An Excel cell can hold only one hyperlink, and the link always covers the whole cell, so you can’t make just one word clickable the way you can in Word. You can still show any text you like with the link. Select the cell, press Ctrl + K, type the sentence you want in Text to display and the web address in Address. Or use the HYPERLINK function to build the text from other cells, for example =HYPERLINK(B2, "Read the "&A2&" report").
Applies to: Excel for Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows and Mac, and Excel for the web. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Method 1: Insert a link with your own text
- Select the cell.
- Press Ctrl + K (Command + K on a Mac), or right-click and choose Link.
- In Text to display, type the full text for the cell, such as Download the 2026 price list.
- In Address, paste the web address.
- Optionally select ScreenTip to add a note that appears when someone hovers over the link.
- Select OK.
The whole cell becomes a blue, underlined link. To select the cell without opening the link, click and hold until the pointer changes to a plus sign, or select a neighboring cell and use the arrow keys.
Method 2: Use the HYPERLINK function
The function lets you mix fixed text with values from other cells, and update many links at once.
The syntax is =HYPERLINK(link_location, [friendly_name]), where link_location is the address and friendly_name is the text shown in the cell.
Examples
- Fixed text:
=HYPERLINK("https://www.example.com/prices", "See current prices") - Text from other cells:
=HYPERLINK(B2, "Order "&A2&" tracking page"), where A2 has an order number and B2 a URL. - An email link:
=HYPERLINK("mailto:"&C2, "Email "&D2) - A link to another sheet:
=HYPERLINK("#'Summary'!A1", "Go to the summary")
Copy the formula down a column to create a link in every row. The # tells Excel the link is inside the workbook; see how to reference a tab name in Excel for building sheet names into formulas.
Method 3: Make only part of the text look like a link
Because Excel can’t link part of a cell, split the text across cells.
- Put the plain text in one cell, such as A2: For details, see.
- Put the link in the next cell, B2:
=HYPERLINK("https://www.example.com/terms", "our terms"). - Remove the border between the cells, and right-align A2 if needed, so they read as one sentence.
Only “our terms” is clickable, which looks the same as a partial link.
Method 4: Several links near each other
A cell can’t contain more than one link. For a row of links, put each in its own cell, or insert shapes or icons with Insert > Shapes or Insert > Icons, right-click each one, choose Link and enter its address. Shapes float over the sheet, which suits dashboards and menus.
Change or remove a link
- Edit: right-click the cell and choose Edit Link. For a HYPERLINK formula, edit the formula in the formula bar.
- Remove the link but keep the text: right-click and choose Remove Link.
- Stop Excel turning addresses into links as you type: select File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type and clear Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
Troubleshooting
The HYPERLINK formula shows the text but doesn’t open anything
Check that the address starts with https://, and that the formula uses straight quotation marks. Text copied from websites sometimes has curly quotes that Excel doesn’t accept.
“Cannot open the specified file”
The link points to a file that moved, or to a path the other person can’t reach. Store linked files in a shared OneDrive folder and use their sharing links instead; see how to share an Excel file as a link.
The link text isn’t blue or underlined
Links made with the HYPERLINK function keep the cell’s formatting. Apply the Hyperlink style from Home > Cell Styles, or format it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hyperlink part of a cell in Excel for the web?
No. Excel for the web has the same one-link-per-cell rule.
Do links work after I save as PDF?
Usually yes. Links made with Ctrl + K and the HYPERLINK function stay clickable in PDFs created with File > Save As > PDF.
Related: how to link a PDF in Excel.
Related: turn a word into a link.
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.