Word link image with text

In this topic

• Create an automatic hyperlink

• Link to a web page, file, or blank email

  • Link to a web page

  • Link to a file

  • Link to a new email message

• Link to a location within a document

  • Add a bookmark

• Insert a screen tip

• Change the link text color

  • Customize the link text color

• Remove a hyperlink

• Turn off automatic formatting for links

Create an automatic hyperlink

Word can create a hyperlink automatically as you type. In your document, type a web address (URL) like www.contoso.com or an email address like someone@example.com, and then press Spacebar or Enter. Word changes the text to a hyperlink.

Tip: If you don’t want the web or email address you typed to be a hyperlink, immediately after pressing Spacebar or Enter, undo the last action by pressing Ctrl+Z. You hear: “Undo.” 

Link to a web page, file, or blank email

In Word, you can create links that point to a web page, file, or a new email. Almost every element in Word can be turned into a link: a piece of text, picture, shape, screenshot, SmartArt, or an icon.

Link to a location within a document

You can link to the predefined headings or bookmarks within your document.

For instructions on how to apply the built-in heading styles to your document, refer to the section «Use headings» in Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word.

1. Place the cursor where you want the link in your document.

2. Press Ctrl+K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

3. Press Alt+A to open the Select a place in this document tab. The focus is on the list which contains the headings and bookmarks that you can link to in your current document.

4. Press the Down arrow key to move down in the list. When you reach the link target you want, press Enter to select it and insert the link.

   The Insert Hyperlink dialog box closes and the cursor is placed after the inserted link.

Insert a screen tip

With screen tips you can provide more information on the hyperlinks in your document. For example, if you’ve added a link to a picture, you can type the hyperlink text to a screen tip and tell your reader where the link will take them.

You can add a screen tip when you’re creating a new link or to an existing hyperlink.

1. Do one of the following:

   • If you’re creating a new link, place the cursor where you want the link and screen tip in your document.

   • If you want to add a screen tip to an existing link, select the link or place the cursor within the link text.

2. Press Ctrl+K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

3. Press Alt+P to open the Set Hyperlink ScreenTip dialog box. The focus is on the ScreenTip text text field.

4. Type the text that you want to appear as the screen tip.

5. To add the screen tip to the hyperlink, press Enter. The focus returns to the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

6. If this is a new link that you’re creating, create the rest of the link as instructed in Link to a web page, file, or blank email. Otherwise, move to the next step.

7. To apply the changes you made, press the Tab key until you hear «OK button,» and then press Enter.

Change the link text color

To change the link text color throughout your document, you can use the Word themes. You can also customize the link theme color to make it more accessible, for example.

1. To open the Themes menu, press Alt+G, T, H.

2. Use the arrow keys to browse the available themes. Press Enter to select and apply a theme to your document. A unified color and font is applied to the hyperlink texts.

Remove a hyperlink

Sometimes you change your mind. Here’s how to remove a hyperlink from a document without removing the text itself:

1. Open the document, and then select the hyperlinked text.

2. To open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, press Ctrl+K.

3. To remove the selected hyperlink, press Alt+R. The Insert Hyperlink dialog box closes, and the hyperlink is removed from the selected text.

Turn off automatic formatting for links  

You can prevent Word from automatically creating a link when you type a web address.

1. Press Alt+F, T to open the Word Options window, press the Down arrow key until you hear «Proofing,» and then press Alt+A to open the AutoCorrect options window.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear the currently selected tab, and then use the arrow keys to navigate to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear «Internet and network paths with hyperlinks, checkbox checked,» press Spacebar to clear the checkbox, and then press Enter.

4. To exit the Word Options window, press Esc.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to share a document in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

In this topic

• Create an automatic hyperlink

• Link to a web page, file, or blank email message

  • Link to a web page

  • Link to a file

  • Link to a new email message

• Link to another location in the current document

  • Create a bookmark

• Insert a screen tip

• Change the link text color

• Remove a hyperlink

• Turn off automatic formatting for links

Create an automatic hyperlink

Word can create a hyperlink automatically as you type. Type a web address (URL) like www.contoso.com or an email address like someone@example.com, and then press Spacebar or Return. Word changes the text to a hyperlink.

Tip: If you don’t want the web or email address you typed to be a hyperlink, immediately after pressing Spacebar or Return, undo the last action by pressing Command+Z. You hear: «Undo autoformat.»

Link to a web page, file, or blank email message

In Word, you can create links that point to a web page, file, or a new email. Almost every element in Word can be turned into a link: a piece of text, picture, shape, screenshot, SmartArt, or an icon.

Link to another location in the current document

You can link to the predefined headings or bookmarks within your document.

For instructions on how to apply the built-in heading styles to your document, refer to Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word.

