Data Import & Export

Fix Power Automate Converting Excel Hyperlinks to Plain Text

Khadija Khan Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users need to maintain clickable formatting for hyperlinks when using Power Automate to transfer data between Excel files.

How to Fix Power Automate Converting Excel Hyperlinks to Plain Text

Product: Microsoft Excel, Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Transferring rows from a source Excel workbook to a destination workbook using a Power Automate flow.
Observed behavior: Hyperlink values are copied into the destination Excel workbook as plain text instead of remaining functional, clickable links.

Before you start

Verify whether the source Excel column is explicitly formatted as a Hyperlink or if it relies on Excel's auto-format feature, as Power Automate typically reads only the raw text string.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the HYPERLINK Formula in Power Automate

Force the destination Excel cell to recognize the text as a link by writing an explicit Excel HYPERLINK formula during the flow action.

Power Automate's Excel connectors extract cell values as plain strings, ignoring rich formatting. To recreate the link in the new workbook, you must inject Excel's native formula into the destination table.

Edit your Power Automate flow

Open Microsoft Power Automate in your browser, locate the flow responsible for transferring the data, and click 'Edit'.

Locate the destination action

Find the 'Add a row into a table' or 'Update a row' action that writes data to your destination Excel workbook.

Apply the HYPERLINK formula

In the field mapping for your hyperlink column, type `=HYPERLINK("[URL]", "[Display Text]")`. Replace [URL] and [Display Text] with the dynamic content variables fetched from your source Excel file.

Save and test the flow

Click 'Save' in the upper right corner, then click 'Test' to run a manual trigger. Open the destination Excel file to confirm the cell is now a clickable link.

Use the HYPERLINK Formula in Power Automate

Formula Requirement: Ensure the destination column in Excel is formatted as 'General' so that it properly executes the formula instead of treating it as plain text.

Solution 2

Seek Specialized Help in the Microsoft Community

If mapping formulas does not resolve the issue, consult Microsoft experts by sharing your specific flow design.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Your Spreadsheet Needs

While Power Automate requires Microsoft's ecosystem, if you are looking for a fast, lightweight, and highly compatible spreadsheet tool for manual data management, WPS Office is an excellent free alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install the application: Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to set up WPS Office on your computer.
3. Open your Excel files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and drag-and-drop your .xlsx files into the workspace to view, edit, and manage your data with intact hyperlinks.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formats.Maintains clickable hyperlink formatting automatically when editing documents.Lightweight software that opens massive datasets quickly without lagging.Familiar tabbed user interface with zero learning curve for Excel users.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate read my Excel links as plain text?

Power Automate's Excel connectors extract the underlying raw text or value of a cell rather than its rich text formatting or embedded hyperlink metadata. As a result, the clickable property is lost during extraction.

Can I use HTML tags to format the hyperlink in Excel via Power Automate?

No, Microsoft Excel does not natively render standard HTML tags like <a> in its spreadsheet cells. You must use the =HYPERLINK() Excel formula in your Power Automate action to generate a clickable link.

Does this text conversion issue happen when updating existing rows as well?

Yes, both the 'Add a row into a table' and 'Update a row' actions in Power Automate can strip hyperlink formatting if the link data is passed as a simple string without explicit formula formatting.

Excel & Data Problems