Word's New Link to Location Feature Ends the "Scroll Down" Problem
Microsoft Word now lets you create a direct link to a specific location inside a document. If you work with long reports, proposals, research papers, or shared team documents, this feature can eliminate a surprising amount of friction.
By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor
August 24, 2026
If you've ever reviewed a long Word document with coworkers, clients, or classmates, you've probably heard some version of this request:
"Scroll down a little farther."
"No, keep going."
"You're almost there."
Finding a specific paragraph in a lengthy document often takes longer than discussing the content itself.
Here's a Cool Tip: Share the exact paragraph, not the page number.
Microsoft is trying to solve that problem with a new feature called Link to Location.
Instead of telling someone where to look, you can create a direct link to a specific section of a Word document.
When an authorized recipient opens the link, Word takes them straight to the content you selected.
The feature is designed to make reviewing, discussing, and collaborating on documents easier.
For anyone who spends their day reviewing reports, policies, proposals, contracts, or research papers, this is one of those small improvements that can remove a recurring annoyance.
Microsoft's new Link to Location feature allows users to create a shareable link that points to a specific location within a Word document.
Instead of directing someone to a page, chapter, heading, or section title, you can generate a link that opens directly to the content you want them to see.
The feature is particularly valuable for:
- Business professionals reviewing reports and proposals.
- Educators providing feedback on assignments.
- Students collaborating on group projects.
- Project managers coordinating document revisions.
- Legal, compliance, and policy teams working with lengthy documents.
What You'll Gain
- Find important content faster in lengthy documents.
- Reduce confusion during reviews and approval cycles.
- Make conversations in Teams and email more precise.
- Spend less time explaining where information is located.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's how to do it.
Windows
- Open a supported Microsoft Word document stored in the cloud.
- Select the text or content you want to reference.
- Right-click the selection.
- Choose Copy Link to Location.
- Paste the generated link into email, Teams, chat, or another collaboration tool.
- Recipients with access can open the document at the specified location.
Cool Permission Tip:
- Before sharing a Link to Location, review the document's sharing settings.
- Select Share and open Link Settings (if available) to choose who can access the document, such as specific people, people in your organization, or anyone with the link.
- You can also choose whether recipients can edit the document or view only.
- Available options may vary based on your Microsoft 365 account, organizational policies, and sharing configuration.
 |
| fig. 1 - Copy Link to Location in Word |
macOS
- Open a supported Word document.
- Highlight the desired section.
- Right-click the selected content.
- Select Copy Link to Location.
- Share the generated link with collaborators.
- Recipients should be taken directly to the referenced content.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Eliminates the need to manually direct users to specific pages.
- Speeds up document reviews and feedback cycles.
- Works well for large reports, proposals, and research papers.
- Makes Teams and email conversations more precise.
- Requires very little training because it's built into the right-click menu.
Cons:
- Microsoft currently documents the feature for Word on Windows and Mac.
- Recipients must already have access to the document.
- Availability may vary depending on application version and deployment timing.
- Organizations with strict sharing policies may limit how links are used.
Feature Access
- Word for Windows: Version 2605 (Build 20011.20000) or later.
- Word for Mac: Version 16.109 (Build 26051019) or later.
- Supported Platforms: Windows, macOS
- Rollout Status: Available in supported versions of Word for Windows and Mac. Availability may vary depending on update channel, organization policies, account type, deployment schedule, and app version.
Score
Criterion | Score (0–10) | Justification
Solves a common collaboration problem and reduces document review friction.
Easy to discover, simple to use, and built directly into Word's context menu.
Helpful and practical, but more of a quality-of-life improvement than a breakthrough feature.
Link to Location won't change how you write documents, but it can significantly improve how teams discuss and review them. The experience feels similar to sharing direct links to comments or sections in Google Docs, but tailored to Word's document collaboration workflow.
Key Takeaways
Microsoft's new Link to Location feature removes one of the most common frustrations in document collaboration: telling people where to look.
By allowing users to share direct links to specific content, Word makes reviews, approvals, and feedback conversations faster and more efficient.
For teams working in large documents every day, the time savings can add up quickly.
Cool Tip Snapshot
- Feature Name: Link to Location
- Platform(s): Microsoft Word for Windows, Microsoft Word for Mac
- Quick Benefit: Jump directly to specific content inside a document
- Best For: Business users, students, educators, project teams
- Access Type: Rolling Out / Supported Versions Required
- Difficulty: Easy
Try It Yourself
Open a long Word document today, create your first Link to Location, and see how much easier document collaboration becomes.
Share your experience in the comments, subscribe to the One Cool Tip newsletter, and share this article with family, friends, and coworkers.
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Rodger Mansfield, a seasoned technology expert and editor of OneCoolTip.com, transforms complex tech into practical advice for everyday users. His Cool Tips empower readers to stay productive, secure, and one step ahead in the digital world.
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