1. Place the cursor where you want the link to the bookmark in your document.

2. Press Command+K. The Insert Hyperlink dialog box opens.

3. Press Control+Option+Left arrow key until you hear «This document, tab,» and then press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

4. Press Control+Option+Right arrow key until you hear «Select a place in this document, table,» and then press Control+Option+Shift+Down arrow key.

   To browse the list of the available link targets, such as Headings and Bookmarks, use the Control+Option+Up or Down arrow key. To expand an item, press the Right arrow key. The names are announced as you move.

5. After you have navigated to the bookmark or heading you want to select, press Control+Option+Shift+Up arrow key to close the table.

6. To change the link text, press the Tab key until you hear the current heading or bookmark text, followed by “Text to display, edit text.” Type the link text you want to display in your document.

7. To insert the link, press Return. The dialog box is closed and the hyperlink is inserted.

Insert a screen tip

With screen tips you can provide more information on the hyperlinks in your document. For example, if you’ve added a link to a picture, you can type the hyperlink text to a screen tip and tell your reader where the link will take them.

You can add a screen tip when you’re creating a new link or to an existing hyperlink.

1. Do one of the following:

   • If you’re creating a new link, place the cursor where you want the link and screen tip in your document.

   • If you want to add a screen tip to an existing link, select the link or place the cursor within the link text.

2. Press Command+K to open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

3. Press Control+Option+Right or Left arrow key until you hear «Screen tip button,» and press Control+Option+Spacebar. The Set Hyperlink ScreenTip dialog box opens. The focus is on the ScreenTip text field.

4. Type the text that you want to appear as the screen tip.

5. To add the screen tip to the hyperlink, press Return. The focus returns to the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.

6. If this is a new link that you’re creating, create the rest of the link as instructed in Link to a web page, file, or blank email message. Otherwise, move to the next step.

7. To apply the changes you made, press Return. The dialog box closes and the focus returns to the document body.

Change the link text color

To change the link text color throughout your document, you can use the Word themes.

1. Press F6 until you hear the currently selected tab.

2. Press Control+Option+Right or Left arrow key until you hear: «Design tab.» Press Control+Option+Spacebar to select it.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear «Themes, menu button,» and press Control+Option+Spacebar to expand the Themes menu item.

4. Use the arrow keys to browse the available themes. Press Return to select and apply a theme to your document. A unified color and font is applied to the hyperlink texts.

Remove a hyperlink

Sometimes you change your mind. Here’s how to remove a hyperlink from a document without removing the text itself:

1. In the document, select the hyperlink you want to remove.

2. To open the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, press Command+K.

3. Press Control+Option+Right or Left arrow key until you hear «Remove link button,» and then press Control+Option+Spacebar.

4. The Insert Hyperlink dialog box closes, and the hyperlink is removed from the text. The text itself remains intact and its style is changed to Normal.

Turn off automatic formatting for links

You can prevent Word from automatically creating a link when you type a web address.

1. Press Command+Comma (,) to open the Word Preferences window, press the Tab key until you hear «Autocorrect button,» and then press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

2. Press the Tab key until you hear the currently selected tab, use the Right or Left arrow key to go to the AutoFormat As you Type tab, and then press Control+Option+Spacebar to select.

3. Press the Tab key until you hear «Internet and network paths with hyperlinks,» and press Control+Option+Spacebar to clear the checkbox.

4. To go back to your document, press the Tab key until you hear «Back button,» press Control+Option+Spacebar, and then press Esc.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to check spelling and grammar in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

In this section

• Create a quick hyperlink

• Link to a web page

Create a quick hyperlink

Word for iOS creates hyperlinks automatically as you type.

1. In your document, navigate to the place where you want to insert the hyperlink.

2. Use the on-screen keyboard to type a web address (URL) like www.contoso.com or an email address like someone@example.com, and then type a space or create a new line. Word for iOS changes the text to a hyperlink, and VoiceOver announces the URL or email address.

Tip: If you select the Delete button on the on-screen keyboard twice after the hyperlink was created, the whole hyperlink is removed.

Note: If you want to create a link to a file, you have to use the desktop version of Word.

Link to a web page

You can write the link text yourself instead of using the web address (URL) as link text.

1. In the Editing view, navigate to the place where you want to insert the hyperlink.

2. To go to the ribbon, swipe left until you hear «Show ribbon, button,» and double-tap the screen. The Home tab opens, and you hear: «Home tab.»

3. Double-tap the screen. The tab menu opens. Swipe right until you hear «Insert tab,» and then double-tap the screen. You hear: «Insert tab.»

4. Swipe right until you hear “Insert hyperlink button,” and then double-tap the screen. The Insert Link dialog box opens, the focus is on the Address field, and the on-screen keyboard is displayed.

5. Type the web address of the destination site, and then slide one finger near the lower-right corner of the on-screen keyboard until you hear “Done,” and double-tap the screen.

6. Swipe right until you hear «Display,» followed by the web address you typed, and then double-tap the screen. You hear: «Display, text field.»

