OneDrive File Issues

How to Make Word Hyperlinks Open OneDrive Files in the Desktop App

Elise Williams Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to force hyperlinks to OneDrive documents to open in the desktop Word application instead of the web browser.

How to Make Word Hyperlinks Open OneDrive Files in the Desktop App

Product: Microsoft Word / OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Clicking a hyperlink inside a Word document that points to another OneDrive-hosted document.
Observed behavior: The hyperlinked OneDrive document opens in a web browser instead of the desktop Word application.

Before you start

Ensure that you have the OneDrive desktop client installed and your files are actively syncing to a local folder on your computer.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Local Synchronized File Path for Hyperlinks

By linking to the local OneDrive folder path instead of the web URL, you can force the file to open directly in the desktop Word app.

When you link using a OneDrive web URL, Office defaults to opening the file in a browser. Pointing the hyperlink to your local synced OneDrive folder bypasses this default cloud behavior.

Locate the file in File Explorer

Open File Explorer on your computer and navigate to your local OneDrive sync folder to find the target document.

Copy the local file path

Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, right-click the target file, and select 'Copy as path' from the context menu.

Edit the hyperlink in Word

Open your main Word document, right-click the existing hyperlink that opens in the browser, and select 'Edit Hyperlink'.

Paste the local path

In the 'Address' field at the bottom of the Insert Hyperlink dialog, paste the copied local file path. Remove any quotation marks at the beginning and end of the path, then click 'OK'.

Security Warning: Word might display a security warning stating that the link points to a file on your computer. This is expected behavior for local links; simply click 'Yes' or 'OK' to open the file.

WPS Office Document Editor

Create and Manage Hyperlinks Seamlessly with WPS Office

WPS Office provides a straightforward hyperlink management system, allowing you to easily link to local files, folders, or web pages without automatically forcing documents into a web browser.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the document where you want to insert or edit the hyperlink.
2. Select the text: Highlight the text, shape, or image you wish to turn into a clickable link.
3. Insert the hyperlink: Right-click the selected text and choose 'Hyperlink', or press the Ctrl + K keyboard shortcut.
4. Choose the local file: In the dialog box, select 'Existing File or Web Page', browse to your local file location, and click 'OK'.

Free and lightweight office suite for daily productivityFull format compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) documentsIntuitive hyperlink insertion for both local and cloud files without browser redirects

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Word hyperlinks suddenly open in a web browser?

If your document is saved in OneDrive and you share or copy the link directly from the cloud, Microsoft defaults to opening the cloud URL in a web browser (Office Online) rather than the desktop app.

How can I prevent Word from showing a warning when opening local hyperlinks?

Word displays this security notice to protect against malicious files. You can bypass this by adding the folder location to your Trusted Locations in Word's Trust Center settings.

Will my local hyperlinks break if I share the document with others?

Yes, if you use a local file path (like C:\Users\Name\OneDrive\Document.docx), the link will only work on a computer that has the exact same folder structure. If you need to share the document with others, using the web URL is highly recommended.

Document & File Issues