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How to Add a Link to Google Slides: A Comprehensive Guide

Adding links to your Google Slides presentation is like adding jet fuel to your message. It transforms a static show into an interactive experience, allowing you to effortlessly connect your audience to supporting data, external websites, or even other slides within the presentation. It’s a game-changer for engagement and information delivery.

Adding a link to your Google Slides is surprisingly straightforward. Here’s the breakdown:

Select the element you want to turn into a link. This could be text, an image, a shape – anything that can be clicked.
Right-click on the selected element.
In the context menu that appears, choose “Link”. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + K (Windows) or Cmd + K (Mac).
A dialogue box will appear. Here, you have a few options:
- “Paste a link or search”: This is where you paste the URL of the website you want to link to.
- “Slides in this presentation”: This allows you to link to a specific slide within your current presentation. This is incredibly useful for creating interactive navigation.
- “Headings and bookmarks”: Link to a heading, if you’ve set them within your slides.
Once you’ve selected your destination (either a URL or a slide), click “Apply”.

That’s it! Your element is now a clickable link. You’ll notice the text (if you linked text) becomes underlined and changes color, indicating it’s a hyperlink. When you present your Google Slides, simply click on the linked element to navigate to the specified destination.

Diving Deeper: Mastering the Art of Hyperlinking

While the basic process is simple, understanding the nuances of hyperlinking in Google Slides can significantly enhance your presentations. Let’s explore some advanced techniques.

Linking to Specific Parts of a Website

Sometimes, you don’t want to just link to the homepage of a website. You might need to send your audience directly to a specific article, section, or product page. Simply copy the specific URL from your browser’s address bar and paste it into the “Paste a link or search” field in Google Slides. This ensures your audience lands exactly where you intend them to be.

Creating Interactive Navigation Within Your Presentation

Linking to other slides within your presentation is a powerful way to create a non-linear narrative. Imagine a presentation where the audience can choose their own path based on their interests.

Select the element you want to use as a navigation button.
Right-click and select “Link.”
Choose “Slides in this presentation.”
Select the slide you want to link to.

You can create buttons like “Learn More,” “Case Studies,” or “Next Topic” that jump to specific slides, tailoring the presentation experience to the audience’s needs.

Using Images and Shapes as Links

Don’t limit yourself to just text! Images and shapes can also be powerful hyperlinks. Use them strategically to create visually appealing and intuitive navigation. For example, you could use a company logo to link to their website or an icon to link to a related resource. The process is exactly the same as linking text: select the image or shape, right-click, choose “Link,” and enter the destination.

Editing and Removing Links

Need to change a link or remove it entirely? No problem!

To Edit a Link: Right-click on the linked element and select “Edit link.” The link dialogue box will reappear, allowing you to change the destination URL or slide.
To Remove a Link: Right-click on the linked element and select “Remove link.” The element will no longer be a hyperlink.

Best Practices for Using Links in Presentations

Keep it clean: Avoid cluttering your slides with too many links. Only include links that are genuinely relevant and valuable to your audience.
Use descriptive text: If you’re linking text, use clear and concise wording that indicates where the link will lead. Avoid generic phrases like “Click here.” Instead, use phrases like “Learn more about our services” or “View the full report.”
Test your links: Always, always, always test your links before presenting. Nothing is more embarrassing than clicking on a broken link during a presentation.
Consider link shortening: If you’re using long, unwieldy URLs, consider using a link shortening service like Bitly or TinyURL. This will make your links more visually appealing and easier to share.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify how to add and manage links in Google Slides:

FAQ 1: Can I change the color of a hyperlink in Google Slides?

Yes, you can! However, Google Slides doesn’t offer a direct “change hyperlink color” option. You need to modify the overall theme. Go to “Slide” > “Edit theme.” In the theme editor, you can change the “Link” color, which will affect all hyperlinks in your presentation. Be aware that this change will apply to all hyperlinks in your presentation, so choose a color that works well across all slides.

FAQ 2: How do I open a link in a new tab?

Unfortunately, Google Slides doesn’t have a built-in option to force links to open in a new tab. The behavior is determined by the user’s browser settings. However, most modern browsers are configured to automatically open links in a new tab or window when clicked from a presentation. You can inform your audience to right-click and select “Open link in new tab” if they prefer.

FAQ 3: Can I link to a specific section within a Google Doc or Sheet?

Yes, you can, but it requires a bit of setup within the Google Doc or Sheet. You need to create a bookmark in the Doc or Sheet. Then, copy the link to the bookmark and paste that into your Google Slide. In Google Sheets, you can also use named ranges and link to the cell the named range points to.

FAQ 4: Can I track clicks on links in Google Slides?

No, Google Slides itself doesn’t offer built-in link tracking. To track clicks, you’ll need to use a link shortening service like Bitly that provides analytics, or integrate your presentation with a third-party analytics platform.

FAQ 5: Is there a limit to the number of links I can add to a Google Slide?

Technically, there’s no documented limit. However, adding too many links can make your slide cluttered and confusing. Focus on quality over quantity and only include essential links.

FAQ 6: How do I make sure my links work when I present offline?

Links to external websites will not work offline. However, links to other slides within the presentation will still function. Make sure your audience has internet access if you’re relying on external links.

FAQ 7: Can I link to a file stored in Google Drive?

Yes, you can. Share the file from Google Drive and get a shareable link. Then, paste that link into your Google Slide. Ensure that the sharing permissions are set correctly so that your audience can access the file.

FAQ 8: How do I create a “Back to Menu” button that works consistently across all slides?

The easiest way is to create a “master slide”. Go to “Slide” > “Edit master.” In the master slide view, add your “Back to Menu” button and link it to the appropriate slide (usually the first slide or a dedicated menu slide). This button will now appear on all slides that use that master slide layout.

FAQ 9: My links are not working in the presentation mode. What could be the problem?

First, double-check that the links are correctly entered and that they are active (not just plain text). Also, make sure you’re actually in presentation mode. In edit mode the links will not work. If you’re presenting on a different screen, ensure the mouse cursor is actively on that screen, as clicks might not register correctly otherwise. Browser extensions can sometimes interfere; try disabling extensions temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.

FAQ 10: Can I link to an email address?

Yes! Use the mailto: prefix followed by the email address (e.g., mailto:example@email.com). When someone clicks the link, it will open their default email client and pre-populate the “To” field with the specified email address.

FAQ 11: How do I link to a specific video timestamp on YouTube?

When you are on YouTube, underneath the video, click ‘Share’. Click ‘Start at’ and enter the time. Then copy the link and paste it in your slide.

FAQ 12: How do I make a thumbnail image clickable to link to an external website?

Simply insert your image, right-click on it, select ‘Link’, then paste the URL of the external website into the text box. This allows for a visually appealing call-to-action, making your presentation more interactive.