7. Delete the web address from the Display text field, and enter the link text that you want to display in your document. Slide one finger near the lower-right corner of the on-screen keyboard until you hear “Done,” and then double-tap the screen.

   Tip: The link text should describe the link destination. For example, the title of a destination web page makes good link text. When people link to that page, screen readers read the title of the page first. This confirms the destination and makes the link a more accessible experience.

8. Swipe left until you hear “Done button,” and then double-tap the screen. 

The hyperlink is added, and the focus returns to the document body.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to share a document in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

In this topic

• Create a quick hyperlink

• Link to a web page

• Remove a hyperlink

Create a quick hyperlink

Word for Android creates hyperlinks automatically as you type.

1. In your document, navigate to the place where you want to insert the hyperlink.

2. Use the on-screen keyboard to type a web address (URL) like www.contoso.com or an email address like someone@example.com, and then type a space or create a new line. Word changes the text to a hyperlink.

Tip: If you don’t want the web or email address you typed to be a hyperlink, select the Delete button on the on-screen keyboard immediately after the automatic link was created.

Note: If you want to create a link to a file, you have to use the desktop version of Word.

Link to a web page

You can write the link text yourself instead of using the web address (URL) as link text.

1. In your document, navigate to the place where you want to insert the hyperlink.

2. To go to the ribbon, swipe left until you hear «More options, button,» and then double-tap the screen. The Home tab opens, and you hear: «Tab menu, home selected.»

3. Double-tap the screen. The tab menu opens. Swipe right until you hear «Insert tab,» and then double-tap the screen. The Insert tab opens.

4. Swipe right until you hear “Link menu,” and then double-tap the screen. You hear: «Link.»

5. Swipe right until you hear «Insert link button,» and then double-tap the screen. The Link dialog box opens, the focus is on the Text to display field, and the on-screen keyboard is displayed.

6. Type the link text you want to display in your document.

   Tip: The link text should describe the link destination. For example, the title of a destination web page makes good link text. When people link to that page, screen readers read the title of the page first. This confirms the destination and makes the link a more accessible experience.

7. Swipe right until you hear: “Edit box for address.” Double-tap the screen and then type the web address of the destination site.

8. Swipe left until you hear «Insert button,» and then double-tap the screen. 

The hyperlink is added, and the focus returns to the document body.

Remove a hyperlink

Sometimes you change your mind. Here’s how to remove a hyperlink from a document without removing the text itself:

1. Select the hyperlink.

2. Swipe up-then-right. You hear: «Local context menu, Actions.»

3. Double-tap the screen. You hear: “Actions, Launch context menu.”

4. Double-tap the screen. You hear: “Back button.”

5. Swipe right until you hear “Remove link button,” and then double tap the screen.

The hyperlink is removed from the selected text.

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to share a document in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Set up your device to work with accessibility in Microsoft 365

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word

In this topic

• Create a quick hyperlink

• Link to a web page

• Remove a hyperlink

Create a quick hyperlink

Word for the web can create a hyperlink automatically as you type. In your document, type a web address (URL) like www.contoso.com or an email address like someone@example.com, and then press Spacebar or Enter. Word changes the text to a hyperlink.

Tip: If you don’t want the web or email address you typed to be a hyperlink, immediately after pressing Spacebar or Enter, undo the last action by pressing Ctrl+Z. 

Link to a web page

You can write the link text yourself instead of using the web address (URL) as link text.

Tip: Link text should describe the link destination. For example, the title of a destination web page makes good link text. When people link to that page, screen readers read the title of the page first. This confirms the destination and makes the link a more accessible experience. For more information about writing accessible documents, refer to Make your Word documents accessible to people with disabilities.

1. Place the cursor where you want the link in your document.

2. Press Ctrl+K to open the Link dialog box. The focus is on the Address field.

3. Type the web address of the destination site.

4. Press the Tab key until you hear «Display text,» and type the link text you want to use.

5. Press the Tab key until you hear «Insert button,» and then press Enter.

   The Link dialog box closes, and Word inserts the hyperlink in your document.

Note: If you want to create a link to a file or to a location within the current document, you have to use the desktop version of Word.

Remove a hyperlink

Sometimes you change your mind. Here’s how to remove a hyperlink without removing the text itself:

1. In your document, navigate to the hyperlinked text.

2. Press Ctrl+K to open the Link dialog box. The focus is on the Address field, and the address is selected.

3. Press Backspace to remove the hyperlink. With NVDA, you hear: «Unselected.» With Narrator and JAWS, there’s no audio feedback at this point.

4. Press the Tab key until you hear «OK button,» and then press Enter.

   The Link dialog box closes, and the hyperlink is removed from the selected text. 

See also

Use a screen reader to insert and change text in Word

Use a screen reader to share a document in Word

Keyboard shortcuts in Word

Basic tasks using a screen reader with Word

Use a screen reader to explore and navigate Word