a room: they give you a visual prompt that says “there’s more to see here, come on in!” For online content, those visual prompts can take the form of underlined text (usually a different color than the rest of the surrounding text), images, buttons, or other features. When a user mouses over or clicks on these hyperlinks, they’re shown related content. To revisit my doorway metaphor, hyperlinks beckon your audience to take a self-guided tour, instead of making them wait for you to act as their guide.

It’s that nudge to interact with content that makes hyperlinks such an important part of e-learning. With hyperlinks, you can easily make your content more engaging and inviting to learners. Instead of squishing all the relevant text onto a single screen, you can use hyperlinks to add important content to new slides. That means folks can click on a button, a picture, or text, for instance, to be taken directly to the additional information they need.

If you’re building your course in PowerPoint, you can use hyperlinks to jump to:

• Other slides in your presentation file
• A web page or another file
• A new presentation
• A new email message

Linking to other slides in your presentation means you can use PowerPoint to create simple branched scenarios, like this Workplace Scenario , and other interactive experiences, like this tabs interaction . With the ability to link to other files or web pages, you can also use hyperlinks to enrich a user’s experience by referencing source material or jobs aids and other supporting documentation. There are oodles of creative possibilities!

Best of all, hyperlinks are quick and easy to set up in PowerPoint. Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved in creating a hyperlink, as well as some pro tips and considerations for using hyperlinks in your PowerPoint projects.

Creating a Hyperlink

Step 1: Start by opening up your PowerPoint presentation and navigating to the slide where you want to add a link.

You can add hyperlinks to almost any object on your slide, including a text box (or text placeholder), a shape, a SmartArt object, or an image. You can’t add hyperlinks to things like video or embedded charts and graphs, but you can place a shape with a 100% transparency fill color over the tops of such objects and assign the hyperlink to that shape instead. For more details on this trick, check out this article from Tom Kuhlmann .

Step 2: With the object selected, you can either hit CTRL+K or right-click your mouse and navigate to Link...

Or, if you prefer to navigate using menus, you can click on the Insert menu and select Link .

Step 3: From the Insert Hyperlink dialog, choose from one of the following options.

• Existing File or Web Page: links to a file, like an Excel spreadsheet, or to a web page.
• Place in This Document: links to another slide in your presentation.
• Create New Document: triggers the creation of a new document in the folder as the current presentation file.
• E-mail Address: triggers a new email.

Step 4: Now it’s time to add the link using one of the following options:

• If you’d like to link to another slide in your presentation —say, to create a simple branched scenario—you’ll select the target slide from the list of slides on the left of the Insert Hyperlink pop-up. PowerPoint also gives you a slide preview to the right of the selection pane so you can clearly see which slide you’re choosing.

• If you’re linking to another file , you’ll want to navigate to the file’s location on your computer.

• If you’d like to link to a web page , enter the URL for the website in the address box.

• If you’re trying to create a link that triggers the opening of a new email, select E-mail Address from the “Link to” options and enter an email address. You can also enter a subject line for the email if you’d like, but it’s optional.

Step 5: Click OK to apply the hyperlink to the selected object.

And that’s all there is to it! You’ve just added a hyperlink to your PowerPoint project.

As you can see, hyperlinking is pretty easy and quite powerful, but there are a few things to keep in mind when adding them to your PowerPoint projects. Let’s walk through a few of them.

Hyperlinks will only work in Slide Show view in PowerPoint.

Done adding hyperlinks to your presentation? Not so fast! Take a moment to click Slide Show under the View menu and give your hyperlinks a quick click to make sure they’re pointing to the correct destination.

Also, if you’re importing a PowerPoint presentation with hyperlinks into an e-learning authoring tool like Articulate Studio 360 or Articulate Storyline 360, keep in mind that your hyperlinks won’t necessarily work in Preview and may not work at all, depending on how your LMS functions. It’s always a good idea to publish your finished project and upload it to your web server or LMS for testing. Testing your project in the environment your audience will ultimately access it from is the best way to know what works and what doesn't.

The target of your hyperlink must be accessible.

