How to Use HYPERLINK Formula in Excel
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In this tutorial, we will discuss the use of the HYPERLINK formula in excel. HYPERLINK can be used to put a navigation link in your cell. The navigation link can be directed to a cell, sheet, workbook file, website, or an email address.
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Table of Contents:
- HYPERLINK Usability
- Result
- The excel version from where the HYPERLINK formula can be used
- The writing method and inputs
- The usage example
- Writing options for the navigation destination input in HYPERLINK and their purposes
- Step-by-step writing
- Other ways to input links in your cell
- Exercise
- Additional note
HYPERLINK Usability
HYPERLINK formula is useful to create a navigation link in your cell. Links can make it easier to go to other workbooks/websites/places in your workbook or send emails from your sheet.Result
The result you get after you write a HYPERLINK formula is a navigation link in your cell.The Excel Version From Where the HYPERLINK Formula Can Be Used
HYPERLINK is there since Excel 2003.The Writing Method and Inputs
The way to write a HYPERLINK formula generally is as follows:
=HYPERLINK(link_location, friendly_name)
And here is a bit explanation of the inputs needed in this formula writing:
- link_location = the destination to where the navigation link from the HYPERLINK formula will head
- [friendly_name] = this input is optional, which is the input for the text that will represent your navigation link in the cell. If you don’t give input here, then HYPERLINK will show the navigation link inputted earlier as the text in your cell
The Usage Example
Here will be given and explained the usage example of the HYPERLINK formula and the result you get from it.
In the example, we can see how the HYPERLINK formula is used and the result we get from it. Input the navigation destination and the representative text correctly and you will get the link you need.
If you want to input an email sending link, then don’t forget to type “mailto:” before inputting the email address. Further explanation about the navigation destination input writing in HYPERLINK will be given completely in the next part of this tutorial.
Writing Options for the Navigation Destination Input in HYPERLINK and Their Purposes
In this part, we will give the examples of inputs you can give for the link_location/navigation destination of HYPERLINK. It will be explained too what is the distinct purpose of using each of them.| Navigation Destination Input Writing | Purpose |
|---|---|
| "#C3" | Go to cell C3 in the same sheet as to where your HYPERLINK formula is |
| "#Sheet1!C3" | Go to cell C3 in the sheet with the name “Sheet1” |
| “[another-workbook.xlsx]Sheet1!C3” | Go to sheet “Sheet1”, cell C3 in “another-workbook.xlsx” in the folder where the workbook file with your HYPERLINK is |
| "another-workbook.xlsx" | Go to the workbook file named “another-workbook.xlsx” in the same folder as the workbook file where your HYPERLINK is |
| “C:\Documents\another-workbook.xlsx” | Go to the workbook file named “another-workbook.xlsx” in the Documents folder inside the C folder |
| "https://computeexpert.com" | Go to a website with the address “https://computeexpert.com" |
| "mailto:compute.group@gmail.com" | Go to the email sending page with the sending destination: compute.group@gmail.com |
| “mailto:”&A1 | Go to the email sending page with the sending destination in the A1 cell |
After learning the possibilities of the navigation destination input writing, next we will learn the steps to write a HYPERLINK formula.
Step-by-step Writing
The following will explain in detail the steps to write a HYPERLINK formula in excel. Each step here will be accompanied with a relevant screenshot to help your understanding.-
Type an equal sign ( = ) in the cell where you want to put your navigation link, the result of the HYPERLINK formula
-
Type HYPERLINK (not case-sensitive) and an open bracket sign after =
-
Input the navigation link destination / the cell coordinate where this destination is written after the open bracket sign. If you want to type it directly, not using a cell coordinate, then don’t forget to type it between quotes signs (“”)
-
Optional: Type a comma sign ( , ) then input the representing text for your link. If you don’t give input in this part, then the representing text will be just as what your link destination is
-
Input a close bracket sign
- Press Enter
-
Done!
Other Ways to Input Links in Your Cell
Besides using HYPERLINK, you can also input a navigation link directly if the navigation destination is a website or email. Just type the website or email address in your cell and press enter. The navigation link will be automatically created by excel.
By using this method, the representing text in the cell will be the same as the website or email address. If you want to edit the text, then you must go to the Edit Hyperlink menu. Access the menu through the right-click on the cell where the link is.
Alternatively, you can also input a link by using the Hyperlink menu in excel. To access this menu, you can go to the Insert tab and choose the Link menu there. Another way is to right-click on your cell then choose Hyperlink. You can also use the Ctrl + K (Command + K on Mac) shortcut to access the menu.
Exercise
After learning how to use HYPERLINK, now let’s do this exercise to sharpen your understanding of it!Download the exercise file and do the instructions. Download the answer key file to check your answers if you have done them. Or just look at the file if you are confused when trying to do one of the instructions!
Link to the exercise file:
Download here
Instructions
- Make a link to navigate to the google website with “Google” word as the representative text in the cell!
- Make a link to move to the cell with the “Text” word in it on the second sheet!
- Make a link to go to your email sending page with your email address as the destination!
Link to the answer key file:
Download here
Additional Note
If you input a website as the destination, then input it with the “http://example.com" or “https://example.com" format. If not, then the result of your HYPERLINK will be invalid and the website navigation cannot be done through your link.Other relevant tutorials you should learn too:
