How to Add a Link in Canva (and Make It Clickable)

Adding a link to a Canva design takes about ten seconds. Knowing whether anyone can click it afterwards is the bit that catches people out. I've seen lovely brochures, menus and media kits go out with buttons that did nothing, simply because they were exported the wrong way.

So below I'll cover how to attach a link to text, a shape or an image, how to edit or remove it, and the export choice that decides whether the link survives.

Attaching a link to text or an element in Canva

This is the route Canva's help centre gives on a computer:

1. Click the element you want to link. For just part of a text box, double-click it and highlight the words.
2. Select More on the floating toolbar above the design.
3. Select Link.
4. Type or paste the web address and press Enter.

That works for text, shapes, photos and graphics alike. Linking a whole button-style shape is usually kinder to thumbs than a single word, so I'd do that for anything you expect people to tap on a phone.

Pointing a Canva link at another page in your design

A link doesn't have to leave Canva. Canva's help says that after you choose Link you can pick a page from the list called Pages in this document. That turns a multi-page design into something people can move around, like a contents page that jumps to each section.

You can also link to one of your recent designs from the Recent list. The help adds that the person opening it needs the right permissions, so check your sharing settings before you send it to anyone.

Editing or removing a link you've added in Canva

Typos in a web address happen to everyone. Canva's help describes the fix:

1. Select the linked text or element.
2. Select the link icon on the toolbar. A small window opens with Text, Link and Display mode.
3. Change what you need and select Done. You can also copy or delete the link from that window.

To take a link off entirely, select the element, open the link icon again and choose the Bin icon.

Why your Canva link only works as a PDF or in Present mode

This is the part that matters most. Canva's help says links stay clickable when you download the design as a PDF, apart from flattened PDFs, or when you present it. It also says links don't work in PNG, JPG or MP4 files, and they don't work when you post the design straight to social media, because social platforms don't support links on posts or PDF uploads.

How you share the design	Do Canva links click?
Download as a PDF (not flattened)	Yes
Present the design	Yes
Download as PNG or JPG	No
Download as MP4	No
Post straight to a social platform	No

The help also notes that links in a video are clickable only in the Presenter window. So if you need people to tap through from a post, put the web address in the caption or your profile, not just on the picture.

If link-in-profile pages are new to you, I've compared the options in my round-up of link in bio tools for Instagram and TikTok.

When a Canva link stops working on text effects

One quirk is worth knowing. Canva's help says links on text with the Lift or Neon effect may not work in a downloaded PDF. Canva lists workarounds on that same help page, and the simplest one is to apply the link to a plain copy of the text instead of the styled version. If a PDF link isn't clicking, check for an effect first.

Using Canva links in a business brochure, menu or media kit

Small business owners get the most from this feature in documents they send as PDFs. A few ideas:

• A menu or service list where each section links to a booking page. Keep the wording on the link itself clear, such as the words Book a table.
• A media kit with links to your best work, your website and your contact page.
• A short proposal where the contents page jumps to each section.
• A resource sheet for customers, with each tip linking to a longer article.

After you export, open the PDF yourself and click every link once. It takes a minute and saves an embarrassing message later. And if you're still weighing up Canva for client work, my honest Canva review covers what it does well.

If you can't find the Link option in Canva

• Make sure an element or some text is selected. The floating toolbar only appears then.
• Look under More on the floating toolbar rather than the main top bar.
• Menus vary a little by version, so you may see a link icon directly on the toolbar. It does the same job.
• If you're editing the link, use the link icon, not Link under More.

When it still won't appear, Canva's help centre is the best place to ask, since the team can look at your design. It also helps to try a different browser tab or refresh the editor before you give up, because a stuck toolbar is often just a page that needs reloading.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a link in Canva?

Select the element or highlight the text, choose More on the floating toolbar, select Link, then type or paste the web address and press Enter.

Why can't people click my Canva link?

Canva's help says links only work when you download as a PDF (not flattened) or present the design. They don't work in PNG, JPG or MP4 files, or when you post to social platforms.

Can I link to another page inside my Canva design?

Yes. After choosing Link, pick a page from Pages in this document. You can also link to a recent design, but the other person needs the right permissions to open it.

How do I remove a link in Canva?

Select the element, choose the link icon on the floating toolbar, then select the Bin icon.

Do links work on text with effects?

Canva's help says links on text with the Lift or Neon effect may not work in downloaded PDFs, and its help page lists workarounds.