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Fix Word Table of Figures Hyperlinks Opening SharePoint on Mac
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where clicking on a figure name in a Word document's Table of Figures opens a SharePoint link and prompts for a login, rather than navigating to the figure within the document.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac (macOS)
- Scenario
- Accessing a Word document downloaded from OneDrive on a Mac and attempting to navigate the file using the Table of Figures.
- Observed behavior
- Page number links function correctly, but clicking the figure name text redirects the user to a SharePoint URL and requests login authentication. This bug is specifically observed on older Macs running older versions of macOS and Word.
Ensure your Mac is connected to the internet and save any open documents before proceeding with system or application updates.
Update macOS and Microsoft Word to the Latest Versions
Resolve compatibility bugs causing hyperlink redirection by updating your Mac's operating system and the Microsoft Word application.
This issue typically occurs on older Macs (such as those running macOS Catalina) because they stop receiving the latest Microsoft Word updates. Upgrading to a newer macOS (like macOS Ventura) ensures your system receives the necessary Office patches to correctly handle OneDrive and SharePoint hyperlink paths.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences'), click 'General', and select 'Software Update'.
If a newer macOS version like Ventura or Sonoma is available, follow the on-screen prompts to download and install it.
Once your macOS is updated, open Microsoft Word, click 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates' to install the latest version of the Office suite.
Create a Simple Test File to Diagnose Link Issues
Determine if the hyperlink problem is specific to the downloaded document or a general software bug on your Mac.
Use WPS Office to Avoid Link Errors on Older Macs
If your older Mac can no longer receive Microsoft Word updates and you are experiencing hyperlink redirect issues, WPS Office is a perfect alternative. It is a lightweight, highly compatible Office suite that seamlessly handles local document navigation without version-limiting bugs.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite for your Mac.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer, click 'Open', and select your locally downloaded Word document.
- 3. Navigate Smoothly: Click any link in your Table of Figures to jump directly to the relevant section without annoying SharePoint redirects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Table of Figures links point to SharePoint instead of local pages?
When a document is synced with OneDrive or SharePoint, older versions of Microsoft Word may improperly retain the absolute web URL instead of generating a relative local bookmark link when you download the file. Updating Word fixes this pathing error.
Does this hyperlink issue affect page numbers in the Table of Figures?
No, typically only the text (figure names) redirects to SharePoint. The page number links usually remain as local bookmarks and function normally within the document.
How can I update Microsoft Word if my Mac cannot be upgraded to a newer macOS?
If your Mac is stuck on an older OS (like Catalina) and cannot be updated, Microsoft AutoUpdate may no longer offer the latest Word versions. In this case, you can either manually replace the Table of Figures while the document is offline, or switch to a compatible alternative like WPS Office.
