How to Link an Image in Squarespace

To link an image in Squarespace, hover the image and click Edit, then click Edit Link in the image settings. Choose a page on your site, an external URL, or a file, and save.

Linking a single image

Go to the page with the image and click Edit.

Hover the image and click Edit to open its settings.

Click Edit Link, which is the second option in the panel. A window opens with three choices: a page on your site, an external URL, or a file you've uploaded.

Pick your destination and save. The image is now clickable on the live page.

For an external link, there's usually a toggle to open in a new tab. Turn it on for anything leaving your site, so visitors don't lose their place.

Linking images inside a gallery

Gallery images are linked individually rather than as a set, which is what makes galleries useful as navigation.

Hover the gallery block and click Edit Gallery, then click the image you want. Each one has its own settings, including a link field.

This is how most portfolio index pages work: a grid of images, each linking to its own case study. It's how my portfolio is put together.

If you'd rather clicking opened the image full screen instead of navigating away, that's a lightbox rather than a link.

Alt text matters more on linked images

Alt text is always worth writing. On a linked image it does a second job, because it becomes the anchor text for that link.

For a normal image, alt text describes what's shown. For a linked image, it should describe where the click goes, since that's what a screen reader announces and what Google reads as the link's label.

So a clickable project thumbnail is better described as "Drool Visuals case study" than "screenshot of a website". One tells you what you'll get, the other doesn't.

Set it in the image settings under the design or content tab, depending on block type.

When a linked image is the wrong choice

Images that link somewhere have a discoverability problem: nothing about them says they're clickable.

On a portfolio grid that's fine, because visitors expect thumbnails to open projects. Elsewhere it's a gamble.

If the click matters, add a visible cue. A caption, a hover state, or a button underneath. A banner image linking to your sale does nothing if nobody realizes they can click it.

And never make a linked image your only route to an important page. Give it a real navigation link or a text link as well.

If the link isn't working

Check you're testing on the live page. Clicks don't behave normally in the editor.

Check whether the image is inside a block that already has its own link, like a card or a summary item, since the outer link usually wins.

And if the image sits over a background or inside a banner, another element may be sitting on top of it and catching the click. That's a layering issue and needs a look at the code rather than the settings.

Frequently asked questions

Can I link images in a Squarespace gallery?

Yes, individually. Open Edit Gallery, click an image, and set its link. That's how portfolio grids send each thumbnail to its own project page.

How do I make a linked image open in a new tab?

There's a new-tab toggle in the link settings. Worth using for external links, not for pages on your own site.

Why isn't my linked image clickable?

Test on the live page rather than the editor. If it still doesn't work, another element may be sitting over the image and catching the click.

Does alt text matter on a linked image?

More than usual, because it acts as the link's anchor text for screen readers and for Google. Describe where the link goes, not just what the picture shows.

Want a portfolio grid that behaves properly and is easy to add to? Book a free call.

I'm Dylan, the designer behind Highr Labs and a Squarespace Circle Platinum Partner. I build custom Squarespace sites for businesses in Utah and across the US. More about me, or book a free call if you want to talk through a project.