Lookup function
Excel HYPERLINK function
HYPERLINK turns a cell into a clickable link. The first argument is where it goes: a web address, a mailto: email link or a place in the workbook. The second is the text the cell shows. Build both from your data and one formula filled down gives every row its own link.
=HYPERLINK(link_location, [friendly_name])Arguments
link_location- Where the link goes, as text: "https://...", "mailto:...", or "#Sheet2!A1" for a cell in this workbook.
friendly_name- Optional. The text shown in the cell, which is also the cell’s value. Leave it out to show the address itself.
HYPERLINK examples
Every result below was calculated from this sample sheet by the same spreadsheet engine the Cellwise app uses.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order | Customer | |
| 2 | SO-1041 | Harbor Cafe | [email protected] |
| 3 | SO-1042 | Pine & Co | [email protected] |
| 4 | SO-1043 | Ashby Deli | [email protected] |
Download this sheet as an Excel practice file (.xlsx)
Result: Open SO-1041
The cell shows Open SO-1041 and opens the order page for SO-1041 when clicked. Fill it down and each row links to its own order.
Result: Email Pine & Co
A mailto: link starts a new email to [email protected]. The cell shows Email Pine & Co.
Result: Back to summary
A # in front points inside the workbook: this link jumps to cell A1 of the Summary sheet.
Result: https://example.com
With no friendly_name, the cell shows the address itself.
How to use HYPERLINK
- Click the cell for the link.
- Type =HYPERLINK( and the address in quotes, or a formula that builds it.
- Type a comma and the text to show, then close the bracket.
- Press Enter. Click the link to follow it; to select the cell without following it, click and hold until the pointer changes.
Common HYPERLINK mistakes
Leaving out https://
Without the scheme, Excel may treat the address as a file path and report that it cannot open it. Start web links with https://.
Spaces in a sheet name
Quote the sheet name inside the link: =HYPERLINK("#'Q1 Sales'!A1","Q1").
Treating the link text as the URL
The cell’s value is the friendly name, so another formula that reads the cell gets "Open SO-1041", not the address. Keep the address in its own cell if you need it elsewhere.
HYPERLINK FAQ
How do I link to another sheet in Excel?
Use =HYPERLINK("#Sheet2!A1","Go to Sheet2"). The # tells Excel the target is in the same workbook.
How do I create an email link in Excel?
Use =HYPERLINK("mailto:"&C2,"Email") where C2 holds the address. You can add a subject with "?subject=" after the address.
How do I show friendly text instead of the URL?
Put the text you want as the second argument: =HYPERLINK(B2,"Product page"). Without it, the cell shows the full address.
Guides that use HYPERLINK
Related functions
Updated