How to Show Bookmarks in the Word for Mac Hyperlink Dialog
Question details
Users are unable to see their existing bookmarks when trying to insert a hyperlink to a bookmarked location in Word for Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Inserting a hyperlink to link text to a specific bookmarked location within the same document.
- Observed behavior
- Existing bookmarks do not appear automatically in the Hyperlink dialog box, even if the 'Show bookmarks' preference is enabled, making it difficult to link to them.
Verify that you have already successfully created at least one bookmark in your document via the Insert > Bookmark menu before attempting to link to it.
Expand the Bookmark List in the Hyperlink Dialog
The most common reason bookmarks appear missing is that the category list is collapsed by default in the Hyperlink window.
Microsoft Word for Mac organizes internal document links into expandable categories within the Hyperlink dialog box. If the Bookmarks section is collapsed, your saved bookmarks will remain hidden.
Highlight the text you want to turn into a link, then press 'Cmd + K' on your keyboard, or go to the top menu and click 'Insert' > 'Hyperlink'.
In the Hyperlink dialog box, click on the 'This Document' tab to view internal linking options.
Locate the 'Bookmarks' heading. Click the small disclosure arrow right next to 'Bookmarks' to expand the list and reveal all the bookmarks you have created.
Click on your desired bookmark from the expanded list and click 'OK' to insert the hyperlink.
Easily Add and Link to Bookmarks in WPS Writer
WPS Office provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing bookmarks and hyperlinks on your Mac, helping you navigate and link long documents without the hassle of hidden menus.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer on your Mac and open the document where you want to add an internal link.
- 2. Access the Hyperlink tool: Select the text you wish to hyperlink, navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon, and click 'Hyperlink' (or press Cmd+K).
- 3. Select the internal location: In the Hyperlink dialog box, click on 'Place in this document' on the left panel.
- 4. Choose your bookmark: Simply select your target from the clearly visible list of Headings and Bookmarks, then click 'OK' to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my Word bookmarks completely missing from the expanded list?
If you have expanded the Bookmarks category and still see nothing, the bookmarks may have been accidentally deleted, or the document was not saved after they were created. Try creating a new test bookmark via Insert > Bookmark to see if it populates the list.
Can I link directly to a heading instead of creating a bookmark?
Yes. In the same Hyperlink dialog under the 'This Document' tab, you can expand the 'Headings' section. This allows you to link directly to any text formatted with standard Heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) without needing to manually create bookmarks.
How do I remove the grey brackets around bookmarked text?
Those brackets appear when the visibility preference is turned on. To hide them, go to the top menu bar, click Word > Preferences > View, and uncheck the 'Show bookmarks' box. This will hide the brackets but keep your actual bookmarks intact.
