Table of Contents
Checking Autocorrect Settings
If your hyperlinks are not working in Microsoft Excel, it could be due to incorrect AutoCorrect settings. Excel's AutoCorrect feature, if enabled, can automatically convert text entries such as internet addresses or network paths into clickable hyperlinks. However, if this feature is disabled, the hyperlinks may be displayed as plain text. Here are the steps to check and modify these settings:
Launching MS Excel
Launch Microsoft Excel on your PC. Open the Excel workbook that is having issues with hyperlinks.
Accessing Excel Options
To access the Excel Options, click on the File menu located at the top left corner of the screen. From the left sidebar of the File menu, select 'Options' to open the Excel Options dialog box.
AutoCorrect Options in Proofing Pane
In the Excel Options dialog box that appears, navigate to the 'Proofing' tab. In this tab, click on the 'AutoCorrect Options' button to access the AutoCorrect settings.
Checking “Internet and network paths with hyperlinks” Box
Once you are in the AutoCorrect options, switch to the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab. Under this tab, look for the 'Internet and network paths with hyperlinks' checkbox. Make sure this box is checked as it allows Excel to automatically format these paths into clickable hyperlinks.
Applying Changes and Testing Hyperlinks
Having made the necessary changes, click 'OK' to close the dialog box and apply the changes. Now try opening your hyperlinks. If your hyperlinks were not working because AutoCorrect was turned off, they should now work properly in Microsoft Excel.
Updating Hyperlink Settings
If your hyperlinks are still not working in Microsoft Excel despite checking the AutoCorrect settings, another aspect to examine is the 'Update Links on Save' feature. When this feature is enabled, Excel automatically updates the links to other workbooks or websites every time you save a workbook. While this can be useful, it can occasionally result in broken hyperlinks. By turning off this feature, you may be able to fix the issue with non-functional hyperlinks.
Opening the “File” Menu on Excel
Start Microsoft Excel on your PC and open the workbook that is having hyperlink problems. Proceed by clicking on the "File" menu, which is located at the top left corner of the Microsoft Excel window.
Accessing “Options” Setting
In the sidebar that appears on the left, click on 'Options'. This will direct you to the Excel Options dialog box where you can modify a variety of settings related to Excel's performance and functionality.
Navigating to the “Advanced” Tab in Options Page
Within the Excel Options dialog box, select the 'Advanced' tab. This section contains advanced options for working with Excel.
Opening “Web Options” under General Settings
Scroll down the advanced settings until you find the 'General' section. Here, click on 'Web Options' which will open a new dialog box.
Changing the “Update Links on Save” Option in "Files" Section
In the Web Options dialog box, switch to the 'Files' tab. Here, look for the ‘Update links on save' checkbox. Make sure to uncheck this box to prevent Excel from automatically updating hyperlinks each time you save the workbook.
Applying Changes and Testing Hyperlinks
After making the changes, click 'OK' to apply them and close the dialog box. Now you can test the hyperlinks in your Excel workbook. If the problem was caused by the 'Update Links on Save' feature, your hyperlinks should now be working correctly in Excel.
Manual Checking of Hyperlinks
Another angle to examine Excel hyperlink issues is through the manual checking of hyperlinks. This inspection focuses on the properties of the hyperlinked cells, the file paths involved, the trust settings, and parameters of the external drives that may be connected to your workbook. Here is a guide on how to conduct a thorough manual check.
Verifying if Hyperlinked Cell Contains Special Characters
Sometimes, certain special characters in the text of the hyperlinked cell can cause the hyperlink to malfunction. Inspect the text associated with the hyperlink and make sure it does not include any special characters that Excel may not support. Remove or replace these special characters if found, and then check if the hyperlink now works.
Checking if the File Path Has Been Updated
Check if the file path or other parameters of the hyperlinked file have changed after the hyperlink was created. If they have, the hyperlink might not work because it can't find the file at the expected location. If this is the case, you'll need to update the hyperlink with the correct, current file path.
Consider Turning Off Protected View Settings in Trust Center
If your Excel workbook is opened in a protected view, some functionalities might be limited, including hyperlinks. By going into the Trust Center settings, you can turn off the protected view and then check if this resolves the hyperlink issue.
Checking Hyperlinks Associated with External Drives
If your hyperlinks connect to files stored on external drives, ensure that the external drives are connected and functioning correctly. If the links are broken, it might be because Excel can't access the files on these drives.
Change the Drive Letter if Necessary
If the drive letter of an external drive has changed after creating the hyperlink, Excel will not be able to locate the linked file, leading to a broken hyperlink. You can change the drive letter back to its original state to fix the issue or update the hyperlink with the new drive letter.
Repairing MS Excel
If the hyperlinks in your Excel workbook still fail to open despite all the previous checks and modifications, it may be an indicator of a more systemic issue with the workbook or even the Microsoft Excel program itself. In such a case, you may need to repair your Excel workbook or run the Microsoft Office Repair tool. Below is the process to carry this out:
Closing the Problematic Spreadsheet
The first step is to close the Excel workbook that holds the problematic hyperlinks. Errors occurring during the active usage of the workbook might prevent the Office repair tool or the workbook repair feature from effectively rectifying the issue.
Opening a Blank Spreadsheet in Excel
Once the problematic workbook is closed, launch Microsoft Excel and open a new blank spreadsheet. This procedure is necessary as you will need an active Excel window to access the workbook repair feature.
Executing “Open and Repair” for the Problematic Spreadsheet
While the blank spreadsheet is open, go to the File menu, select 'Open', and browse for the problematic workbook. Instead of using the direct 'Open' command, use the drop-down arrow located next to 'Open', and choose 'Open and Repair'. This feature attempts to identify and correct issues with the workbook which could be causing the hyperlinks to malfunction.
Testing the Hyperlinks after Repair
After the repair process completes, try out the hyperlinks in your workbook again. If the problem was related to the workbook itself, the 'Open and Repair' feature should have rectified it, and your hyperlinks should now work.
Initiating Quick Repair via Windows "Programs & Features" Menu
If the workbook repair doesn't help, you might need to use the Microsoft Office Repair tool. This tool is capable of identifying and rectifying issues with all Office applications, including Microsoft Excel. To run this tool, go to Windows 'Programs & Features', locate your Microsoft Office product, and choose 'Quick Repair'. If the hyperlinks are still unresponsive after a 'Quick Repair', an 'Online Repair' might be needed, which is more thorough, albeit a lengthy process.
