How to Add Hyperlinks in PowerPoint 2016

Edited 5 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Creating dynamic presentations can significantly increase the effectiveness of your communications. One of the features you can use to improve your PowerPoint 2016 presentations is hyperlinks. Hyperlinks can link your audience to additional information, such as web pages, other slides within your presentation, or even documents. This guide will explore various ways to add hyperlinks in PowerPoint 2016, allowing you to make your presentations interactive and resourceful.

Understanding hyperlinks

Hyperlinks are clickable links that take the user from one place to another. They are commonly used in documents and presentations to link to additional information, web pages, or specific sections within the same document. In PowerPoint 2016, hyperlinks can be added to text, shapes, and images.

Types of hyperlinks in PowerPoint

In PowerPoint 2016, you can create different types of hyperlinks:

• Links to web pages: You can link text or an object to a website or a specific page on the Internet using a URL.
• Link to another slide: Within the same presentation, you can link to another slide, which is useful for creating a table of contents or navigation menus.
• Link to email address: You can link text to open an email application with a predefined address.
• Links to other documents: You can also create hyperlinks that point to other documents or files on your computer.
• Links to new documents: Create a new document or presentation from within your current presentation and add a hyperlink to it.

Steps to add a hyperlink

Linking to a web page

Linking to a web page is very easy. Follow these steps:

1. Select the text or object that you want to turn into a hyperlink.
2. Right-click the selected text or object.
3. Select Link or Hyperlink from the context menu.
4. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, on the left panel, select Existing file or web page.
5. In the Address field, enter the URL of the web page you want to link to.
6. Click OK to create the hyperlink.

Link to another slide

To link to another slide in the same presentation:

1. Select the text or object that you want to turn into a hyperlink.
2. Right-click the selected text or object.
3. Select Link or Hyperlink.
4. In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, choose Place in This Document on the left panel.
5. You will see a list of slides. Select the slide you want to link.
6. Click OK to create the hyperlink.

Link to an email address

If you want to create a hyperlink that opens the email application:

1. Select the text or object for the hyperlink.
2. Right-click and choose Link or Hyperlink.
3. In the dialog box, select E-mail Address from the left list.
4. In the E-mail address field, enter the desired e-mail address.
5. You can also add subjects under the Subject field if you want.
6. Click OK to create the hyperlink.

Linking to other documents

For hyperlinks to other documents:

1. Select the text or object to which you want to add a hyperlink.
2. Right-click and choose Link or Hyperlink.
3. Select Existing File or Web Page from the left panel of the dialog box.
4. Access the file you want to link by browsing your folders.
5. Select the file and click OK.

Link to a new document

If you want to create a hyperlink that generates a new document:

1. Select the text or object for the hyperlink.
2. Choose Link or Hyperlink from the right-click menu.
3. Select Create New Document from the left panel.
4. Enter a name for your new document in the New Document Name field.
5. Specify the path to your new document.
6. Choose whether you want to edit the new document later or immediately.
7. Click OK to set up the hyperlink.

Edit or remove a hyperlink

Editing a hyperlink

If you need to change a hyperlink:

1. Right-click the hyperlink text or object.
2. Select Edit Link from the context menu.
3. Make the necessary changes in the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.
4. Click OK to apply the changes.

Removing a hyperlink

To remove a hyperlink:

1. Right-click the hyperlink text or object.
2. Select Remove Link from the context menu.

Using action buttons for hyperlinks

PowerPoint also offers the use of action buttons that act as hyperlinks. These are pre-designed arrow buttons, back or forward buttons, etc., that can be added to your slides for navigation:

1. Go to the Insert tab in the ribbon.
2. Click Shapes.
3. At the bottom of the Shapes menu, choose an action button from the Action Buttons section.
4. Create a button on your slide.
5. The action settings menu will open automatically. Here, you can set the action to Hyperlink To and choose your destination, such as another slide, URL, etc.
6. Click OK to set the action.

Practical tips for using hyperlinks

Although hyperlinks enhance presentations, there are a few things to consider in order to use them effectively:

• Make sure hyperlinks are relevant and necessary. Filling your presentation with links can confuse your audience.
• Test all hyperlinks before submitting to ensure compatibility and correct URL.
• Use consistent styles for hyperlinks (such as underlining or color changes) so viewers know they are clickable.
• When hyperlinking to a website, make sure you have an Internet connection available, or consider downloading the necessary pages for offline access.
• If you're linking to local files, be aware of where the documents are stored, especially if they're presented on another computer.

Conclusion

Learning how to use hyperlinks effectively in PowerPoint 2016 can greatly enhance the functionality and engagement of your presentations. Whether linking to web pages, documents, or individual slides, hyperlinks enable you to provide a more interactive and informative presentation experience. By understanding how to work with the various linkage options available, you can not only present information more efficiently, but also guide your audience to delve deeper into topics of interest, making your presentations more robust and versatile.

Incorporating hyperlinks into your PowerPoint presentation involves following simple steps and being mindful of how they enhance your story. Implementing them thoughtfully can make your work not only informative, but also interactive and entertaining for the audience.

Keep in mind that practice and experimentation will improve your skills in using hyperlinks effectively. Constantly explore different features to find the ones that work best for your presentation style and goals. Use hyperlinks judiciously and strategically to ensure that they add value rather than complicate the user experience.

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