Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Ctrl+Click Not Opening Hyperlinks in Microsoft Word

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to open hyperlinks in Microsoft Word using the standard Ctrl+Click shortcut, even though the same function works perfectly in other Office applications like PowerPoint.

How to Fix Ctrl+Click Not Opening Hyperlinks in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to follow a hyperlink to a webpage or another document section while working in a Microsoft Word document.
Observed behavior: Pressing Ctrl+Click on a hyperlink has no effect in Word, despite the feature being enabled in settings and functioning normally in other applications.

Before you start

Verify that your keyboard's Ctrl key is functioning correctly in other programs, and check if the hyperlink works when pasted into a completely new, blank document.

Solution 1Recommended

Refresh Settings and Run Word in Safe Mode

Toggle the hyperlink settings to force a refresh, and start Word in Safe Mode to determine if a third-party add-in is blocking the shortcut.

Sometimes the internal settings in Word can glitch even if they appear correct visually. Toggling the setting can reset the behavior. If that fails, Safe Mode helps isolate the issue by loading Word without custom add-ins.

Refresh Hyperlink Options

Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under the 'Editing options' section, locate 'Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlink'. Uncheck the box, click OK, and then return to the same menu to check it again.

Start Word in Safe Mode

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type 'winword /safe' and press Enter. Once Word opens, try clicking a hyperlink using Ctrl+Click.

Disable Conflicting Add-ins

If the hyperlink works in Safe Mode, the issue is caused by an add-in. Go to File > Options > Add-ins. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown and click Go. Uncheck all add-ins to disable them, then re-enable them one by one to find the conflicting software.

Refresh Settings and Run Word in Safe Mode

Solution 2

Repair Your Microsoft Office Installation

Use the Windows built-in repair tool to fix missing or corrupted Office system files that might be breaking Word's functionality.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office to Open Documents and Click Hyperlinks Flawlessly

If Microsoft Word continues to have issues with basic functions like opening hyperlinks, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a reliable, free, and lightweight alternative that ensures your shortcuts and document navigation work perfectly.

1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free suite and install it on your computer.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the Word document containing the hyperlinks.
3. Follow the Hyperlink: Hold down the Ctrl key and click on the hyperlink to seamlessly open it in your default web browser.

Free and lightweight office suite for everyday tasksFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsFamiliar UI makes migration seamless with zero learning curveHyperlinks and keyboard shortcuts work perfectly out of the box

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Ctrl+Click work in PowerPoint but not in Word?

Because Word and PowerPoint run on separate application processes, an issue isolated to Word usually points to a corrupted Word template (Normal.dotm), a conflicting Word-specific add-in, or a glitch in Word's Advanced Options.

How can I open a hyperlink in Word without using the Ctrl+Click shortcut?

You can right-click directly on the hyperlink text and select 'Open Hyperlink' from the context menu. This bypasses the need for keyboard shortcuts entirely.

Will resetting Word's user settings fix hyperlink issues?

Yes, if the registry key containing Word's user options is corrupted, deleting or renaming the Data registry key can force Word to rebuild its default settings, which often restores the Ctrl+Click functionality.

Could my mouse or keyboard hardware be causing the issue?

While rare, a failing mouse switch or a stuck modifier key on your keyboard can interfere with shortcut combinations. Testing your setup with an alternate mouse or keyboard can quickly rule out hardware failure.

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