[Excel Shortcut] Insert Hyperlink Fast (Windows & Mac)

Written by Kasper Langmann

Hyperlinks are an essential part of any spreadsheet. They allow you to connect your data to other worksheets, documents, and even websites, making your work more interactive and comprehensive. In Excel, inserting hyperlinks can be done in a few clicks, but knowing the shortcut can save you a significant amount of time, especially if you’re working with a large dataset. In this guide, we will explore how to quickly insert hyperlinks in Excel on both Windows and Mac platforms.

Excel Shortcut for Inserting Hyperlinks

The Excel shortcut for inserting a hyperlink is CTRL + K for Windows and Command + K for Mac. This shortcut opens the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box, where you can specify the link and the text to display. This shortcut is universal and works in all versions of Excel.

Using keyboard shortcuts in Excel not only speeds up your work but also reduces the risk of errors. It’s a good practice to familiarize yourself with the most common Excel shortcuts to improve your efficiency and productivity.

Steps to Insert a Hyperlink Using Shortcut

Here are the steps to insert a hyperlink in Excel using the keyboard shortcut:

  1. Select the cell where you want to insert the hyperlink.
  2. Press CTRL + K (Windows) or Command + K (Mac) to open the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box.
  3. In the ‘Text to display’ field, enter the text that you want to appear in the cell.
  4. In the ‘Address’ field, enter the URL or select the file or location you want to link to.
  5. Click OK or press Enter to insert the hyperlink.

These steps are the same for both Windows and Mac, with the only difference being the keyboard shortcut.

Inserting Hyperlinks to Other Worksheets or Workbooks

Excel allows you to create hyperlinks not only to web pages but also to other locations in the same worksheet, different worksheets, or even different workbooks. This feature is particularly useful when you’re working with large datasets and want to create a navigation system within your workbook.

When creating a hyperlink to another location in your workbook, you need to specify the cell reference in the ‘Address’ field of the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box. You can also select the location directly from the ‘Select a place in this document’ section.

Steps to Insert a Hyperlink to Another Worksheet

Here are the steps to create a hyperlink to another worksheet in the same workbook:

  1. Select the cell where you want to insert the hyperlink.
  2. Press CTRL + K (Windows) or Command + K (Mac) to open the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box.
  3. In the ‘Text to display’ field, enter the text that you want to appear in the cell.
  4. Under ‘Link to’, select ‘Place in This Document’.
  5. Select the worksheet and the cell you want to link to.
  6. Click OK or press Enter to insert the hyperlink.

These steps are the same for both Windows and Mac, with the only difference being the keyboard shortcut.

Inserting Hyperlinks to Email Addresses

Excel also allows you to create hyperlinks to email addresses. When clicked, these hyperlinks open your default email client with a new message addressed to the specified email address. This feature can be very useful if you’re creating a contact list or a task list with email reminders.

To create a hyperlink to an email address, you need to enter the email address in the ‘Address’ field of the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box, preceded by ‘mailto:’.

Steps to Insert a Hyperlink to an Email Address

Here are the steps to create a hyperlink to an email address in Excel:

  1. Select the cell where you want to insert the hyperlink.
  2. Press CTRL + K (Windows) or Command + K (Mac) to open the ‘Insert Hyperlink’ dialog box.
  3. In the ‘Text to display’ field, enter the text that you want to appear in the cell.
  4. In the ‘Address’ field, enter ‘mailto:’ followed by the email address you want to link to.
  5. Click OK or press Enter to insert the hyperlink.

These steps are the same for both Windows and Mac, with the only difference being the keyboard shortcut.

Conclusion

Knowing the Excel shortcut for inserting hyperlinks can save you a lot of time and make your work more efficient. Whether you’re linking to web pages, other locations in your workbook, or email addresses, the process is straightforward and quick with the CTRL + K (Windows) or Command + K (Mac) shortcut.

Remember, using keyboard shortcuts in Excel not only speeds up your work but also reduces the risk of errors. So, make it a habit to use shortcuts and increase your productivity in Excel.