SharePoint Document Issues

Do SharePoint Hyperlinks Work After the Creator Leaves?

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to know if hyperlinks embedded in SharePoint documents will continue to function after the employee who created them leaves the company and their user account is deleted.

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: An employee leaves the organization and their account is deactivated or deleted, raising concerns about the integrity of the document links they established.
Observed behavior: Users are seeking confirmation on whether existing hyperlinks will still successfully direct them to the intended files or if the links will break.

Before you start

Before testing the hyperlinks, ensure you are logged into your organization's Microsoft 365 account and have the appropriate access permissions for the SharePoint site in question.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Link Destination and File Availability

Hyperlinks generally remain active regardless of the creator's account status, provided the destination file still exists and permissions are intact.

When an employee leaves an organization and their account is deleted, the hyperlinks they created in SharePoint documents usually continue to work seamlessly. A link's functionality is tied to the existence of the destination file and the access permissions of the person clicking the link, rather than the active status of the original creator's account.

Test the existing hyperlink

Open the SharePoint document and click the hyperlink to see if it successfully directs you to the correct destination.

Check file existence

Navigate to the target SharePoint library or directory to confirm that the linked document has not been moved, renamed, or deleted.

Review your permissions

Ensure your current user account has 'Read' or higher permissions for the linked file or folder by checking the item's 'Manage Access' settings.

Contact your administrator

If the link is broken or you receive an access denied error, contact your SharePoint administrator to verify file ownership and organizational retention settings.

Account Deletion Impact: Deleting a user account primarily affects files stored in their personal OneDrive. Documents stored in shared SharePoint sites remain unaffected by individual account deletions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why would a SharePoint hyperlink stop working after a user leaves?

A link typically breaks if the destination file was stored in the departed user's personal OneDrive rather than a shared SharePoint site, and their OneDrive was deleted along with their account.

How can I prevent broken links when an employee leaves?

Always store linked documents in shared SharePoint document libraries rather than personal OneDrive folders. This ensures files remain accessible to the team regardless of individual account statuses.

Can a SharePoint administrator restore broken links?

If the target file was deleted during the account offboarding process, an administrator can often restore the file from the SharePoint recycle bin or a backup, which will instantly re-enable the broken links.

Do I need to update the hyperlinks manually after an account is deleted?

No, as long as the target files remain in their original SharePoint locations and the organization's sharing permissions are intact, the links will continue to function without any manual updates.

Document & File Issues