Document Editing Problems

How to Automatically Update Word Hyperlinks After Moving Files

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to prevent hyperlinks to external files (like PDFs) from breaking when moving the Word document and linked files to a different folder.

Product: Microsoft Word / WPS Writer
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reorganizing project files or sharing a folder that contains a Word document and referenced PDF files.
Observed behavior: Fixed-path hyperlinks break when the files are moved to a new directory, requiring manual updates to maintain functional document references.

Before you start

Ensure that your Word document and the linked files (such as PDFs) are saved in the same directory structure or folder before setting up relative hyperlinks.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Relative Hyperlink Paths

By creating a relative hyperlink, the link relies on the document's current location rather than a fixed drive letter, ensuring it stays intact when moved alongside the referenced files.

A relative hyperlink path points to a file based on its location relative to the active document. If you move the document and the linked files together while maintaining their relative folder structure (e.g., both in the same folder, or the PDF in a subfolder), the links will automatically continue working.

Save all files in a unified folder

Move your Word document and the target PDF file into the same main folder or a structured subfolder before creating the link.

Select text to link

Open the Word document and highlight the text you want to turn into a hyperlink.

Open the Hyperlink menu

Right-click the highlighted text and select "Hyperlink" from the context menu, or press the shortcut Ctrl+K.

Select the target file

In the Insert Hyperlink dialog box, do not type a full path (like C:\Documents\...). Instead, browse through the current folder structure displayed in the dialog and click on your target PDF.

Apply the relative link

Click "OK" to insert the hyperlink. Word will automatically format it as a relative path based on the current document's location.

Important: Always save your Word document at least once in the target folder before inserting relative hyperlinks; otherwise, Word will default to absolute paths.

Seamless Document Linking

Manage Hyperlinks Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Writer fully supports relative hyperlinks, allowing you to organize, move, and share folders containing multiple linked documents without breaking references. It provides an intuitive interface identical to what you are used to.

1. Save your project files: Place your WPS Writer document and linked PDFs in the same folder and save the document.
2. Access the Hyperlink tool: Highlight the text, go to the "Insert" tab on the top ribbon, and click "Hyperlink" (or press Ctrl+K).
3. Choose your file: Browse to your linked file within the current folder view and click "OK".
4. Move and share safely: You can now safely move the entire parent folder to a new drive or send it to a colleague without breaking the links.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and hyperlink structures.Intuitive interface for inserting and managing internal and external links seamlessly.Lightweight, fast, and free alternative for everyday document editing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my hyperlinks break when I send the folder to someone else?

If the hyperlinks were created using absolute paths (e.g., C:\Users\Name\Documents\file.pdf), they will break on another computer because that specific file path does not exist on their machine. Using relative paths fixes this issue as long as you send the entire folder structure together.

How do I change an absolute hyperlink to a relative hyperlink?

Right-click the existing broken link in your document and select "Edit Hyperlink." Instead of leaving the full path in the address bar, browse to the target file's location relative to the current folder and select it again to update the path automatically.

Can I set a default hyperlink base in my document?

Yes, you can set a Hyperlink Base in your document's advanced properties. This tells the application to treat all links as relative to that specific base folder path. However, simply keeping all linked files in the same folder structure is often the easiest method for portability.

Document & File Issues