How to Add Google Docs Links to Sections [Easy Guide]

Want to make your lengthy documents easier to browse? Why not add Google Docs links to sections of your work?

In this article, we’ll discuss how you can create a table of contents, hyperlinks, and bookmarks that allow your readers to quickly sift through your files.

NOTE: Before diving into the guides below, keep in mind that there’s currently no native solution on how to link to a specific page in Google Docs as of this writing. Instead, users have the ability to link to either headings or text selections only.

Let’s get started!

Inserting a Table of Contents

The easiest answer to the question “how to link to other parts of a Google Doc” is to insert a table of contents at the start of your document. Book publishers have been doing this for many years now. In this case, we’re just adapting the concept and making the table interactive. Here’s how.

1. Go to https://docs.google.com/.
2. Open your document, then place your cursor wherever you want to insert your table of contents.
3. On the menu bar, click “Insert,” then hover your mouse over the “Table of contents” option.
4. Select “Links” (the option with blue lines) from the appearing menu.

This will create a numbered list with the headings and subheadings you’ve made throughout your document.

If you choose to write more sections afterward, you can also refresh your table of contents to ensure it’s up-to-date. To do this, click on the clockwise arrow button in the appearing menu at the side.

Related: How to Make a Table of Contents in Google Docs

How to Link to a Heading in Google Docs Using Hyperlinks

Hyperlinking is another great solution on how to link to another part of a Google Doc. If you’ve already tried to link other resources inside your content online before, this shouldn’t be too unfamiliar to you.

To link a heading in Google Docs using hyperlinks, follow these steps.

1. Head over to https://docs.google.com/, then open your document.
2. Select the text to which you want to add a hyperlink.
3. On the toolbar, click on the “Insert link” button.

4. Alternatively, press “Ctrl” + “K” (or “Command” + “K” for Mac) at the same time on your keyboard.
5. Click on the “Headings and bookmarks” option from the appearing dialog box at the bottom.

6. Under the “HEADINGS” section, select the heading you want to link to.

And that’s it! You can simply repeat the steps above if you want to insert more hyperlinks throughout your content.

Using Bookmarks as Google Docs Links to Sections

Another method for how to link within a Google document is to use the bookmark feature. By using this method, you can:

• Get a shareable link that leads to a specific part of your document: You can export bookmark links to your clipboard using the “Copy link” button. Then, you can send the copied link to your recipients.
• Link to paragraphs and other texts within your Google doc: Besides linking to headings only (as discussed above), you can also link to specific selections of your content. The idea here is to use bookmarks in hyperlinks throughout your document.

Creating a Bookmark

To create a bookmark in Google Docs, simply follow the steps below.

1. On your Google document, highlight and select the text you want to bookmark.
2. Click “Insert” in the menu bar at the top, then choose “Bookmark” from the drop-down menu.

As of this writing, Google Docs doesn’t offer any keyboard shortcuts that directly insert bookmarks. Instead, you can press “Alt” + “I” to open the Insert menu. Follow that with a key press on the letter “B” to add your bookmark.

Sharing a Bookmark Link Outside Google Docs

By sharing a bookmark link, you can immediately redirect your readers to the parts you want them to pay attention to. Here’s how you can share it once your bookmark is set in place.

1. Open your Google document, then locate the bookmark you want to share.
2. Click on the blue-colored bookmark icon beside it to show your button options.
3. Click the “Copy link” button to export the bookmark URL to your clipboard.

4. Paste the link into your preferred messaging software and send it to others.

Linking to a Bookmark Inside Your Google Document

You can also use your bookmarks to set up quick references to information.

For example, you used technical words like “pivot tables” and “macros” in your content. Linking them to bookmarks containing their definitions somewhere in your document lets your readers understand the said jargon easily.

Here’s how to link within Google Docs.

1. Highlight and select the text where you want to put the bookmark link on your Google document.
2. Click on the “Insert link” button on the toolbar at the top.
3. Alternatively, you can simply press the buttons “Ctrl” + “K” (or “Command” + “K” for Mac) simultaneously to open the insert link interface.
4. Click on the “Headings and bookmarks” option at the bottom.

5. Scroll down to the “BOOKMARKS” section, then click on your preferred bookmark to link to.

Final Thoughts

Making your long documents easy to understand cuts off a large chunk of wasted time and effort navigating them. This leads to increased productivity and faster progress. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and use Google Docs links to sections now!

If you’ve got a Google Sheets project going on, using templates might help quicken the progress. Check out Spreadsheet Point on Gumroad today and enjoy 50% off with the code “SSP.”

Related:

• How to Insert a Google Sheets Hyperlink in 5 Seconds
• How to Jump to Specific Cell or Range in Google Sheets?
• Easy Guide to Building a Google Sheets Table of Contents
• Find and Replace in Google Docs (Fix Docs Faster)
• How to Accept All Changes in Google Docs [Easy Guide]
• How To Add a Comment in Google Docs [Easy Guide]