Hyperlinking to a web page or to another presentation? Placing linked documents into a network directory (i.e., not saved locally on your hard drive in the same folder as your presentation)—or linking to a web page—will require a solid internet connection to work properly.

Also, make sure you don’t rename, move, or delete any linked files in your presentation. Doing so will cause any links in your presentation to break.

You can control the color of hyperlinks.

If you’ve selected the text inside a text box and applied a hyperlink to it, you may have noticed that this resulted in the text being underlined and a different color. If you don’t like that color you can easily change it in PowerPoint.

Hyperlink color is located in your project’s color scheme. You can access and change the color scheme by clicking on the Design menu, selecting Colors , and then Customize Colors . Here’s a quick GIF to show you exactly where to find this option.

You can easily add hyperlinks to master slides.

When you’re working with the same slide layout throughout your presentation, it makes more sense to add any hyperlinked objects to the master slide, rather than copying and pasting that link to every slide in your project. Not only does this save you a lot of work, it makes it easier to maintain in the event that you need to update the link later.

For more on working with master slides in PowerPoint, don’t miss Slide Master View: A Big E-Learning Time Saver.

More Reading

Interested in building more PowerPoint skills or adding more interactivity to your e-learning presentations? Check out all the great how-to resources and help in the E-Learning Heroes community. Here’s a small sampling of the many helpful articles available on this topic:

• Affordance: What Does It Mean for E-Learning? by Nicole Legault
• Building Interactive Scenarios in PowerPoint by Tom Kuhlmann
• Presenter 360: Adding Interactivity with Hyperlinks and Branching
• Presenter 360: Adding Videos & Web Objects
• 5 Essential Rapid E-Learning Tips by Tom Kuhlmann

For additional valuable pointers on using PowerPoint for e-learning, check out Dr. Jane Bozarth’s book, Better Than Bullet Points: Creating Engaging E-Learning with PowerPoint.

Ready to move beyond PowerPoint for your online training? See what all the buzz is about and sign up for a free trial of Rise.com , the all-in-one system that makes online training easy to create, enjoyable to take, and simple to manage. Have questions? Please leave them in the comments. 

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Level Up Your Presentations: How to Insert Hyperlinks in PowerPoint Like a Pro

Table of Contents

Hyperlinks in PowerPoint can be really helpful. They let you link to other websites, slides within your presentation, or multimedia resources, making your presentations more engaging. Whether you want to add interactive elements, simplify navigation, or just make your presentation more dynamic, knowing how to use hyperlinks is important.

In this guide, we’ll explore different ways you can use hyperlinks in PowerPoint to enhance your presentations. You’ll learn how to link to websites and documents, set up navigation, and customize hyperlink colors to make your presentations more visually appealing.

A Closer Look at How to Insert Hyperlinks in PowerPoint

1. hyperlink to a website.

Want to make your PowerPoint presentation more interactive? You can easily add links to websites! Here’s how:

Step 1. Pick What You Want to Link

This could be text, an image, or even a shape. Just click on the slide element you want viewers to click to open the website.

Step 2. Find the Link Menu

Head over to the “Insert” tab. There, you’ll see a button called “Link.” Click it to open the link menu. (If you prefer, you can right-click the element and choose “Hyperlink” from the menu that pops up.)

Step 3. Link to a Website

Choose the option “Existing File or Web Page” since you’re linking to an external website.

Step 4. Type in the Web Address

In the “Address” field, enter the complete URL of the website you want to link to. Remember to include “http://” or “https://” at the beginning.

Step 5. Click “OK” and you’re done!

Now, when you run your presentation and someone clicks the linked element, their web browser will automatically open and take them to the website.

2. Hyperlink to an Existing Document

Want to take your audience deeper into a topic? PowerPoint lets you create hyperlinks that jump to existing documents, adding another layer of interactivity to your web article presentations. Here’s how to do it:

• Select the text or object  you want to turn into a hyperlink.
• Go to the  Insert  tab on the ribbon.
• Click  Link .
• Choose  Existing File or Web Page  under “Link to.”
• Browse  and find the document you want to link to.
• Click  OK .

Now, when you click the hyperlinked text or object during your presentation, it will open the linked document.

