You have a photo in your PowerPoint presentation and you want viewers to click it to jump to another slide. By default, images do nothing when clicked during a slideshow. PowerPoint includes a hyperlink feature that lets you attach a link to any object, including pictures. This article explains how to make any photo clickable to another slide in the same presentation. It covers the setup process, common mistakes, and what to do when the link does not work.
Key Takeaways: Adding Clickable Photo Links in PowerPoint
- Insert > Link > Place in This Document: Select the image, open the link dialog, and choose the target slide from a list.
- Slide Show mode (F5): The hyperlink only works during a full-screen slideshow, not in Normal editing view.
- Action Settings > Mouse Click > Hyperlink to > Slide: An alternative method that also lets you specify a target slide number.
How Image Hyperlinks Work in PowerPoint
PowerPoint treats hyperlinks as an action attached to an object. When you select an image and insert a hyperlink, the link becomes part of that image. During a slideshow, clicking the image triggers the link. The link can point to a web page, an email address, a file on your computer, or another slide in the same presentation. For internal navigation, you use the Place in This Document option. No coding or macros are required. The feature works in PowerPoint for Microsoft 365, PowerPoint 2021, 2019, 2016, and PowerPoint for the web with some limitations.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure the image is already inserted on the slide. The target slide must exist in the same presentation. If you plan to use the link during a live presentation, test it in Slide Show view. The hyperlink does not activate in Normal view or Reading view unless you right-click the image and choose Open Hyperlink.
Steps to Make a Photo Clickable to Another Slide
Follow these steps to create a hyperlink on an image that jumps to a specific slide in the same presentation.
- Select the image
Click the photo on your slide to select it. You should see sizing handles around the image border. - Open the Link dialog
Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. In the Links group, click Link. The Insert Hyperlink dialog box opens. - Choose Place in This Document
In the left pane of the dialog, click Place in This Document. A list of all slides in the presentation appears. - Select the target slide
Scroll through the list and click the slide you want the image to link to. The Slide Preview area shows a thumbnail of that slide. - Confirm and test
Click OK to close the dialog. To test the link, press F5 to start the slideshow from the beginning. Navigate to the slide with the image and click the image. The presentation jumps to the target slide.
Using Action Settings as an Alternative
Some users prefer the Action Settings dialog instead of the Link dialog. Action Settings also lets you set a hover action or add a sound effect. Here is how to use it.
- Select the image
Click the photo to select it. - Open Action Settings
Go to the Insert tab. In the Links group, click Action. The Action Settings dialog box opens. - Set the Mouse Click action
Make sure the Mouse Click tab is selected. Click the radio button next to Hyperlink to. From the dropdown list, choose Slide. The Hyperlink to Slide dialog appears. - Pick the target slide
A list of slide titles shows. Click the slide you want and click OK. Back in Action Settings, click OK again. - Test the link
Press F5 to enter Slide Show view. Click the image to confirm it jumps to the correct slide.
Common Issues When Using Image Hyperlinks
The image link does nothing when clicked
This usually happens because you are testing the link in Normal view. Hyperlinks only work during a slideshow. Press F5 to start the slideshow, then click the image. If the link still does not work, check that the hyperlink is set to a slide that exists. Deleting the target slide after creating the link breaks the hyperlink. Reinsert the link to a valid slide.
The link jumps to the wrong slide
If you inserted new slides after creating the hyperlink, the slide numbers may have shifted. Open the hyperlink dialog again by right-clicking the image and selecting Edit Link. Select the correct target slide from the list. Using slide titles instead of slide numbers helps avoid this issue because the list shows titles, not numbers.
The hyperlink works but the image looks different
PowerPoint does not add a visible indicator to hyperlinked images by default. Viewers cannot tell the image is clickable unless you add a cue. To make it obvious, add a text label such as Click here next to the image. You can also apply a subtle border or shadow to the image using Picture Format > Picture Border. Another option is to use a transparent shape with a hyperlink over the image, but that method is more complex.
PowerPoint Link Dialog vs Action Settings for Image Links
| Item | Link Dialog | Action Settings |
|---|---|---|
| Access path | Insert > Link | Insert > Action |
| Target types | Slide, URL, email, file | Slide, URL, end show, macro |
| Mouse hover action | No | Yes, via Mouse Over tab |
| Sound effect | No | Yes, select a sound file |
| Highlight click | No | Yes, check Highlight click |
| Works in PowerPoint for the web | Yes | No |
Use the Link dialog for basic internal navigation. Use Action Settings when you need hover effects, sounds, or visual click feedback.
Now you can turn any photo into a navigation button that links to another slide in your presentation. Start by selecting the image and using Insert > Link > Place in This Document. Test the link in Slide Show view with F5. For more control, try Action Settings with a sound effect. If you link to a summary or table of contents slide, consider adding a Back button linked to the original slide for a better user experience.