How to Create Excel Hyperlinks to Images Stored in OneNote
Question details
The user wants to insert hyperlinks in Excel that point to images stored in OneNote, but individual images in OneNote for Windows 10 are not exposed as local files.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel, OneNote for Windows 10, OneNote 2016, OneNote for the web
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Creating a clickable Excel cell link to an image or notebook content stored in OneNote.
- Observed behavior
- Excel can link to normal local files and websites, but a single image stored inside a OneNote for Windows 10 notebook cannot be linked directly as a local file.
Check which version of OneNote you are using and whether the notebook is stored locally or on OneDrive. The linking method differs: OneNote for the web links open in a browser, while OneNote 2016 local notebooks can be linked by file location.
Link to a OneNote for the Web Page from Excel
Use this when you use OneNote for Windows 10 or your notebook is stored on OneDrive, because you can copy a page URL and insert it as a hyperlink.
This method does not link to an individual image file, but it opens the page containing the image in a browser. Anyone with access to the notebook can view the content.
Sign in at onenote.com, open the notebook, and go to the page that contains the image.
Copy the page URL from the browser address bar, or select File and choose Copy Link to Page if the command is available.
In Excel or WPS Spreadsheet, select the cell where the link should appear and press Ctrl+K, or right-click the cell and choose Hyperlink.
Paste the copied OneNote URL into the Address field, click OK, and then click the cell link to confirm it opens the correct page in the browser.
Link to a Local OneNote 2016 Notebook Location from Excel
Use this if you are still using OneNote 2016 with a notebook stored locally or on a shared network path.
Use WPS Office as a Free Alternative for Excel Spreadsheet and Hyperlink Tasks
WPS Office does not include OneNote or change how OneNote stores images, but it is a free, lightweight Office suite that opens and saves Excel .xlsx files, supports hyperlinks, and offers a familiar ribbon interface for quick migration from Microsoft Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I link directly to a single image stored in OneNote from an Excel cell?
No. OneNote for Windows 10 stores images inside the notebook, so there is no separate local file path. Link to the OneNote web page instead.
Which method should I use if I still have OneNote 2016?
If the notebook is stored locally, open Insert Hyperlink in Excel and link to the notebook folder or .onetoc2 file. If it is a cloud notebook, use the OneNote web page URL.
Do people who click the hyperlink need OneNote installed?
For OneNote web links, they only need a browser and permission to the notebook. For local notebook links, they need access to the file location and OneNote 2016.
Can I save the image as a file and link to that instead?
Yes. Right-click the image in OneNote, save it to a local folder or cloud drive, and then create a normal Excel hyperlink to that saved image file.
Does WPS Office include OneNote?
No. WPS Office does not include OneNote, but WPS Spreadsheet can open Excel workbooks and insert hyperlinks to files, folders, and web addresses.
