How to Add a Hyperlink in a Google Doc

CTRL+K (Command+K on a Mac) is the fastest way, but you can use the toolbar, too

By
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
  • Shoreline Community College
Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles .
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Updated on July 6, 2022
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
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Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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What to Know

  • On the website: Select the text, click Insert Link on the toolbar, and then type or paste your link. 
  • In the app: Select the text, tap Insert Link, then type or paste your link. 
  • You can add hyperlinks to both websites and other Google Docs documents.

This article explains how to create hyperlinks in Google Docs in both the web app on desktop and the mobile app.

How to Add a Hyperlink in Google Docs on Desktop

Here’s how to hyperlink in Google Docs on the website:

  1. Open a document, and select the text you want to turn into a hyperlink.

    Text selected in a Google Doc

  2. Click the link icon on the toolbar.

    The Link icon highlighted in Google Docs

    You can also press Ctrl+K (Command+K on a Mac) or right-click the highlighted text and select Insert Link.

  3. Type or paste a URL, and click Apply.

    The insert link field and Apply highlighted in Google Docs

    You can also type the name of another Google Docs document and click the name in the search results. You can also click headings and bookmarks to link within the current document.

  4. The text is now a hyperlink.

    A hyperlink in Google Docs

How to Create a Hyperlink on the Google Docs Mobile App

Inserting a hyperlink in the Google Docs mobile app works the same on both iOS and Android. Here’s how to hyperlink in the Google Docs app:

  1. Open a document in editing mode.

  2. Tap the word you want to turn into a hyperlink.

  3. If you want to turn a phrase or sentence into a link, tap one of the blue bars and drag it until you have everything selected.

    A document in Google Docs editing mode, selecting and expanded link text highlighted

  4. Tap Insert Link.

    You will need to tap the > icon (iOS) or three vertical dots icon (Android) if you don't see the Insert Link option right away.


  5. Type or paste a URL, and tap the check mark.

    You can also type the name of a Google Docs document and click it in the search results, or click headings and bookmarks to link within the current document.

  6. Your text is now a hyperlink.

    Google Docs Insert Link, Checkmark for link

What Hyperlinks Work in Google Docs?

You can insert three types of hyperlinks in Google Docs: websites, links to other docs, and links to headings inside of the current document. These different types of hyperlinks are all created using the methods described above.

Website hyperlinks can be typed in directly when you create the hyperlink in a Google Docs document or copied from the address bar of your web browser. For example, if you wanted to hyperlink to this webpage from Google Docs, you could click the URL in the address bar and copy it, then follow the above instructions to insert it as a hyperlink.

Hyperlinks to Google Docs documents and links that lead to headings within the same document are added the same way as hyperlinks, but you need to type part of the name of the document that you want to link instead of pasting a URL. Linking within a document works the same way, but you need to click “headings and bookmarks” instead, then select one of the headings in your current document.

FAQ
  • How do I link to another part of a Google Doc?

    You can create a link that goes directly to a particular section of a Google Doc by setting a bookmark there. First, place the cursor where you want the link to lead, and then go to Insert > Bookmark. An icon will appear at that spot, and you can select Copy Link to get the URL. From there, you can either place it elsewhere in the document (like in a Table of Contents), or share it with someone else to send them directly to that spot.

  • How do I link one Google Doc to another?

    Click the Share button in the Doc you want to link to. At the bottom of the window, select Copy Link. Then, open the second Google Doc and set up a hyperlink. Note that everyone you want to see both items will need permission to read them.

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