Microsoft Word has separate controls for creating hyperlinks automatically, removing links that already exist, and following links while editing. To undo one unwanted link, press Ctrl+Z on Windows or the web, or Command+Z on Mac. To remove a link but keep its text, right-click it and choose Remove Hyperlink. To stop future automatic links, disable Internet and network paths with hyperlinks in Word’s AutoCorrect settings.
Quick reference
| Task | Windows desktop | Mac | Word for the web |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undo one automatic link | Ctrl+Z | Command+Z | Ctrl+Z |
| Remove one link, keep its text | Right-click > Remove Hyperlink | Use the link editor’s remove-link command | Edit the link through Insert > Link or the context menu |
| Remove all hyperlinks | Ctrl+A, then Ctrl+Shift+F9 | Use desktop Word’s field-removal shortcut with care | Do not assume the desktop shortcut works identically |
| Open the link dialog | Ctrl+K | Usually Command+K | Ctrl+K |
What a hyperlink is in Word
A hyperlink connects selected text, a picture, or another document object to a destination. The destination can be a webpage, an email address, a file, a shared network or cloud location, or a heading or bookmark inside a document. Word also supports links to locations in other supported Office documents.
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The visible wording and destination are separate. For example, a document can display Microsoft support while its underlying address is a long URL. This separation lets you make links easier to understand and more accessible.
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How Word creates hyperlinks automatically
When automatic hyperlink creation is enabled, Word commonly converts a typed web address or email address after you press Spacebar or Enter. For example:
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- Type
www.example.comor an email address. - Press Spacebar or Enter.
- Word formats the address as an active hyperlink.
The exact behavior can vary by platform, version, document state, and AutoFormat settings. Microsoft documents this behavior for current desktop versions and Word for the web in its hyperlink guidance.
Create a hyperlink manually
Windows desktop Word
- Select the text or picture you want to make clickable.
- Choose Insert > Link. You can also right-click the selection and choose Link.
- Enter the destination in the Address box.
- Change Text to display if necessary.
- Select OK.
Ctrl+K opens the hyperlink dialog directly.
Mac Word
- Select the text or picture.
- Choose Insert > Link.
- Choose a webpage or file, document location, or email destination.
- Enter the address or select the destination.
- Select OK.
You can also Control-click an existing hyperlink to edit it. Microsoft’s Mac instructions may use labels that differ slightly between Word releases.
Word for the web
- Select the text.
- Choose Insert > Link.
- Enter the display text and destination.
- Insert the link.
For an email link, Word for the web supports entering mailto: followed by the email address. See Microsoft’s Word for the web link instructions.
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Edit the destination, display text, or ScreenTip
In desktop Word, right-click the hyperlink and choose Edit Hyperlink. You can change:
- Text to display: the words readers see.
- Address: the webpage, file, email address, heading, or bookmark that opens.
- ScreenTip: optional text shown when a pointer rests over the link.
You can also change the link’s font, size, color, or style without changing its destination. For Mac, Control-click the link and choose Edit Hyperlink. Microsoft documents these options for desktop Word and Word for Mac.
Remove one hyperlink without deleting the text
To preserve the visible wording:
- Right-click the hyperlink.
- Select Remove Hyperlink.
The text remains in the document, but it is no longer clickable. In Mac or web Word, use the available link editor or context-menu remove-link command; the exact menu can vary.
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Do not press Delete if you want to keep the wording. Selecting the link and pressing Delete removes the selected link content itself, not merely its hyperlink formatting.
Remove every hyperlink
In Windows desktop Word:
- Press Ctrl+A to select the document text.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+F9.
Microsoft documents this shortcut for removing hyperlink fields while preserving displayed text in normal Word documents. However, it is also a field-removal shortcut. Save a copy first if the document contains cross-references, automatic fields, generated content, or other dynamic elements, because more than hyperlinks may be affected.
Do not assume the same shortcut behaves identically in Word for the web, mobile apps, tables, headers, footers, or embedded objects. The documented procedure is primarily a desktop Word workflow. See Microsoft’s remove-hyperlinks guidance.
Disable automatic hyperlink creation
Windows desktop Word
- Choose File > Options.
- Select Proofing.
- Select AutoCorrect Options.
- Open AutoFormat As You Type.
- Clear Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
- Select OK.
Mac Word
- Choose Word > Preferences.
- Select AutoCorrect.
- Open AutoFormat as You Type.