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3. Hyperlink to a New Document

In PowerPoint, you can’t directly hyperlink to a new document you haven’t created yet. But you can create a new document and link to it at the same time. Here’s how:

• Pick the text or image on your slide that you want as the hyperlink.
• Go to the “ Insert ” tab on the ribbon.
• Click “ Link ” and then choose “Insert Link” at the bottom.
• Select “ Create New Document. “
• Name your new document and choose where to save it.
• In” When to edit “, choose your preference for “Later” or “Now”.
• Click “ OK .”

4. Hyperlink to an E-mail Address

Creating a hyperlink to an email address in PowerPoint lets viewers easily contact you through email during your presentation. Here’s a quick guide:

• Select the text  you want to turn into the clickable link. This could be your name, “Contact Us,” or any other relevant text.
• Go to the  Insert  tab and click  Link  (or  Hyperlink ).
• In the pop-up window, choose  E-mail Address .
• Enter the email address you want to link to in the  E-mail address  field.
• (Optional) In  Text to display , you can customize the text viewers see for the link. If you leave it blank, the email address itself will be displayed.
• Click  OK  to create the hyperlink.

Now, during your presentation slide show, viewers can click the linked text to open their default email program with the recipient’s address already filled in.

Advanced Hyperlink Techniques

How to create a transparent hyperlink area.

Creating a transparent hyperlink area in PowerPoint allows you to assign hyperlinks to objects without affecting their appearance. This technique is useful for creating interactive presentations, especially for touchscreen applications or online presentations where precise tapping is required.

Step 1. Access the Insert tab on the PowerPoint ribbon and choose Shapes.

Step 2. Opt for a rectangle or another shape that matches your target object.

Step 3. Position the shape over the desired area, such as a video.

Step 4. Right-click the shape and access Format Shape.

Step 5. Within the Format Shape pane, navigate to Fill and adjust transparency to 100%.

Step 6. Proceed to Line and adjust transparency to 100%.

Step 7. Right-click the shape again and choose Hyperlink.

Step 8. Input the desired destination and confirm with OK.

Following these steps will create a transparent shape serving as a hyperlink area over your object.

How to Change Hyperlink Color

Changing the color of hyperlinks in a PowerPoint presentation can help improve visibility and align with your presentation’s color scheme. By following a few simple steps, you can customize the appearance of hyperlinks to enhance the overall design and readability of your slides.

• Select the hyperlink you want to re-color.
• Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
• Click the down arrow next to the Font Color button to open the menu of colors.
• Select the color you want for the hyperlink.

These steps are common across the provided instructions and are neatly ordered for clarity.

How to Create ScreenTip

Adding a ScreenTip to your hyperlinks in PowerPoint can provide additional context or information when users hover over them. By following a simple process, you can enhance the usability and clarity of your presentation.

• In the Edit/Insert Hyperlink window, click the ScreenTip button.
• Type in the text for the ScreenTip in the open window.
• Click OK to apply the ScreenTip.

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Closing Thoughts

We hope this guide has benefited you by showing the power of hyperlinks in PowerPoint. By incorporating these techniques, you can create presentations that are not only informative but also interactive and engaging.

Remember, hyperlinks can link to websites, documents, email addresses, and even other slides within your presentation, making your content richer and more user-friendly. So, go forth and explore the possibilities of hyperlinks in your next presentation!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are hyperlinks used for in powerpoint.

Hyperlinks in PowerPoint are used to link to other slides, websites, or files within your presentation. This can make your presentation more interactive and engaging for your audience.

How can I quickly insert a hyperlink in PowerPoint using keyboard shortcuts?

To quickly add a hyperlink, Select text, then press Ctrl + K (Command + K on Mac) or press Alt+N+I to add a hyperlink in PowerPoint.

How do I add a link to an online Microsoft 365 file in PowerPoint?

To link to an online Microsoft 365 document, select the desired slide object or text. Then, go to the “Insert” tab on the Ribbon, choose ‘Link’ from the drop-down list, and select the online Office 365 document from the “Recent items” list.

If I change the text color of a hyperlink, how do I revert it to the default color?

