Formatting Issues

How to Stop Excel from Turning Email Addresses into Hyperlinks

Nimra Malik Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to prevent Excel from automatically converting email addresses into active hyperlinks upon data entry, and needs a method to convert existing active hyperlinks back to plain text.

How to Stop Excel from Turning Email Addresses into Hyperlinks

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Entering lists of email addresses into a spreadsheet where active clickable links are undesirable.
Observed behavior: Excel automatically recognizes the email format or domain and formats the text as a clickable 'mailto:' hyperlink as soon as the user navigates away from the cell.

Before you start

Determine whether you need to prevent this behavior permanently for all future spreadsheets, or if you only need to fix a few specific email addresses in your current document.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable AutoFormat for Hyperlinks Globally

Best for users who want to permanently stop Excel from creating hyperlinks for all future entries across all workbooks.

By modifying Excel's AutoCorrect preferences, you can completely turn off the automatic detection of internet paths and email addresses. This prevents the application from applying clickable links as you type.

Open Excel Preferences

On a Mac, go to the top menu bar, click on 'Excel', and select 'Preferences'. On Windows, go to 'File' > 'Options'.

Navigate to AutoCorrect Settings

Click on 'AutoCorrect' (or 'Proofing' > 'AutoCorrect Options' on Windows).

Turn off AutoFormat As You Type

Select the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab within the AutoCorrect window.

Disable Hyperlink Conversion

Uncheck the box that says 'Internet and network paths with hyperlinks' (or 'Replace internet and network paths with hyperlinks'). Click 'OK' or close the preferences to save.

Disable AutoFormat for Hyperlinks Globally

Solution 2

Remove Hyperlinks from Existing Email Addresses

Useful for cleaning up an existing spreadsheet where email addresses have already been converted into active links.

Solution 3

Use an Apostrophe for Single Entries

Ideal for occasional use when you only need to prevent hyperlinking for a few specific cells without altering global AutoCorrect settings.

Manage Data Efficiently

Easily Stop Automatic Hyperlinks in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet provides a smooth, user-friendly interface for managing large contact lists without frustrating auto-formatting. You can effortlessly disable automatic hyperlinking or clean up existing links with just a few clicks.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your workbook containing the email addresses.
2. Access Options: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
3. Navigate to AutoCorrect: Click on 'Edit' in the left sidebar to find the editing preferences.
4. Disable Hyperlinks: Under the AutoCorrect section, uncheck the option that replaces internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
5. Clear Existing Links: To fix previously entered emails, simply highlight them, right-click, and choose 'Remove Hyperlink'.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV filesIntuitive settings menu to quickly customize AutoCorrect behaviorsLightweight application that runs smoothly on both Windows and MacFree alternative featuring a familiar and easy-to-navigate ribbon interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a keyboard shortcut to instantly undo an automatic hyperlink?

Yes. If an email address or URL automatically turns into a hyperlink immediately after you press Enter, you can instantly press Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Cmd+Z (Mac). This undoes the hyperlink formatting while leaving your typed text intact.

Can I prevent hyperlinks by pre-formatting the column?

Yes. Before pasting or typing your email addresses, you can highlight the entire column, go to the Home tab, and change the Number Format dropdown from 'General' to 'Text'. This forces the application to read all new entries as plain text.

Does saving my spreadsheet as a CSV file remove all hyperlinks?

Yes. CSV (Comma Separated Values) files only store raw text. If you save a spreadsheet containing active hyperlinks as a CSV file, close it, and reopen it, all hyperlinks and text formatting will be stripped away.

Excel & Data Problems