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How to Use Hyperlinks and Action Buttons in PowerPoint

How to Use Hyperlinks and Action Buttons in PowerPoint

If you would like to link to an outside source within your PowerPoint presentation, you have the option of using a hyperlink or action button. These instructions are for Office 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007.

Hyperlink

In PowerPoint, you can create a hyperlink using any text within your presentation. When clicked on, a hyperlink can directly link to a specific slide within your presentation, a saved file, a web page, another PowerPoint presentation, or a custom email.
To insert a hyperlink into your presentation:

  1. Open the PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Highlight the text or object you would like to hyperlink.
  3. Right-click the highlighted text and select "Hyperlink..."
  4. From the "Link to:" side panel, choose the destination for your hyperlink.
    • For Existing File or Web Page, browse your computer to locate the file you wish to link to.
    • For Place in This Document, choose the slide you wish to link to.
    • For Create a New Document, type the name of your new PowerPoint presentation and choose when to edit the document.
    • For E-mail Addresses, enter the recipient(s) email address and the subject line of the email.
  5. Click [OK].
  6. To test the action button, start your PowerPoint slideshow (Click F5 on your keyboard) and click the text with the action button.
Note:

A PowerPoint hyperlink can link to a file on one of your drives (with the exception of your C: drive, which will not work in any circumstance) only if you are presenting the PowerPoint on campus. If you are off campus, you can use a path to any portable medium you have on hand (e.g. thumb drive, CD, etc.).

Action Button

In PowerPoint, you can create an action button using shapes, images, and text within your presentation. When activated, an action button can link to either a specific slide within your presentation, a web page, or another PowerPoint presentation. In addition, PowerPoint offers action buttons that play sounds when activated.
To insert an action button into your presentation:

  1. Open the PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Highlight the text or object you would like to hyperlink.
  3. Click the [Insert] tab > From the "Links" group, click [Action].
  4. Select the "Hyperlink to:" radio button > From the drop-down menu, choose where you would like the action button to link to when activated.
  5. Click [OK].
  6. To test the action button, start your PowerPoint slideshow (Click F5 on your keyboard) and click the text or image with the action button.

To insert an action button that plays a sound into your presentation:

  1. Open the PowerPoint presentation.
  2. Highlight the text or object you would like to play a sound when clicked on.
  3. Click the [Insert] tab > From the "Links" group, click [Action].
  4. If you would like the text or object to link to a slide, web page, or file and play a sound, select the "Hyperlink to:" radio button and choose a destination. If not, select the "None" radio button.
  5. Check the "Play sound:" box > From the drop-down menu, choose what sound you would like the action button to play when activated > Click [OK].
  6. To test the action button, start your PowerPoint slideshow (Click F5 on your keyboard) and click the text or object with the action button.
Note:

You can also create an action button that activates when you hover your mouse over the text or object (as opposed to clicking the action button). In the "Action Settings" dialog box, click the [Mouse Over] tab and choose where you would like the action button to link to.

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