To reset the hyperlink color, use the “Clear all formatting” tool by highlighting the link and clicking on the “A” with an eraser icon. Alternatively, you can try using the format paintbrush from normal text. Another option is to copy the link to a browser, and then copy it back into PowerPoint.

How to remove a hyperlink in powerpoint?

Right-click the hyperlink and select “Remove Hyperlink”.

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Open a hyperlink

When you edit a presentation, you can open (or follow) a hyperlink by doing the following:

Open a hyperlink while editing a presentation

Right-click the hyperlink and select Open Hyperlink on the shortcut menu.

Click Open Hyperlink .

Test your hyperlinks in Slide Show before your present to others to ensure that they work as expected.

In PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 and PowerPoint 2021 and PowerPoint 2019 , in Normal view, you can also open a hyperlink by pressing the Ctrl key and clicking the hyperlink. 

Open a hyperlink during a slide show

You can open a hyperlink during a slide show by clicking the link.

Click Slide Show > From Beginning to start your slide show presentation.

When you see a hyperlink in the presentation, click the underlined text to open, or follow, the hyperlink.

The slide show remains active when the link opens. You might need to close the linked webpage or file to return to your presentation.

Create a hyperlink on a slide

See Add a hyperlink to a slide .

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How to Add a Hyperlink to a PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)

Hyperlinks make a presentation non-linear by connecting it with other slides, documents and web pages. This guide demonstrates how to add hyperlinks to a PowerPoint presentation, so that they work both on a local computer and online. You’ll also learn other PowerPoint tricks, such as linking to a YouTube video, changing hyperlink color, configuring navigation and others that diversify the use of hyperlinks in education. 

How to add a hyperlink to :

Particular slides 

Existing documents

New documents

Email addresses 

What PowerPoint objects can be assigned with a hyperlink?

The options aren’t limited to texts and pictures; below you will find a list of all options available when it comes to manipulating a hyperlink in PowerPoint.

Other PowerPoint objects such as video and graphs can’t be assigned with hyperlinks. If you use SmartArt objects or stylized text and plan to publish your presentation online, we recommend you read about  advanced hyperlink techniques .

How to add a hyperlink to another slide

2. In the dialog box, click  Place in this Document  under  Link to . Choose the slide in your presentation that you wish to use as a destination, then click  OK . 

If you  have created a custom slideshow  (a certain sequence of slides) and you want to connect your object with it, click  Custom Shows . Then tick the  Show and return  checkbox.  

How to add a hyperlink to an existing document

You may connect your presentation to a document on your computer, for example another presentation, or even a particular slide in it. However, if you then move your project to another PC, you’ll need to copy the connected document to the same folder. The link won’t work in cases where you don’t copy the presentation, or you rename, move or delete it.

Also note that if you plan to  publish your presentation online , you’ll need to convert all the connected presentations to online format and use the resulting web pages rather than the source .pptx files. You can learn how to do it  here .

2. Click  Existing File or W eb Pag e  under  Link to .

3. Locate and select the document that you want to use as a destination, then click OK .

4. If you wish to link a slide in another presentation, locate and select that presentation on your computer. Then click Bookmark , and in the open window choose the relevant slide.

How to add a hyperlink to a web page

2. Click Existing File or Web Page under Link to .

3. In the address field, type in the address of the web page you wish to add, then click OK .

4. If you want to add a hyperlink to a certain place on the webpage, you can either use the anchor in the website address OR the Bookmark option.

You can follow the steps above to add a hyperlink to a video from a video hosting website, such as YouTube or Vimeo. However, there’s a way to insert an online video right in your presentation, so that it can be played back without having to interrupt the playback and open a browser. To learn how to do that, read these articles on how to insert a YouTube video into an online presentation and how to add a Vimeo video to a presentation .

How to add a hyperlink to a new document

Note that this type of hyperlink can only be used in PowerPoint; it won’t work in a web browser when sharing a presentation online.

2. Click Create New Document under Link to .

3. By default, a new document is created in the same folder with the presentation’s source file. If you want to change the location, click Change under Full path , select the desired location, and then click OK .

