How to Disable the Hyperlink Security Warning in OneNote
Question details
The user wants to prevent the security warning pop-up that appears when clicking on hyperlinks pointing to local files on the same computer.
- Product
- OneNote
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Clicking a newly created hyperlink (via Ctrl+K) to a local file or folder triggers a security prompt, interrupting the workflow.
- Observed behavior
- A security warning dialog appears every time a local link is clicked. Previous attempts to bypass it by editing the registry failed because an incorrect value type (QWORD) or incorrect data value (7 instead of 1) was used.
Completely close OneNote and all other Microsoft Office applications, and check your specific Office version number (e.g., 16.0 for Office 365/2019) so you can navigate to the correct registry path.
Configure the DisableHyperlinkWarning Registry Key Correctly
Create or edit a 32-bit DWORD value in the Windows Registry to explicitly disable the security warning for hyperlinks.
The most common reason this registry workaround fails is due to creating a QWORD instead of a DWORD, or assigning the wrong numerical value. The Office security component specifically looks for a 32-bit DWORD set to 1.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'regedit', and press Enter. Click 'Yes' if prompted by User Account Control.
Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[Your Version]\Common\Security. Replace [Your Version] with your actual version number (e.g., 16.0 for Office 2016 and newer).
Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it exactly 'DisableHyperlinkWarning'. Do not select QWORD, even if you are on a 64-bit system.
Double-click 'DisableHyperlinkWarning' and change the Value data to 1 (ensure Base is set to Hexadecimal). Click OK. Do not set this value to 7.
Close the Registry Editor and relaunch OneNote. Test the hyperlink again to confirm the warning is bypassed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does OneNote show a security warning for links on my own computer?
Microsoft Office implements a strict security protocol to prevent the accidental execution of malicious files. By default, it treats most hyperlinked files as potential risks, triggering a warning even if the files are stored on your local hard drive.
Can I disable the warning using the Trust Center instead of the registry?
While adding folders to the Trusted Locations in the Microsoft Trust Center solves macro and add-in warnings, it often does not bypass the specific hyperlink execution warning. The registry tweak is usually required for hyperlink warnings.
What happens if I accidentally created a QWORD value in the registry?
The Office application will simply ignore it, and the security warning will continue to appear. You must delete the incorrect QWORD value, right-click to create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value, and set its data to 1.
