Data Import & Export

How to Copy Hyperlink Display Text to Plain Text in Microsoft Lists

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to copy only the alternative display text from a hyperlink column and paste it into a single-line text column without bringing over the underlying URL.

How to Copy Hyperlink Display Text to a Text Column in Microsoft Lists

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Extracting clean, plain text from active hyperlink columns to reorganize or sanitize data within Microsoft Lists.
Observed behavior: Copying directly within Microsoft Lists transfers the entire hyperlink object. The user needs a workaround to isolate and paste only the display text.

Before you start

Ensure you have a blank single-line text column prepared in your Microsoft List to receive the pasted text, and verify you have a spreadsheet application installed to open the exported file.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Export to Excel to Isolate the Display Text

By exporting the list to a spreadsheet application, you can easily copy the raw text values without the strict hyperlink formatting native to Microsoft Lists web views.

Microsoft Lists handles hyperlinks as complex objects containing both a URL and alternative display text. By pushing the data to Excel via a web query (.iqy file), you can bypass the web interface's restrictions and copy the plain values directly from the grid.

Export the list data

Open your target Microsoft List, click on 'Export' in the top command bar, and select 'Export to Excel'.

Open the exported file

Locate the downloaded .iqy file on your computer and open it. Excel will prompt you to enable the data connection to load your list data.

Copy the hyperlink display text

Highlight the cells in the spreadsheet that contain the alternative text you want to extract, right-click the selection, and choose 'Copy'.

Paste into the new text column

Return to Microsoft Lists and click 'Edit in grid view'. Click the first cell of your target single-line text column and paste the copied values (Ctrl+V or Cmd+V).

Quick Tip: Pasting external spreadsheet data into the 'Grid view' of Microsoft Lists automatically strips out the underlying URLs, leaving you with clean plain text.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Exported Spreadsheets Easily with WPS Office

If you are working with exported list data and need a fast, reliable spreadsheet tool, WPS Office is an excellent free alternative to Microsoft Office. It seamlessly opens exported data files and helps you manipulate plain text and formats with ease.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your device.
2. Open your exported data: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your exported CSV or Excel lists to begin managing your data.
3. Edit and copy text securely: Highlight the required cells, easily remove hyperlinks if needed, and copy the clean text back to your web apps.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).Easily clear hyperlinks from spreadsheet cells with a single click to extract plain text.Free, lightweight, and fast to launch on any operating system.Familiar ribbon-style interface that requires no learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I just copy the text directly inside Microsoft Lists?

When you copy a cell from a hyperlink column inside the Microsoft Lists web interface, the system copies the entire hyperlink object (the URL plus the display text). Pasting this into a plain text column can cause data validation errors or display the raw URL instead of the name.

Can I export Microsoft Lists as a CSV instead of an Excel web query (.iqy)?

Yes. If you choose 'Export to CSV' instead of Excel, the resulting file will contain comma-separated values. CSV files do not support active hyperlinks, meaning your hyperlink column will automatically be converted to raw text, which you can easily copy.

How do I remove hyperlinks directly inside my spreadsheet before pasting?

If your spreadsheet application imported the links as active, you can simply highlight the cells, right-click, and select 'Remove Hyperlinks'. This leaves only the display text in the cells, ensuring a clean copy-paste process back to Microsoft Lists.

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