4. Enter the name of a new file in the Name of new document field, then click OK .

5. Under When to edit , choose if you want to Edit the new document later or Edit the new document now .

How to add a hyperlink to an email address

2. Click E-mail Address under Link to .

3. Type in the appropriate e-mail address in the E-mail address box.

4. Optionally, you may indicate the subject of your e-mail message in the Subject box.

Advanced hyperlink techniques

How to create a transparent hyperlink area.

In fact, there’s a way to assign a hyperlink to a SmartArt object or stylized text for an online presentation, and even videos. To do that, you should create a transparent hyperlink area over an object. This solution may also be useful for designers of those touchscreen apps, which elements are often so small that it’s hard to tap them.

2. Select a rectangle or any other form that matches the relevant object.

3. Draw the shape over the desired area (e.g., video).

4. Right-click on the drawn shape and click Link .

5. Add the desired destination and click OK .

6. Now right-click on the shape again, and choose No Fill under Fill and No Outline under Outline .

Note:  when a transparent area overlaps PowerPoint objects, their controls are not available anymore. Therefore, if you’re using this technique for a video, you should either set the video to play automatically or draw the shape only over a part of it.

How to change hyperlink color

By default, PowerPoint applies different colors to new and followed hyperlinks based on the chosen presentation theme. To learn how to change the predefined color, read the following guidelines.

2. Go to Colors , and under the schemes choose Customize Colors .

3. In the open window, change the colors of new and followed hyperlinks, then click Save .

Note : if you apply another theme to your presentation, hyperlink colors will be modified too. In order to prevent yourself from having to customize them again, choose the final design for your presentation first.

How to create a screentip

Follow these guidelines to create helpful tooltips that will appear every time a mouse is pointed over a relevant object on the slide.

2. In the open window, type in the text for a screentip, then click OK .

 Here’s what a screentip will look like on the slide.

How to set up navigation

Non-linear navigation is a big plus for complex presentations, as it enables viewers to jump to other slides at any time based on what information is most relevant in a certain situation.With non-linear navigation, they don’t have to search for a particular slide frantically.  

One way to set up non-linear navigation is to create a table of contents with internal links leading to different chapters within your presentation. To do that, you’ll need to create a table of contents first, and then insert a hyperlink into other slides for each topic manually.

You can also set up non-linear navigation by inserting two buttons on each slide and hyperlink them to the Next Slide or Previous Slide accordingly. On the last slide you can create a button called “View Again” and hyperlink it to the First Slide , so that the presentation can be easily launched from the beginning. You can learn more about navigating your PowerPoint with Action Buttons in this article .

Tips to enhance your presentation

Here are a few tricks that helped us go beyond PowerPoint and enhance the original presentation in a number of ways. 

Insert web pages instead of hyperlinks

Inserting hyperlinks to web page makes sense when they’re optional for viewing. A good way to incorporate important web pages into your presentation is to insert them right onto slides. Here’s how you can do it:

• Download iSpring Converter Pro for free →

3. In the open window, paste in the URL of the web page you wish to add, then click Preview .

4. Under Size , choose whether you want the web page to be displayed in Custom size or Full Slide . We’ll use the first to combine a web page with other information within one slide.

5. With iSpring Converter Pro, you can display web objects even without an Internet connection. To do that, first download web objects to your computer. In the Insert Web Object window, open the drop-down menu in the upper-left corner and choose Local Path .

6. Click Browse and locate the relevant file on your computer. Then press Open → OK .

Publish a presentation online

Note that if the presentation you plan to publish online contains hyperlinked SmartArt object(s) or stylized text, you should create a transparent hyperlink area. To learn more, read this article on troubleshooting hyperlinks .

These guidelines will help you convert a PowerPoint presentation to online mobile-ready format.

1.  Download iSpring Converter Pro for free →

2.  Open your presentation and choose iSpring Converter Pro on the PowerPoint ribbon, then click Publish .

3. In the Publish Presentation window, specify the Project name and a Folder . As you can see, there are two Output Options available, including HTML5 and video. We recommend using HTML5 format for web presentations.

4. With iSpring Converter Pro, you can configure the presentation player before publishing. To do that, click Universal (Full)  as demonstrated in the picture below.

