Excel HYPERLINK Function: clickable links from a formula

HYPERLINK makes a clickable link, built from other cells. Change the cell and the link changes.

The formula

=HYPERLINK(link_location, [friendly_name])

A website link built from an ID

=HYPERLINK("https://shop.example.com/order/"&A2,"Open order")

Each row links to its own order page and shows “Open order”.

An email link

=HYPERLINK("mailto:"&B2&"?subject=Invoice "&A2,"Email")

Click to open a new email with the address and subject filled in.

Jump to another sheet

=HYPERLINK("#'Sales 2026'!A1","Go to Sales")

The # means “in this workbook”. Great for a contents page at the front of a big file.

A file on your computer or network

=HYPERLINK("C:\Invoices\"&A2&".pdf","Open PDF")

Without a formula

Select a cell › Ctrl+K › paste the address. Fine for one link; the formula wins for hundreds.

Select a link cell without opening it

Click and hold for a second until the cursor becomes a plus, or use the arrow keys.

Get the address out of existing links

Excel 365: =HYPERLINK can’t read them, but right-click › Edit Hyperlink shows it. For many, a short macro is easiest — see write a macro.