The fastest way: right-click and paste the URL

Select the text or image you want to turn into a link. Right-click it, then choose Link from the menu. Paste the full web address (starting with http:// or https://) into the box that appears, then click OK. The text or image is now clickable during your presentation.

This method works the same way in PowerPoint on Windows, Mac, and the web version. The link stays active when you present in slideshow mode — click it and your default web browser opens to that page.

If you want to change what the link says without changing where it goes, right-click the link again and choose Edit Link. You can type new text in the "Display Text" field while leaving the URL unchanged.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any text or image, choose Link, paste the web address, and click OK to create a clickable link in seconds.
  • Links work during slideshow mode — they open your web browser to the page you specified.
  • You can change what the link displays without changing where it points by editing the display text separately.
  • Test every link before you present by clicking it in slideshow mode, because broken URLs or typos will fail in front of your audience.
  • If you need to remove a link, right-click it and choose Remove Link — this deletes the link but keeps the text or image.

Using the Insert menu if right-click does not work

If the right-click menu does not appear or looks different on your version, use the menu bar instead. Click the text or image you want to link, then go to Insert at the top and choose Link (or Hyperlink depending on your version).

A dialog box opens. Paste your web address into the field labeled Address or URL. The text you selected appears in the Display Text field — you can change it here if you want the link to say something different from the actual URL. Click OK when you are done.

Linking to a specific slide instead of a website

You can also link to another slide in the same presentation. Select your text or image, right-click, and choose Link. Instead of pasting a web address, click Place in This Document (or Slide in This Presentation depending on your version).

A list of all your slides appears. Click the slide you want to jump to, then click OK. During your presentation, clicking this link takes you directly to that slide — useful for jumping to a backup slide or returning to an earlier point without clicking through every slide in between.

Testing your links before you present

Links in edit mode do not work when you click them — you have to be in slideshow mode for them to set up. Press F5 (Windows) or Shift + Command + Play (Mac) to start your presentation from the beginning, or press Shift + F5 (Windows) or Shift + Command + B (Mac) to start from the current slide.

Click each link you added to make sure it opens the right page or jumps to the right slide. If a link does not work, go back to edit mode, right-click the link, choose Edit Link, and check that the URL is spelled correctly and includes http:// or https:// at the start.

A common mistake is forgetting the protocol (http:// or https://). PowerPoint will not recognize "google.com" as a web address — it needs to be "https://google.com". If you paste a URL from your browser's address bar, it usually includes this already.

Removing or changing a link

To remove a link entirely, right-click it and choose Remove Link. The text or image stays in your slide, but it is no longer clickable.

To change where a link points without changing what it says, right-click the link and choose Edit Link. Change only the URL in the Address field, leaving the Display Text the same. This is useful if you discover a link is broken or if you want to point to a different page while keeping the same label.

Why links sometimes fail during presentations

The most common reason a link does not work during a presentation is that you are not connected to the internet. If you are presenting offline, web links will not open. Test your internet connection before you start, or read the web pages you need and link to them as files instead.

Another reason is that the URL changed or the page no longer exists. If you added a link months ago, the website may have reorganized or removed that page. Check each link a day or two before you present — do not wait until you are in front of your audience.

If you are presenting on a different computer than the one you created the presentation on, links sometimes break because the file path changed or because the other computer does not have the same fonts or formatting. Web links (starting with http:// or https://) are more reliable than links to files on your computer.

Making links obvious to your audience

By default, PowerPoint underlines linked text and colors it blue, which signals to viewers that something is clickable. If you want to change this appearance, right-click the link, choose Format Link or Character, and adjust the color or underline. Keep in mind that removing the underline or changing the color to something that does not stand out may confuse your audience about what is clickable.

For image links, PowerPoint does not add any visual indicator that the image is clickable. Consider adding a small note near the image (like "Click to watch video") so your audience knows to interact with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link to a video or PDF file instead of a website?

Yes. Instead of pasting a web address, right-click your text or image, choose Link, then click Browse or Select File. Navigate to the video or PDF on your computer and click it. During your presentation, clicking the link opens that file in its default program. Make sure the file is saved on the same computer you are presenting from, or the link will break.

What happens if I click a link by accident during my presentation?

The browser opens and takes you away from your presentation. Press Alt + Tab (Windows) or Command + Tab (Mac) to switch back to PowerPoint, or close the browser window. You will return to the same slide you were on.

Can I make a link open in a new browser tab instead of replacing the current one?

PowerPoint does not have a built-in option for this. When you click a link during a presentation, it opens in your default browser. If you want to keep your presentation visible while viewing a webpage, you can manually open a new tab in your browser before you present, or use Alt+Tab to switch between windows.

Do links work if I save my presentation as a PDF?

Yes, but only if you export to PDF from PowerPoint using File > Export As > PDF. Links are preserved in the PDF file. If you straightforward print to PDF or use a different method, links may not work.

Can I link to a specific part of a webpage, like a heading halfway down the page?

PowerPoint does not support anchor links (URLs that jump to a specific section of a page). You can only link to the top of a webpage. If you need to direct your audience to a specific section, you can link to the page and then manually scroll to the section during your presentation.