How to Prevent Duplicate Hyperlinks When Copying Text from Word
Question details
The user wants to prevent duplicate hyperlinks or unwanted markup from appearing when copying hyperlinked text from Microsoft Word to other applications.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Copying and pasting hyperlinked text from Word into another application.
- Observed behavior
- The pasted text contains duplicate hyperlinks or unwanted HTML markup instead of a single, cleanly formatted link.
Before modifying your AutoCorrect settings, decide if you want to completely disable automatic hyperlinks across all future Word documents or just format the current text.
Disable Automatic Hyperlink Formatting in Word
Turn off the AutoFormat feature to stop Word from automatically converting URLs and network paths into active hyperlinks.
Click on 'File' in the top menu and select 'Options' located at the bottom of the left-hand pane.
In the Word Options dialog box, select the 'Proofing' tab from the left sidebar.
Click on the 'AutoCorrect Options...' button on the right side.
Go to the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab, uncheck the 'Internet and network paths with hyperlinks' checkbox, and click 'OK'.
Use Descriptive Text Instead of Full URLs
Embedding the link within a word or phrase instead of displaying the raw URL often prevents formatting conflicts when pasting into other apps.
Paste as Plain Text and Reapply Links
Strip all formatting during the paste process to guarantee no duplicate links or markup are carried over.
Handle Hyperlinks Seamlessly with WPS Writer
WPS Writer offers an intuitive and highly compatible word processing experience. You can easily manage how hyperlinks behave, disable automatic link creation, and copy content smoothly without formatting glitches.
- 1. Open Options: Launch WPS Writer, click the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, and select 'Options'.
- 2. Find AutoCorrect Settings: Navigate to the 'Edit' section or directly search for 'AutoCorrect' within the Options menu.
- 3. Disable Automatic Links: In the AutoFormat options, uncheck the setting that converts internet and network paths to hyperlinks, then click 'OK'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word create duplicate links when I copy and paste?
This usually happens because the destination application misinterprets Microsoft Word's rich text formatting or HTML clipboard data, applying the hyperlink to both the visible text and the hidden URL tag.
How do I remove an existing hyperlink in Word without deleting the text?
Simply right-click on the hyperlinked text and select 'Remove Hyperlink' from the menu. The text will remain intact, but the clickable link will be removed.
Can I stop Word from creating hyperlinks for email addresses too?
Yes. By disabling the 'Internet and network paths with hyperlinks' option in the AutoFormat As You Type settings, Word will stop converting both URLs and email addresses into active links.
Does the 'Keep Text Only' paste option work in all programs?
Most modern text editors, web browsers, and email clients support a plain text paste option. You can usually access it via the right-click menu or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+V (Command+Shift+Option+V on Mac).
