Fix Word Hyperlink Text Disappears with Track Changes Enabled
Question details
User experiences deleted hyperlink display text turning into an error message when Track Changes is enabled.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Deleting or modifying hyperlink text while the Track Changes feature is actively tracking document revisions.
- Observed behavior
- Upon reopening the document, the hyperlink display text disappears and is replaced by 'Error! Hyperlink reference not valid', causing potential data loss.
Before modifying your document further, ensure you create a copy of the affected file and temporarily disable Track Changes to prevent further hyperlink corruption.
Temporarily Disable Track Changes When Editing Hyperlinks
Since this is an active Word bug, the best preventative measure is to turn off Track Changes before making any modifications to hyperlinks.
Microsoft is currently investigating this issue. Until an official patch is released, modifying hyperlinks while Track Changes is running can permanently corrupt the link reference.
To safely edit your document without triggering this data-loss bug, you must pause tracking temporarily.
Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the Word ribbon and click the 'Track Changes' button to turn it off.
Make the necessary modifications or deletions to your hyperlink text safely without triggering the bug.
Once the hyperlink is successfully edited, click 'Track Changes' again on the 'Review' tab to continue tracking your document revisions.
Manually Restore Corrupted Hyperlink Text
If your document has already been affected and displays the 'Error! Hyperlink reference not valid' message, you must manually repair the damaged links.
Report the Bug and Update Microsoft Office
Because Microsoft is actively investigating this bug, submitting a report and regularly checking for updates ensures you will receive the official fix as soon as it is deployed.
Edit Documents Without Hyperlink Errors in WPS Office
If Microsoft Word's Track Changes bug is disrupting your workflow and causing data loss, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, free, and stable environment for document editing and revision tracking.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx file directly, with full formatting intact.
- 3. Use Track Changes Securely: Go to the 'Review' tab and enable 'Track Changes' to safely edit your document and hyperlinks without unexpected errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my hyperlink change to 'Error! Hyperlink reference not valid'?
This is caused by a confirmed Microsoft Word bug. When you delete or modify hyperlink display text while Track Changes is enabled, Word corrupts the link reference upon saving and reopening the document.
Can I automatically recover the lost hyperlink display text?
No, if the document has already been saved and reopened with the error, the original text cannot be restored automatically. You must manually right-click the error, select 'Edit Hyperlink', and re-enter the display text.
When will Microsoft fix the Track Changes hyperlink bug?
The Microsoft Office team has acknowledged the bug and is actively investigating it. To get the fix as soon as it is released, ensure you regularly check for updates via File > Account > Update Options in Word.
