File Sharing Problems

How to Fix PowerPoint Hyperlinks Not Working on Another Computer

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where hyperlinks in a PowerPoint presentation (linking to folders, Office files, or PDFs) work perfectly on their own computer but fail to open when coworkers try to click them on different devices.

Product: Microsoft PowerPoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a presentation containing file and folder hyperlinks with colleagues over a company network or shared drive.
Observed behavior: The hyperlinks break or refuse to open for other users due to mismatched network drive mappings, lacking file permissions, or differing absolute file paths between computers.

Before you start

Before attempting to fix the links, confirm that your colleagues are actively connected to the same company network or VPN, and verify they have the necessary viewing permissions for the target network drive.

Solution 1Recommended

Store Files in a Single Shared Folder and Recreate Links

Placing both the presentation and the linked files in the exact same folder forces PowerPoint to use relative paths, which prevents the links from breaking when opened on a different computer.

When files are scattered across different folders or drives, PowerPoint uses an 'absolute path' (e.g., C:\Users\Name\Documents\file.pdf) which won't exist on a coworker's PC. Keeping them in one folder creates a 'relative path', meaning PowerPoint simply looks for the file right next to the presentation itself.

Consolidate files

Create a new folder on your shared network drive and move both the PowerPoint presentation and all linked documents (PDFs, Excel files, etc.) into this single folder.

Remove old hyperlinks

Open the presentation, right-click the broken links one by one, and select 'Remove Link'.

Recreate relative links

Highlight the text or object again, right-click, and choose 'Link' or 'Hyperlink'. Browse to the target file within the same shared folder you just created and click 'OK'.

Test on another computer

Ask a colleague to navigate to that shared network folder and open the presentation to verify the links now work.

Solution 2

Verify Consistent Network Drive Mapping

If you must keep files in different network folders, you must ensure that every computer maps the network drive to the exact same letter and path.

Solution 3

Use Cloud Storage (SharePoint or OneDrive)

Uploading your presentation and resources to SharePoint or OneDrive allows you to use web-based URLs instead of local drive paths, bypassing local mapping issues entirely.

Easily Manage Presentations and Links with WPS Presentation

Avoid the hassle of broken hyperlinks and messy network drive mappings by using WPS Office. With built-in WPS Cloud integration, you can easily bundle your presentations with connected files and share them seamlessly with your team.

1. Open your presentation: Launch WPS Presentation and open your slideshow file.
2. Organize files locally: Ensure the presentation and any linked PDF or document files are saved in the same directory on your computer or cloud folder.
3. Insert hyperlinks: Highlight the text, right-click, and select 'Hyperlink' to point to the file in the same directory, establishing a safe relative path.
4. Save to WPS Cloud: Click 'Save As' and choose WPS Cloud to ensure your files are backed up.
5. Share with team: Use the 'Share' button in the top right corner to generate a secure link for your colleagues, eliminating the need for network drive configurations.

Fully compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) formatsInsert and manage relative and absolute hyperlinks easilySeamlessly share files via WPS Cloud to avoid local path errorsFree, lightweight, and easy to use across Windows, Mac, and mobile

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my PowerPoint links work on my computer but not others?

This happens when links use an 'absolute path' pointing directly to a specific location on your local hard drive (like your C: drive) or a uniquely mapped network drive. When coworkers open the file on their computer, their system cannot find that same exact path, so the link breaks.

What is the difference between an absolute and a relative hyperlink in PowerPoint?

An absolute hyperlink contains the full file path (e.g., C:\Documents\folder\file.pdf). A relative hyperlink only looks for the file's location in relation to the presentation itself (e.g., just looking in the exact same folder). Relative links are much more reliable when sharing files across different devices.

How do I share a PowerPoint with linked PDFs without breaking the links?

The most reliable method is to create a new folder, place both the PowerPoint file and the PDFs inside it, and then create the hyperlinks. When you need to share the presentation, zip the entire folder and send it, or upload the whole folder to a shared network drive or cloud service.

Document & File Issues