Frequently asked questions about hyperlinks in Word

This article answers the most frequently asked questions about creating and using hyperlinks in Microsoft Word 2002 and in later versions of Word.

When I type a file address with spaces in it, Word replaces the address with a hyperlink after I press SPACEBAR. How can I finish typing an address that includes spaces before Word converts it to a hyperlink?

To ensure that Word will recognize an address that includes spaces as a single hyperlink, enclose the address in quotation marks. If the address is not enclosed in quotation marks, Word creates the hyperlink when you press SPACEBAR.

How do I turn off automatic hyperlinks?

To turn off automatic hyperlinks, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:

• In Microsoft Office Word 2007, follow these steps:
  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Word Options.
  2. Click Proofing, and then click AutoCorrect Options.
  3. On the AutoFormat as you type tab and on the AutoFormat tab, click to clear the Internet and network paths with hyperlinks check box, and then click OK.
  4. Click OK to close the Word Options dialog box.
• In Microsoft Office Word 2003 and in Microsoft Word 2002, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click AutoCorrect Options.
  2. On the AutoFormat as you type tab and on the AutoFormat tab, click to clear the Internet and network paths with hyperlinks check box.
  3. Click OK.

How do I change the display text or image of a hyperlink after it has been created?

You can change the display text or image for a hyperlink in the same way that you edit any text or image in your document.

To follow a hyperlink, press and hold CTRL, and then click the hyperlink.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

How do I remove a hyperlink without losing the display text or image?

To remove a single hyperlink without losing the display text or image, right-click the hyperlink, and then click Remove Hyperlink.

To remove all hyperlinks in a document, press CTRL+A to select the entire document and then press CTRL+SHIFT+F9.

Note Performing this operation converts all fields, not just hyperlinks, to plain text.

How do I change the underlying Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for a hyperlink?

To change the underlying URL for a hyperlink, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the hyperlink text or image, and then click Edit Hyperlink.
2. In the Edit Hyperlink dialog box, type or select a URL from the Type the file or web page name box.
3. Click OK.

How do I create hyperlinks to locations within the same document?

To create a hyperlink to a location within the same document, use one of the following methods:

• Use a drag-and-drop operation. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Save the document.
  2. Select the word, phrase, or image that you want to use as the destination for the hyperlink.
  3. Right-click and hold down the mouse button while dragging the selection to the new location; then, release the mouse button.
  4. Click Create Hyperlink Here.
• Create a bookmark, and then create a link. To do this, follow these steps, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:
  • In Word 2007, follow these steps:
    1. Save the document.
    2. Select the text or the image that you want to use as the destination for the hyperlink.
    3. Click the Insert tab.
    4. In the Links group, click Bookmark.
    5. In the Bookmark name box, type a unique name for the bookmark, and then click Add.
    6. Move the insertion point to the location in the document where you want to create the hyperlink.
    7. Click Hyperlink in the Links group.
    8. Click Bookmark.
    9. In the Select Place in Document dialog box, select the bookmark that you want to use as the destination hyperlink, and then click OK.
    10. Click OK to close the Insert Hyperlink dialog box.
  • In Word 2003 and in Word 2002, follow these steps:
    1. Save the document.
    2. Select the text or the image that you want to use as the destination for the hyperlink.
    3. On the Insert menu, click Bookmark.
    4. In the Bookmark name box, type a unique name for the bookmark, and then click Add.
    5. Move the insertion point to the location in the document where you want to create the hyperlink.
    6. On the Insert menu, click Hyperlink.
    7. Click Bookmark.
    8. In the Select Place in Document dialog box, select the bookmark that you want to use as the destination hyperlink, and then click OK.
    9. Click OK again.

What is the difference between a relative hyperlink and an absolute hyperlink?

An absolute hyperlink uses the full address of the destination document. A relative hyperlink uses the address relative to the address of the containing document. This is also known as the hyperlink base.

For example, suppose that a document has the following address: This document has absolute and relative hyperlinks to a document that has the following full address (and absolute hyperlink): The relative hyperlink contains only the relative address to Sales.doc. The relative address is as follows: Use a relative link if you want to move or to copy your files to another location, such as a Web server.

When I click a hyperlink in Word, I receive a message that indicates that no program is registered to open the file. What do I do to open the file?

You receive this message when Windows is unable to find the program that is associated with the type of document that is specified in the hyperlink path. This information is encoded in the extension of the hyperlink address.

To view the hyperlink, turn on the Tool Tips option, and then position the mouse pointer over the hyperlink.

To locate the Tool Tips option, use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for the version of Word that you are running:

• In Word 2007, click the Microsoft Office Button, click Word Options, and then click Display.
• In Word 2003 and in Word 2002, click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the View tab.

To correct this problem, install the program that is associated with the document type that is specified in the hyperlink.

The file name extension is the group of characters that follow the last period in the address. The following table lists some of the Office document types and their file name extensions.