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How to Let Viewers Open Links During a PowerPoint Screen Share
Question details
The user wants participants to be able to click and open embedded links while viewing a shared PowerPoint presentation, without necessarily distributing the entire PPT file.
- Product
- PowerPoint / Screen Sharing Platforms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Presenting a slideshow containing hyperlinks via screen sharing in a virtual meeting.
- Observed behavior
- Links work for the presenter, but participants viewing the shared screen cannot click them because screen sharing only broadcasts an image or video feed.
Understand that standard screen sharing (like in Zoom or Google Meet) transmits your screen as a video feed, meaning interactive elements like hyperlinks are not clickable by the audience.
Share Links Directly in the Meeting Chat
The most immediate and practical way to let viewers access your links without sending the whole presentation file.
Before your meeting starts, copy all the necessary URLs from your presentation into a separate Notepad or Word document.
During your presentation, open the chat window in your video conferencing application.
As you reach the relevant slide, paste the corresponding link into the chat and send it so participants can click it on their own devices.
Distribute a Clickable PDF Handout
Export your slides to a PDF format to preserve the clickable links and share it with participants before or after the presentation.
Use QR Codes Embedded in the Slides
Add QR codes to your slides so viewers can easily scan them with their mobile devices to open the links instantly.
Seamlessly Present and Share Files with WPS Presentation
WPS Office provides built-in tools to easily present your slides, export them to interactive PDFs, or generate secure sharing links in seconds, ensuring your audience can access all your resources without hassle.
- 1. Open Your Presentation: Launch WPS Office and open your presentation file.
- 2. Generate a Share Link: Click the 'Share' button in the top right corner and choose 'Create Link' to generate a URL you can drop in the meeting chat.
- 3. Export as PDF: Alternatively, go to 'Menu' > 'Export to PDF' to create a handout where attendees can click links themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't attendees click links on my shared screen?
Screen sharing software broadcasts your display as a continuous video feed or flat image. It does not transmit the underlying code or interactive elements of your document, making links unclickable for viewers.
Does saving my PowerPoint as a PDF keep the links clickable?
Yes, when you export your presentation to a PDF using standard 'Save As' or 'Export' features, the hyperlinks remain active. You can then distribute this PDF file so your audience can click the links.
Can I share just a single slide containing the links?
Yes. You can copy the specific slide that contains the links, paste it into a blank presentation, and save it as a separate file or PDF to share exclusively with your attendees.
Is there a way to broadcast my presentation interactively instead of using screen share?
Some meeting platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, offer a 'Live' presentation feature that loads the actual file into the meeting interface rather than sharing a video of your screen. This allows participants to click links directly within the meeting app.
