How to Prevent Excel Hyperlinks from Changing When Moving SharePoint Files
Question details
The user needs to prevent hyperlink paths inside an Excel workbook from automatically changing or breaking when the file is moved to a different folder within SharePoint.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel / SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Moving or copying Excel workbooks with relative hyperlinks to another SharePoint folder.
- Observed behavior
- Relative hyperlink paths update automatically to point to the new folder location, breaking links to external supplier-price workbooks.
Before moving your Excel workbooks, identify whether your hyperlinks use relative paths (which change based on the file location) or absolute paths (full URLs that remain constant).
Use Absolute SharePoint URLs for Hyperlinks
Replace relative hyperlink paths with absolute SharePoint URLs to ensure they point to the correct file regardless of where the workbook is moved.
By default, Excel may create relative hyperlinks when linking to files in the same directory structure. Using absolute links prevents these paths from recalculating when the source workbook changes location.
Navigate to the target file in your SharePoint environment and copy its full web link (URL) from the address bar or the 'Copy Link' feature.
Open your Excel workbook, right-click the cell containing the hyperlink you want to secure, and select 'Edit Hyperlink' from the context menu.
In the Address field, replace the existing relative path with the full absolute SharePoint URL you copied earlier.
Click 'OK' to apply the change, then save the workbook. You can now safely move the workbook without the link breaking.
Manually Repair Links or Revert File Location
If the file has already been moved and the links have changed, you must manually repair them or move the file back to its original location.
Open a Microsoft Support Request
If you have a large number of broken links across an enterprise SharePoint environment, your tenant administrator can seek Microsoft's assistance.
Manage Your Spreadsheets Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are looking for a reliable, lightweight spreadsheet tool that offers robust formatting and hyperlink control without unexpected path changes, try WPS Office. It provides high compatibility with Microsoft Excel files while being entirely free.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installation file and follow the quick on-screen instructions.
- 3. Open your spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing Excel workbooks to manage your data and hyperlinks with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Excel hyperlinks change when moved in SharePoint?
By default, Excel often saves hyperlinks as relative paths (e.g., pointing to a folder one level up). When you move the workbook to a new SharePoint folder, Excel tries to maintain that relative path from the new location, which usually points to the wrong file or folder.
What is the difference between an absolute and a relative hyperlink in Excel?
An absolute hyperlink contains the full web address (e.g., https://sharepoint.com/file.xlsx) and always points to the exact same file. A relative hyperlink contains only the path relative to the current workbook's location, meaning it will change if the workbook is moved.
Can I disable relative hyperlinks in Excel?
Yes. In Excel, you can go to File > Options > Advanced > Web Options > Files tab, and uncheck 'Update links on save'. However, this only applies to future links and might not retroactively fix files already moved or copied in SharePoint.
