The hyperlink shortcut in Excel is Ctrl + K. Select a cell, press it, and the Insert Hyperlink box opens; paste a web address, choose a file, or pick Place in This Document to link to another sheet. Click OK and the cell text turns into a clickable link.
To remove links, select the cells and press Alt, then H, then E, then R, which removes hyperlinks while keeping the text. If Excel turns a typed web address into a link you did not want, press Ctrl + Z straight away.
Quick facts
Insert hyperlink
Ctrl + KRemove hyperlinks
Alt, then H, then E, then RUndo auto link
Ctrl + ZEdit link
Select the cell, Ctrl + KOpen link
Click the cellMac
Command + K
Hyperlink shortcut in Excel: link types
| Choice in the box | Use |
|---|---|
| Existing File or Web Page | A website or a file on the computer or network |
| Place in This Document | Another sheet or a named cell in the same workbook |
| Create New Document | A new file created and linked at once |
| E-mail Address | Opens a new email to that address |
The Text to display box lets you show a friendly label, such as Invoice folder, instead of a long address. ScreenTip adds a hover note, useful for shared workbooks.
Shortcut to remove hyperlink in Excel
Pick one cell, a block of cells, or everything via Ctrl + A, then press Alt, then H, then E, then R for Remove Hyperlinks. The text stays and the blue underline goes. Remove Hyperlinks keeps the formatting; Clear Hyperlinks (Alt, then H, then E, then L) removes the link but leaves the blue style. The right click menu on a single cell also has Remove Hyperlink. Data pasted from websites often brings dozens of links, and this clears them in one go.
Stop Excel creating links automatically
- Open File, Options, Proofing, then AutoCorrect Options.
- Go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
- Untick Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
- Click OK. Typed web and email addresses now stay plain text.
This setting is shared with Word and Outlook on some versions. For a one off, Ctrl + Z after the link appears is enough.
The HYPERLINK function and index sheets
Give a target cell a name first by typing it in the Name Box left of the formula bar, such as Summary. Then =HYPERLINK("#Summary","Go to summary") creates a link to it; the # tells Excel the target is inside the workbook, and named targets keep working even if the sheet is renamed. Web links use the full address, such as =HYPERLINK(B2,"Open") where B2 holds a URL. An index sheet with one link per sheet makes large workbooks easy to move around, and links update when you copy the formula down a list. Moving between sheets by keyboard alone is explained in switch sheets in Excel.
When links do not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Link opens nothing | The file moved or was renamed; edit it with Ctrl + K |
| Cannot select a linked cell | Click and hold until the pointer changes, or use arrow keys |
| Security warning on click | Excel protects against unknown files; open only trusted ones |
| Link to sheet broken after rename | Text formulas do not update; edit the HYPERLINK address |
Frequently asked questions
What is the hyperlink shortcut in Excel?
What is the shortcut to remove hyperlink in Excel?
How do I remove all hyperlinks from a sheet?
Press Ctrl + A, then Alt, then H, then E, then R.
How do I stop Excel creating links?
Turn off Internet and network paths with hyperlinks in AutoCorrect Options.
How do I link to another sheet?
Ctrl + K, Place in This Document, choose the sheet.