5. As you can see from the open window, the Universal Player is fully customizable. You can configure its Layout , Bars , Text Labels , select one of the built-in Templates and Color Schemes , or apply custom Colors .

6. Once, you’ve customized the player and set up other publishing options , click Publish . After the process is complete, the Preview window will open, allowing you to see how your presentation will be displayed on different devices.

A few more details on adding a hyperlink in PowerPoint for the curious. 

How to Automatically Insert a Hyperlink in PowerPoint?

To add a hyperlink quickly, type or paste a  needed URL or email address into a text-containing object and press either “Spacebar” or “Enter”. To get the hyperlink removed,  immediately press “Backspace”.

How to Add a Link to an Online Microsoft 365 File in PowerPoint?

If you need to point to an online Microsoft 365 (Miscrosoft Office 365) document, you can also add a hyperlink. Select the required slide object or text within a text-containing slide. Click on the “Insert” tab of the Ribbon, select ‘Link’ from the drop-down list. Click on the name of the online Office 365 document to share from the list of “Recent items” below. 

When adding links to PowerPoint, it’s important to be aware of some pitfalls that may affect the final playback. We hope this detailed guide will meet your challenges and help you make the most of hyperlinks. The demo presentation in this article was  created and published online with the help of iSpring Converter Pro , an advanced PowerPoint add-in. 

Useful Resources on PowerPoint

Are you a PowerPoint lover? If so, here are some other helpful articles for you:

• How to Share a PowerPoint Presentation Online
• How to Protect PowerPoint Presentations
• How to Add Narration to a PowerPoint Presentation
• How to Insert Youtube Video Into PowerPoint Presentation
• How to Structure a PowerPoint Presentation
• How to Convert PowerPoint Presentation to an eLearning Module
• How to Remove the Background From a Picture in PowerPoint
• How to Convert PowerPoint to MP4 Video on Windows & macOS

Fast PowerPoint to HTML5 Converter

Convert presentations to HTML5 with all effects and transitions preserved

Content creator:

Paulina Fox

Passionate about design and tech, Paulina crafts content that helps customers delve deeper into iSpring products.

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How to Add a Hyperlink in PowerPoint: 3 Quick Steps

In the realm of presentations, PowerPoint has always reigned supreme. Its versatility and ease of use make it the go-to choice for professionals and students alike.

But as we navigate this digital-centric age, the ability to embed clickable links directly into PowerPoint slides can transform a static presentation into an interactive masterpiece. Whether it’s to reference a website, jump to a specific slide, or even initiate an email, hyperlinks can add depth to your content.

Let’s dive deep into the process of adding hyperlinks in PowerPoint and explore some crucial best practices.

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Step 1: Selecting Your Text or Object

Decide on the text, image, shape, or even chart that you want to turn into a clickable hyperlink. Highlight the text or click once on the object, ensuring it’s selected. A bounding box or highlighted area should appear, indicating your selection.

Once selected, right-click to open a context-sensitive menu. This menu provides various options based on what you’ve selected.

Step 2: Navigating the ‘Hyperlink’ Option

In the right-click menu, locate and select the ‘Hyperlink’ option. The ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box will pop up, presenting several hyperlinking opportunities.

Understanding Link Types:

• Existing File or Web Page: This is perhaps the most commonly used option. Here, you can link to a webpage, a file on your computer, or even a file on a network.
• Place in This Document: A great feature for creating non-linear presentations, this option lets you jump to specific slides within your deck.
• Create New Document: Want your hyperlink to create and open a new document? This option is for you, though it’s less commonly used in presentations.
• Email Address: Initiating an email is as simple as inputting an address here. Once clicked during a presentation, it will open the viewer’s default email client with the chosen address pre-populated.

Step 3: Entering Your Desired Link

Linking to a Website: Under ‘Existing File or Web Page’, input the URL of the website you wish to link to.

Jumping Between Slides: Under ‘Place in This Document’, a list of all your slides will appear. Simply select the desired destination slide.

For New Documents: If you chose ‘Create New Document’, you’d have to name the document and decide whether it should be edited now or later.

