Formatting Issues

How to Fix Word Showing Hyperlink Addresses Instead of Text

Amos Gikunda Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore normal hyperlink text display in a document where full URL addresses and field codes are currently visible.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Showing Hyperlink Addresses Instead of Link Text

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reading or editing a Word document containing hyperlinks.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word displays the underlying field codes and full hyperlink addresses instead of the readable, clickable linked text.

Before you start

Click anywhere inside your Word document to ensure the application window is active so it can properly register your keyboard commands.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Alt+F9 Keyboard Shortcut

The quickest and most effective way to resolve this issue is by using the built-in keyboard shortcut to toggle off the field codes.

Microsoft Word uses field codes as placeholders for dynamic data like hyperlinks. Occasionally, this view gets toggled on by accident. Using the shortcut reverses this immediately across the entire document.

Open your document

Open the Microsoft Word document where the hyperlinks are incorrectly displaying as web addresses.

Press the toggle shortcut

Press the 'Alt' and 'F9' keys simultaneously on your keyboard. This instantly toggles the display from field codes back to normal, readable link text.

Quick Fix: On some laptops, you may need to press Alt + Fn + F9 if your function keys are locked to media controls.

Solution 2

Disable Field Codes in Word Options

If the keyboard shortcut does not work or is conflicting with your system, you can manually disable the field codes display setting through the Word Options menu.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Open and Edit Word Documents Seamlessly in WPS Office

If you are tired of troubleshooting complex Microsoft Word settings, try WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight alternative that flawlessly opens Word documents and displays hyperlinks correctly by default without complicated configurations.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free software suite on your device.
2. Open your file: Right-click your problematic Word document, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Writer.
3. View links correctly: Enjoy editing your document with hyperlinks displayed cleanly as readable text by default.

Completely free to use with a familiar, user-friendly interfaceFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formats and hyperlinksLightweight application that uses minimal system resourcesBuilt-in PDF editor and tabbed document viewing

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my hyperlinks suddenly change to `{ HYPERLINK }` formatting?

You likely accidentally pressed the Alt+F9 shortcut on your keyboard while typing. This command toggles the display of all field codes in Word, revealing the underlying code for links instead of the display text.

Can I hide field codes for just one specific hyperlink?

Yes. If you only want to toggle the field code display for a single link rather than the whole document, highlight the specific hyperlink text and press Shift+F9.

Will printing the document show the URLs or the normal link text?

It depends on your current view and print settings. If 'Show field codes instead of their values' or 'Print field codes instead of their values' is checked in your Word Options, it will print the raw URLs. Toggling the view off with Alt+F9 typically ensures it prints normally.

Document & File Issues