Accessible Links

Accessible links use descriptive hyperlink text in place of bare URLs. Write links to ensure they are unique and descriptive and use the Insert Hyperlink tool. Use PowerPoint’s default link styling of dark cyan (for light slide backgrounds) and underlined text.

Who benefits from accessible links

Effective link text helps readers locate links and understand their destination and purpose. For users of assistive technology hyperlink text can be used to navigate content efficiently. Bare URLs or links written as “click here” or “read more” provide less information to everyone and are not useful to assistive technology users for navigation.

Consider the following demonstration comparing screen reader software reading bare URLS, informative hyperlinks, and useless hyperlinks.

How to ensure links are accessible

To create accessible hyperlinks:

1. Write a brief description of the link destination.
2. Highlight the text to be linked.
   1. In the Mini Toolbar, select Link.
      
      Or right-click and select Link.
      
      Or move to the Insert tab and select Link.
      
      Or press Control (Command on macOS) k.
3. In the Insert Hyperlink window, paste the destination URL in the Address: field.
   
   Verify the Text to display field is descriptive text.
4. Select Ok.

Double Check

PowerPoint’s Check Accessibility tool does not check for accessible links. Review slides for bare URLs and replace with hyperlinked descriptive text.

In instances where slides are to be printed or distributed only in physical format, use a link shortener like bit.ly or TinyURL to display a more consumable URL.

Read more about accessible links in the Accessibility Handbook for Teaching and Learning.