How to Turn a Link Into a Hyperlink

In raw HTML

1. Open the HTML link generator

   Or write the anchor tag by hand if you're comfortable with HTML.

2. Paste your URL and type your link text

   The tool builds <a href="url">text</a> automatically.

3. Copy the code into your page

   Paste it into your HTML file, template, or CMS's code/HTML view.

In Gmail

1. Compose your email and highlight the text

   Select the words you want to become clickable.

2. Click the Insert Link icon (or press Ctrl+K / Cmd+K)

   It looks like a small chain-link icon in the Gmail formatting toolbar.

3. Paste the URL and click OK

   Your selected text is now a live, clickable hyperlink.

In Google Docs

1. Highlight your text

   Select the words you want to link.

2. Press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) or use Insert > Link

   A link popup appears above your selection.

3. Paste the URL and press Enter

   Google Docs applies the hyperlink and default link styling automatically.

In Microsoft Word

Select your text, press Ctrl+K, paste the address, and select Insert. Word has a couple of quirks worth knowing — like why some links need a Ctrl+Click to open, and the cleanest way to remove one without deleting your text — covered in the full Word hyperlink guide.

In WordPress

1. Highlight your text in the block editor

   Select the words you want to become a link.

2. Click the Link icon in the floating toolbar (or press Ctrl+K)

   A small input field appears.

3. Paste your URL and press Enter

   For advanced control — like adding rel="sponsored" or opening in a new tab — switch to the block's link settings, or use the HTML link generator and paste the code into the Custom HTML block.

More platforms

Some apps have enough of their own quirks to deserve a full guide instead of a few lines here: