Document Editing Problems

How to Use Relative and Absolute Links in Microsoft Word

Huda Qurayshi Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to create and manage relative and absolute hyperlinks in Microsoft Word, and specifically how to prevent or fix relative links from converting to absolute paths when copied.

How to Use Relative and Absolute Links in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating, inspecting, and copying hyperlinks to local files or subfolders while maintaining the correct path structure.
Observed behavior: When copying a relative hyperlink to another location in the same document, Word automatically converts the HYPERLINK field from a relative path to an absolute path.

Before you start

Ensure that your target files or subfolders are saved in the same master directory as your main Word document before you begin creating relative links.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and Inspect Relative Hyperlinks

Use this method to establish a relative link to a file in the same folder and verify its field code structure.

A relative hyperlink contains only the file name or a subfolder path, making it ideal if you plan to move the entire folder to a different drive or share it with someone else. An absolute hyperlink contains the complete drive path.

Organize your files

Place the target file (e.g., a PDF or another document) in the exact same folder or a direct subfolder of where your active Word document is saved.

Insert the hyperlink

Highlight the text you want to use as the link anchor. Navigate to the Insert tab on the ribbon and select Link (or Hyperlink). Browse to select your target file.

Toggle field codes

Press Alt + F9 on your keyboard to reveal the document's field codes. You will see the {HYPERLINK} field structure.

Verify the path format

Inspect the code. A relative link will look like {HYPERLINK "filename.pdf"} or {HYPERLINK "subfolder\\filename.pdf"}, whereas an absolute link will show the full C:\ drive path.

Verification Complete: Press Alt + F9 again to hide the field codes and return to the normal document view.

Solution 2

Fix Relative Links that Convert to Absolute Paths

Use this solution if you copied a relative link within your document and Word automatically changed it to an absolute path.

Manage Hyperlinks Easily in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers a seamless, highly compatible environment for creating and managing document hyperlinks. You can effortlessly insert both relative and absolute links with a user-friendly interface that closely mirrors Microsoft Word, while avoiding unexpected path formatting issues.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document where you want to add hyperlinks.
2. Select the anchor text: Highlight the specific word or phrase you want to make clickable.
3. Insert the hyperlink: Go to the Insert tab on the top ribbon and click Hyperlink, or press Ctrl + K.
4. Choose the target file: Browse your local directory to select the target file, ensuring it is in the same folder if you want a relative link, then click OK.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and field codesIntuitive hyperlink management and editing toolsLightweight, fast, and free to useStable preservation of complex document formatting

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my relative hyperlink become an absolute link when copied?

This is a known behavior in Microsoft Word. When you copy a hyperlink to a new location, Word attempts to resolve the destination path to ensure the link doesn't break, which often results in it being rewritten as a full absolute path.

Does preserving relative paths work for all field types in Word?

Editing the field code to maintain relative paths works well for HYPERLINK, DATABASE, INCLUDEPICTURE, INCLUDETEXT, and RD fields. However, LINK fields may not reliably preserve relative paths and often convert embedded fields to plain text upon updating.

How do I toggle between hyperlink text and field codes?

You can toggle the view of field codes by pressing Alt + F9 on Windows. This will switch your entire document between displaying the clickable hyperlink text and the underlying {HYPERLINK} programming code.

Is there a way to automatically update absolute paths back to relative ones?

Word does not have a built-in button for this, but advanced users often rely on custom VBA macros (Visual Basic Editor via Alt + F11) to sweep through the document and automatically trim absolute paths back down to relative paths for all linked fields.

Document & File Issues