Email Links: Under ‘Email Address’, input the email and subject. The subject is optional but can pre-populate the email’s subject line for the viewer.After inputting your link, click ‘OK’. Your selected text or object will now bear the hallmark of a hyperlink, typically underscored and in a contrasting color.

7 Tips and Best Practices for Using Links in PowerPoint

1. visibility is key.

Ensure your hyperlink stands out. Differentiate it with a unique color or underline. But remember, it should still fit aesthetically with your slide’s design.

2. Always Test

Just added a link? Test it! Before presenting, ensure every link directs to the correct location or performs the intended action.

3. Maintain Balance

Hyperlinks can make slides interactive, but don’t overdo it. An overload of links can turn a presentation chaotic and confusing.

4. Descriptive Link Text

Rather than “Click Here”, use text like “Read More About Our Research”. It’s informative and aids in comprehension.

5. Shortcut Know-How

When navigating a presentation, remember that holding the Ctrl key and clicking will activate a hyperlink. This knowledge can come in handy for presenters.

6. Consider Your Audience

Remember, not all viewers may be familiar with hyperlinks in presentations. Provide subtle guidance, either verbally or with on-screen cues.

7. Keep Accessibility in Mind

For those using screen readers, hyperlink text should be descriptive. Avoid raw URLs as the link text and opt for a brief, concise description.

By embedding hyperlinks thoughtfully, you can enrich your PowerPoint presentations, offering an interactive experience and delivering additional value. With this detailed guide and the accompanying best practices, you’re well on your way to mastering the art of hyperlinking in PowerPoint.

How-To Geek

6 ways to create more interactive powerpoint presentations.

Engage your audience with cool, actionable features.

Quick Links

• Add a QR code
• Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)
• Embed a Live Web Page
• Add Links and Menus
• Add Clickable Images to Give More Info
• Add a Countdown Timer

We've all been to a presentation where the speaker bores you to death with a mundane PowerPoint presentation. Actually, the speaker could have kept you much more engaged by adding some interactive features to their slideshow. Let's look into some of these options.

1. Add a QR code

Adding a QR code can be particularly useful if you want to direct your audience to an online form, website, or video.

Some websites have in-built ways to create a QR code. For example, on Microsoft Forms , when you click "Collect Responses," you'll see the QR code option via the icon highlighted in the screenshot below. You can either right-click the QR code to copy and paste it into your presentation, or click "Download" to add it to your device gallery to insert the QR code as a picture.

In fact, you can easily add a QR code to take your viewer to any website. On Microsoft Edge, right-click anywhere on a web page where there isn't already a link, and left-click "Create QR Code For This Page."

You can also create QR codes in other browsers, such as Chrome.

You can then copy or download the QR code to use wherever you like in your presentation.

2. Embed Microsoft Forms (Education or Business Only)

If you plan to send your PPT presentation to others—for example, if you're a trainer sending step-by-step instruction presentation, a teacher sending an independent learning task to your students, or a campaigner for your local councilor sending a persuasive PPT to constituents—you might want to embed a quiz, questionnaire, pole, or feedback survey in your presentation.

In PowerPoint, open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, and in the Forms group, click "Forms". If you cannot see this option, you can add new buttons to the ribbon .

As at April 2024, this feature is only available for those using their work or school account. We're using a Microsoft 365 Personal account in the screenshot below, which is why the Forms icon is grayed out.

Then, a sidebar will appear on the right-hand side of your screen, where you can either choose a form you have already created or opt to craft a new form.

Now, you can share your PPT presentation with others , who can click the fields and submit their responses when they view the presentation.

3. Embed a Live Web Page

You could always screenshot a web page and paste that into your PPT, but that's not a very interactive addition to your presentation. Instead, you can embed a live web page into your PPT so that people with access to your presentation can interact actively with its contents.

To do this, we will need to add an add-in to our PPT account .

Add-ins are not always reliable or secure. Before installing an add-in to your Microsoft account, check that the author is a reputable company, and type the add-in's name into a search engine to read reviews and other users' experiences.

To embed a web page, add the Web Viewer add-in ( this is an add-in created by Microsoft ).

Go to the relevant slide and open the Web Viewer add-in. Then, copy and paste the secure URL into the field box, and remove https:// from the start of the address. In our example, we will add a selector wheel to our slide. Click "Preview" to see a sample of the web page's appearance in your presentation.