- Clear Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
These settings control future automatic conversion. They do not remove hyperlinks already present in a document and do not restore links that you previously removed.
Word for the web
Word for the web supports creating and editing hyperlinks, but Microsoft documents a more limited AutoCorrect-options set in the browser than in desktop Word. Do not expect every desktop AutoFormat checkbox to be available online. If the setting is missing, choose Open in Desktop App and follow the Windows or Mac instructions.
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Microsoft’s general AutoCorrect information is available at Turn AutoCorrect on or off in Word.
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Re-enable automatic hyperlinks
Return to the same AutoCorrect path for your platform and select Internet and network paths with hyperlinks again. The change applies to future URLs and email addresses; it does not automatically recreate links removed earlier.
Undo one unwanted automatic link
If you only occasionally type URLs as plain text, changing the global setting is unnecessary. Immediately after Word converts the address, press:
- Windows or Word for the web: Ctrl+Z
- Mac: Command+Z
This reverses the recent automatic conversion without changing Word’s general hyperlink preference. Microsoft describes this quick undo in its hyperlink accessibility guidance.
Stop Word from requiring Ctrl+Click
This is a different setting from automatic hyperlink creation. Desktop Word normally requires Ctrl+click to follow a hyperlink while editing, helping prevent accidental navigation.
In Windows desktop Word:
- Choose File > Options.
- Select Advanced.
- Under Editing Options, clear Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlink.
This does not disable hyperlinks, remove existing links, or stop Word from creating new ones. It only changes how links open during editing. Ordinary clicks are more convenient, but they also make accidental link activation more likely. The documented path is for Windows desktop Word; do not assume the same control exists in Mac, web, or mobile Word.
Create links within a document
Internal links are useful in manuals, reports, ebooks, and long project documents.
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Using headings
- Apply a recognized heading style to the destination text, such as Heading 1 or Heading 2.
- Select the text that should become the link.
- Choose Insert > Link.
- Select Place in This Document.
- Choose the heading and select OK.
In Word for the web, use Insert > Link > Headings and Bookmarks.
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Create a bookmark at the destination, then select Place in This Document in the link dialog and choose that bookmark. On Mac, bookmark names must begin with a letter, may contain numbers, and cannot contain spaces. Use underscores to separate words, for example project_schedule.
If a destination does not appear in the list, check that the destination uses a recognized heading style or that a bookmark was actually created. Also check the bookmark name for invalid spaces or a leading number.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting
The AutoCorrect checkbox is missing
You may be using Word for the web or a mobile app, an edition with a different interface, or an installation managed by an organization. Open the file in the installed desktop application. The browser version has fewer AutoCorrect controls than desktop Word.
Removing the link deleted the wording
You probably pressed Delete. Undo the action, then right-click the link and choose Remove Hyperlink.
The link works on one computer but not another
Local-file and network links depend on the destination path and the recipient’s permissions. They can break when a file is moved, a drive is unavailable, or access rights differ. For shared documents, prefer a web URL or a properly shared OneDrive or SharePoint file rather than a private local path.
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Ctrl+Shift+F9 changed other content
That shortcut removes field formatting, not just the visual appearance of a hyperlink. Restore a backup or use Undo if it affected cross-references or generated fields, and make a copy before repeating the operation on a complex document.
A link opens unexpectedly
On Windows desktop Word, enable Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlink again under File > Options > Advanced > Editing Options if you want an extra confirmation gesture while editing.
Accessibility and document-quality tips
- Use descriptive link text such as Download the tax form instead of click here.
- Use a readable description of the destination rather than displaying a long, unexplained URL whenever possible.
- Set a meaningful ScreenTip when additional context would help.
- Check that the destination is accessible to intended readers before sharing.
- Test internal links after moving headings, renaming bookmarks, or reorganizing the document.
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Basic hyperlink creation and editing are available in Word for the web, while desktop Word provides fuller AutoCorrect and AutoFormat controls. Microsoft’s current U.S. consumer information lists Word for the web as available without a subscription, subject to account, feature, and regional availability. Desktop Word is included with eligible Microsoft 365 plans. See Microsoft’s current Word product information for availability and plan details.
You do not need a paid subscription merely to create basic hyperlinks. Use Word for the web if browser editing is sufficient. Consider Microsoft 365 Personal when you need the Windows or Mac desktop application and its more complete settings. Family is relevant when multiple people need separate access; Premium’s additional AI features are unrelated to basic hyperlink management.
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