HYPERLINK Function

The Excel HYPERLINK function creates a clickable link in a cell: to a web page, an email address, a file or another place in the workbook.

fx=HYPERLINK(link_location, [friendly_name])
PurposeCreate a clickable link
ReturnsLink text that opens the location when clicked
Available inAll Excel versions, Excel for the web, Google Sheets
link_location The address to open: a web URL, mailto: address, file path, or #Sheet!A1 for a place in the workbook.
friendly_name optional The text to show in the cell. Without it, the address is shown.

Basic example: web links

Build the address from the function name and show friendly text instead of the full URL:

=HYPERLINK("https://xlncad.com/functions/"&LOWER(B3)&"/",B3&" guide")
Excel HYPERLINK creating clickable links to function guide pages

The cell shows SUMIF guide, and clicking it opens xlncad.com/functions/sumif/. To select the cell without opening the link, click and hold until the pointer changes.

Email links

Start the address with mailto: to open a new email. Add ?subject= to fill in the subject line:

=HYPERLINK("mailto:"&C3&"?subject=Invoice "&B3,"Email")
Excel HYPERLINK creating email links with the invoice number in the subject

Clicking Email opens your mail app with the address filled in and the subject *Invoice INV-101*.

Links to sheets in the workbook

Start the address with # to link inside the workbook. Put the sheet name in single quotes if it contains spaces:

=HYPERLINK("#'"&B3&"'!A1","Open "&B3)
Excel HYPERLINK building a clickable index of sheets in the workbook

Each link jumps to cell A1 of the named sheet. Open 1 Web links takes you to the first sheet of the practice file. An index sheet like this makes big workbooks easy to navigate.

Kinds of link_location

Starts with Opens Example
https:// A web page "https://xlncad.com"
mailto: A new email "mailto:hi@xlncad.com"
# A place in this workbook "#Summary!A1"
A file path A file on your computer or network "C:\Reports\Q3.xlsx"

Notes

  • The result shows the friendly name. The link is only followed when you click it.
  • For links inside the workbook, the # is essential. Without it, Excel looks for a file.
  • Links built with HYPERLINK update when the cells they use change, unlike links added with Insert → Link.
  • The cell isn’t styled as a link automatically. Format it blue and underlined, or use the Hyperlink cell style.

Common errors

Problem Cause Fix
“Cannot open the specified file” Missing # for an internal link, or a wrong path Add #, and check the sheet name or path
Link to a sheet doesn’t work Sheet name with spaces not in single quotes Use "#'Sheet name'!A1"
Can’t select the cell Clicking follows the link Click and hold, or use the arrow keys

Practice file

All three examples, including a working sheet index.

Download .xlsx

Related

Functions