Document Editing Problems

How to Fix Excel Hyperlinks Changing After Reopening a Workbook

Khadija Khan Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent Excel from automatically rewriting relative folder hyperlinks into incorrect absolute paths when closing and reopening a workbook.

How to Fix Excel Hyperlinks Changing After Reopening a Workbook

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Saving, closing, and reopening an Excel workbook that contains relative folder hyperlinks.
Observed behavior: Excel automatically changes relative hyperlinks to incorrect absolute paths. Altering the Hyperlink Base fixes external links but breaks internal worksheet links.

Before you start

Before modifying your workbook's link settings, create a copy of your file to ensure you do not lose any data while repairing the existing broken hyperlinks.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable 'Update Links on Save' in Excel Options

Prevent Excel from automatically converting your relative hyperlinks into absolute paths when saving the document.

Excel has a default web option that automatically updates links when you save a file. Disabling this feature stops the application from rewriting your relative file paths into incorrect absolute paths.

Open Excel Options

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner of the Excel ribbon and select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Navigate to Web Options

In the Excel Options dialog box, select the 'Advanced' tab on the left. Scroll down to the 'General' section and click the 'Web Options' button.

Disable Link Updating

Switch to the 'Files' tab in the Web Options window. Uncheck the box labeled 'Update links on save', then click 'OK' to confirm.

Save and Reopen

Click 'OK' again to exit Excel Options. Save your workbook, close it, and reopen it to ensure hyperlinks remain unchanged.

Disable 'Update Links on Save' in Excel Options

Bulk Link Repair Required: Disabling this setting will prevent future link changes. For the approximately 1,900 links that have already been altered, you will need to use a controlled VBA macro or Power Query to find and replace the incorrect paths.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Reliable Spreadsheet Link Management

If you are tired of Excel automatically breaking your relative hyperlinks and dealing with obscure web settings, switch to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible and lightweight environment for managing extensive spreadsheet data securely.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click the download button to get the free installer.
2. Install the Application: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
3. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your .xlsx file to manage your hyperlinks without unexpected path changes.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formats and hyperlink structures.Free and lightweight spreadsheet tool that respects your manual link configurations.Familiar, tabbed user interface for a seamless transition from Microsoft Office.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel change my relative hyperlinks to absolute paths?

By default, Excel's Web Options include a setting called 'Update links on save'. This feature attempts to manage web paths automatically but often incorrectly converts relative folder paths on local or network drives to absolute paths when the file is saved.

Can changing the Hyperlink Base fix my broken Excel links?

Changing the Hyperlink Base in the document properties can resolve issues with external folder links. However, it is not always a perfect solution because it frequently breaks internal hyperlinks pointing to other worksheets within the exact same workbook.

How can I fix thousands of hyperlinks that have already changed?

If your links have already been converted, changing the save settings will not revert them. For bulk repairs involving hundreds or thousands of links, you should create a backup and use a VBA macro or Power Query to systematically find and replace the broken absolute paths with the correct relative paths.

Document & File Issues