WPS Spreadsheets: Keep Excel Hyperlinks Active When Referencing Another Cell
Question details
The user needs a cell reference to preserve an active hyperlink instead of returning only the linked cell's displayed text.
- Product
- WPS Spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel-compatible formulas
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A destination cell references another cell that contains a hyperlink, and the user wants the destination to remain clickable while using dynamic text or a variable cell address.
- Observed behavior
- A direct reference such as =J26 returns the source cell's displayed value but does not carry over its hyperlink property.
Identify the source cell's displayed label, the target sheet and cell address, and any variable cell such as N26 that changes the destination. Confirm that the destination worksheet name is entered exactly, including spaces and apostrophes where required.
Recreate the active link with the HYPERLINK function
Use this solution when a direct reference returns text only and the destination cell must remain clickable.
A direct reference such as =J26 retrieves the source cell value, not formatting or hyperlink metadata. Build the link again with HYPERLINK, using one expression for the target address and another for the displayed text.
In WPS Spreadsheets, click the cell where the active hyperlink should appear.
Type a formula such as =HYPERLINK("#'Linked Notes'!A"&N26,Tasks!H26&" Notes") into the formula bar or directly into the selected cell.
Replace 'Linked Notes', N26, and Tasks!H26 with the target sheet, variable address, and display text used in your workbook.
Press Enter, then click the resulting linked text to verify that it opens the intended cell or sheet.
Create Clickable Dynamic Hyperlinks in WPS Spreadsheets
WPS Spreadsheets supports the HYPERLINK function, so you can build clickable links to another sheet or cell while generating the displayed text from other cells. The familiar formula workflow also works with Excel-compatible workbooks.
- 1. Open the workbook: Launch WPS Office, open the spreadsheet, and select the worksheet containing the destination cell.
- 2. Select the link cell: Click the cell where the active hyperlink should be displayed.
- 3. Insert the formula: Enter =HYPERLINK("#'Linked Notes'!A"&N26,Tasks!H26&" Notes") in the formula bar, then replace the sample references with your workbook's cells.
- 4. Test the link: Press Enter and click the generated link to confirm that it navigates to the intended worksheet and cell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does =J26 show text instead of an active hyperlink?
A direct cell reference returns the source cell's value only. It does not copy hyperlink metadata, so the destination cell displays text without becoming clickable.
How can I create a hyperlink to a changing row or cell?
Use HYPERLINK with concatenation, such as =HYPERLINK("#'Linked Notes'!A"&N26,Tasks!H26&" Notes"). When N26 changes, the target address updates while the link remains active.
Where should the HYPERLINK formula be entered?
Enter it directly in the cell that needs to be clickable, or place it in a helper column if the link is part of a larger table or calculation.
How do I link to a worksheet whose name contains spaces?
Wrap the worksheet name in single quotation marks inside the link address, as in # 'Linked Notes'!A, without the space after the hash: # ' should be entered as #'Linked Notes'!A in the formula.
