SharePoint Document Issues

How to Add an ms-word URI Scheme Link to a SharePoint Site

Olivia Miller Oct 14, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to create a button link on a modern SharePoint page that uses the ms-word URI scheme to open a Word document directly.

How to Add an ms-word URI Scheme Link to a SharePoint Site

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to bypass default SharePoint link restrictions to force a Word document to open in the local desktop application rather than the browser.
Observed behavior: Modern SharePoint rejects the button link because it generally requires standard HTTP or HTTPS URLs and blocks custom URI schemes like ms-word:.

Before you start

Verify that you have site owner or admin permissions to add custom web parts to your SharePoint page, as the default Quick Links web part will reject non-HTTP/HTTPS URLs.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Modern Script Editor Web Part

Since standard SharePoint links block the ms-word URI, deploying a Modern Script Editor web part allows you to inject raw HTML to create the button.

This workaround relies on custom scripting, which must be enabled in your SharePoint tenant settings.

Add a Modern Script Editor Web Part

Edit your SharePoint page, click the '+' icon to add a new web part, and select the Modern Script Editor (you may need to deploy it via the SharePoint App Catalog if it is not natively available).

Insert the HTML Anchor Code

Click 'Edit snippet' and paste your custom HTML code. Use the format: <a href="ms-word:ofe|u|https://your-tenant.sharepoint.com/sites/library/file.docx"><button type="submit">Open File</button></a>.

Save and Republish

Click 'Save' on the snippet editor, then click the 'Republish' button at the top right of your SharePoint page to apply the custom link.

Security and Compatibility Notice: Using custom HTML scripts to launch local applications can introduce browser-compatibility issues and security warnings. Ensure your organization's IT policies permit custom scripts.

Solution 2

Use Standard SharePoint File Links

If custom scripts are blocked by your organization, use the default sharing link and let users choose to open it in the desktop app manually.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does modern SharePoint reject the ms-word URI scheme?

Modern SharePoint link web parts are built with strict security validations that typically only accept standard web protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, and mailto. Custom client application URIs like ms-word: are filtered out to prevent malicious scripts from executing local apps.

Do ms-word URI links work smoothly in all web browsers?

Not inherently. Even if you successfully add the link via a script editor, modern browsers (like Chrome or Edge) will usually prompt the user with a security popup asking for permission to open an external application (Microsoft Word) before executing the link.

Can I use similar URI schemes for Excel and PowerPoint on SharePoint?

Yes, if you use the Modern Script Editor workaround, you can replace 'ms-word:' with 'ms-excel:' or 'ms-powerpoint:' in your custom HTML anchor tag to directly launch those respective desktop applications from the web page.

Document & File Issues