Formatting Issues

Fix Word Internal Hyperlinks Losing Formatting When Saved as PDF

Amos Gikunda Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to resolve an issue where internal hyperlinks lose their formatting or display incorrect text strings after exporting a document to PDF.

How to Fix Word Internal Hyperlinks Losing Formatting When Saved as PDF

Product: Word Processors
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting or saving a text document containing internal hyperlinks as a PDF file.
Observed behavior: When the document is converted to PDF, internal hyperlinks change color, lose their underline, or display unwanted text and field codes instead of the clean link text.

Before you start

Ensure your document is saved in the latest .docx format and try to isolate whether the issue occurs with a single specific link or all hyperlinks throughout the document.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Built-in PDF Export Feature

Third-party PDF printers or external add-ins can sometimes strip interactive elements and styles. Using the native PDF export ensures hyperlinks are processed correctly.

Many formatting issues during PDF conversion arise from using 'Print to PDF' instead of the native export function. The built-in export engine is specifically designed to recognize and preserve hyperlink formatting, bookmarks, and document styles.

Access the File menu

Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner of your word processor.

Select Export options

Click on 'Export' from the sidebar, then select 'Create PDF/XPS Document'.

Optimize for standard publishing

In the Save As dialog box, ensure 'Optimize for' is set to 'Standard (publishing online and printing)' to retain interactive hyperlinks.

Verify PDF options

Click the 'Options' button and ensure 'Create bookmarks using Headings/Word bookmarks' and 'Document structure tags for accessibility' are checked, then click 'OK' and publish.

Best Practice: Always use the 'Save As' or 'Export' method instead of 'Print to PDF' to ensure clickable links and formatting translate perfectly.

Solution 2

Correct Hyperlink Styles in the Document

If hyperlinks lose their blue color or underline, the default Hyperlink style may have been accidentally altered or overridden.

Solution 3

Toggle Off Field Codes

If your hyperlinks are displaying unwanted text, brackets, or code snippets (like { HYPERLINK }), field codes are likely toggled on during export.

Seamless PDF Conversion

Export to PDF Flawlessly with WPS Office

WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF converter that perfectly retains your document's hyperlink formatting, colors, and layout without the need for complex troubleshooting or third-party plugins.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing your internal hyperlinks.
2. Navigate to the Export tool: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Export to PDF'.
3. Configure export settings: In the dialog box, ensure the 'Export Hyperlinks' option is enabled in the advanced settings.
4. Save the PDF: Choose your desired save location and click 'Export' to generate a perfectly formatted PDF with intact links.

100% format compatibility with Microsoft Office (.docx, .doc) files, ensuring seamless migration.Built-in PDF conversion tool accurately preserves all internal and external hyperlinks.Lightweight, fast, and completely free to use for daily document processing.Familiar user interface requires no learning curve to master.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my hyperlinks look like `{ HYPERLINK "url" }` in the exported PDF?

This happens when Word's field codes are set to display instead of their values. You can easily fix this by pressing Alt+F9 to toggle off field codes before saving the document as a PDF.

Do I need Adobe Acrobat to keep hyperlinks working in a PDF?

No. Modern word processors, including Microsoft Word and WPS Office, have built-in PDF export engines that correctly process and preserve interactive hyperlinks without requiring Adobe Acrobat.

Why does 'Print to PDF' remove my hyperlink formatting?

The 'Print to PDF' function acts like a virtual paper printer, which flattens the document and often strips interactive metadata like clickable links. Always use the 'Save As' or 'Export' to PDF features instead.

How can I stop visited links from changing color in the final PDF?

You can control this by modifying the 'FollowedHyperlink' style in your Styles pane. Change its formatting to match your standard 'Hyperlink' style (e.g., standard blue) so it doesn't shift to purple after being clicked.

Document & File Issues