This is how ours will look.

When you or someone with access to your presentation views the slideshow, this web page will be live and interactive.

4. Add Links and Menus

As well as moving from one slide to the next through a keyboard action or mouse click, you can create links within your presentation to direct the audience to specific locations.

To create a link, right-click the outline of the clickable object, and click "Link."

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, click "Place In This Document," choose the landing destination, and click "OK."

What's more, to make it clear that an object is clickable, you can use action buttons. Open the "Insert" tab on the ribbon, click "Shape," and then choose an appropriate action button. Usefully, PPT will automatically prompt you to add a link to these shapes.

You might also want a menu that displays on every slide. Once you have created the menu, add the links using the method outlined above. Then, select all the items, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then use Ctrl+V to paste them in your other slides.

5. Add Clickable Images to Give More Info

Through PowerPoint's animations, you can give your viewer the power to choose what they see and when they see it. This works nicely whether you're planning to send your presentation to others to run through independently or whether you're presenting in front of a group and want your audience to decide which action they want to take.

Start by creating the objects that will be clickable (trigger) and the items that will appear (pop-up).

Then, select all the pop-ups together. When you click "Animations" on the ribbon and choose an appropriate animation for the effect you want to achieve, this will be applied to all objects you have selected.

The next step is to rename the triggers in your presentation. To do this, open the "Home" tab, and in the Editing group, click "Select", and then "Selection Pane."

With the Selection Pane open, select each trigger on your slide individually, and rename them in the Selection Pane, so that they can be easily linked to in the next step.

Finally, go back to the first pop-up. Open the "Animations" tab, and in the Advanced Animation group, click the "Trigger" drop-down arrow. Then, you can set the item to appear when a trigger is clicked in your presentation.

If you want your item to disappear when the trigger is clicked again, select the pop-up, click "Add Animation" in the Advanced Animation group, choose an Exit animation, and follow the same step to link that animation to the trigger button.

6. Add a Countdown Timer

A great way to get your audience to engage with your PPT presentation is to keep them on edge by adding a countdown timer. Whether you're leading a presentation and want to let your audience stop to discuss a topic, or running an online quiz with time-limit questions, having a countdown timer means your audience will keep their eye on your slide throughout.

To do this, you need to animate text boxes or shapes containing your countdown numbers. Choose and format a shape and type the highest number that your countdown clock will need. In our case, we're creating a 10-second timer.

Now, with your shape selected, open the "Animations" tab on the ribbon and click the animation drop-down arrow. Then, in the Exit menu, click "Disappear."

Open the Animation Pane, and click the drop-down arrow next to the animation you've just added. From there, choose "Timing."

Make sure "On Click" is selected in the Start menu, and change the Delay option to "1 second," before clicking "OK."

Then, with this shape still selected, press Ctrl+C (copy), and then Ctrl+V (paste). In the second box, type 9 . With the Animation Pane still open and this second shape selected, click the drop-down arrow and choose "Timing" again. Change the Start option to "After Previous," and make sure the Delay option is 1 second. Then, click "OK."

We can now use this second shape as our template, as when we copy and paste it again, the animations will also duplicate. With this second shape selected, press Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, type 8 into the box, and continue to do the same until you get to 0 .

Next, remove the animations from the "0" box, as you don't want this to disappear. To do this, click the shape, and in the Animation Pane drop-down, click "Remove."

You now need to layer them in order. Right-click the box containing number 1, and click "Bring To Front." You will now see that box on the top. Do the same with the other numbers in ascending order.

Finally, you need to align the objects together. Click anywhere on your slide and press Ctrl+A. Then, in the Home tab on the ribbon, click "Arrange." First click "Align Center," and then bring the menu up again, so that you can click "Align Middle."

Press Ctrl+A again to select your timer, and you can then move your timer or copy and paste it elsewhere.

Press F5 to see the presentation in action, and when you get to the slide containing the timer, click anywhere on the slide to see your countdown timer in action!

Now that your PPT presentation is more interactive, make sure you've avoided these eight common presentational mistakes before you present your slides.