Office Settings & Configuration

How to Display AutoConnect Arrows in Microsoft Visio

WPS Editor Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to show or enable the four AutoConnect arrows that appear around flowchart shapes for quick diagramming.

How to Display AutoConnect Arrows in Microsoft Visio

Product: Microsoft Visio
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating or editing a flowchart diagram where the quick connection arrows are missing when hovering over shapes.
Observed behavior: The AutoConnect arrows do not appear when hovering over shapes, either because the feature is disabled in settings or the selected diagram type does not support it.

Before you start

Ensure you are working on a supported diagram type, such as a Basic Flowchart, as AutoConnect arrows may not be available for all specialized Visio templates.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable AutoConnect from the View Tab

The quickest way to restore missing AutoConnect arrows is to toggle the feature directly from the Visio ribbon.

Open the View Tab

Open your Visio diagram and click on the 'View' tab located on the top ribbon.

Locate Visual Aids

Find the 'Visual Aids' group within the View toolbar.

Enable the Feature

Check the box next to 'AutoConnect' to activate the feature.

Verify Arrows

Hover your cursor over a flowchart shape in your workspace to verify that the four blue directional arrows now appear.

Solution 2

Activate AutoConnect in Advanced Visio Options

If the AutoConnect checkbox is grayed out or missing from the View tab, you need to activate it in the global Visio settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the AutoConnect arrows still not showing after enabling the setting?

Some Visio templates, like detailed floor plans or certain network diagrams, do not support the AutoConnect feature. Try copying your shapes into a 'Basic Flowchart' template to see if the arrows appear.

How do I change the default shapes that appear when using AutoConnect?

The mini shapes that appear on the AutoConnect arrows are determined by the 'Quick Shapes' stencil. You can change this by dragging a different shape to the top of your active stencil list in the Shapes window.

Can I turn off AutoConnect if it gets in the way of my drawing?

Yes, you can easily disable it by unchecking the 'AutoConnect' box under the View tab in the Visual Aids group. This stops the arrows from popping up when you hover over shapes.

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