To remove one hyperlink in Word while keeping its text, right-click the linked text and choose Remove Hyperlink. Save the document when you are done.
Remove one link
- Find the linked word or address in your document.
- Right-click directly on the link.
- Select Remove Hyperlink. The displayed text stays; the clickable destination is removed.
If you meant to remove the linked text as well, select the text and press Delete instead. If you remove the wrong link, use Undo immediately.
If you only want different words for the link rather than removing it, change the link’s display text instead.
Remove many links at once in Word for Windows
Microsoft documents Ctrl+A to select all text, followed by Ctrl+Shift+F9 to remove hyperlinks throughout the selection. Selecting all and right-clicking one link is not the documented bulk method.
Check for other fields first: Ctrl+Shift+F9 is also Word's Unlink a field command. It can turn selected fields into static results, including fields you may want to keep updating. Save a copy before using it across a document with an automatic table of contents, cross-references, or other fields. To avoid that risk, remove individual links with the right-click method.
Remove a link without removing its appearance
After Remove Hyperlink, the words remain in the document. They may still look blue or underlined because direct character formatting or a style remains. If the text is no longer clickable but looks like a link, select it and change its font color or underline formatting to match the surrounding text. Do not delete and retype a carefully formatted sentence solely to remove the appearance.
Choose the safe scope for multiple links
Ctrl+Shift+F9 converts fields in the current selection to static text. If you select the entire document, that can also freeze cross-references, a generated table of contents, page-number fields, and other fields. In a document that uses those features, select only the linked passage or remove links one at a time. Save a copy and inspect the resulting text and any automated references after a bulk change. If you wanted a different destination rather than no destination, right-click the link and choose Edit Hyperlink where available.
Turning off automatic hyperlink creation affects future typing only. An address already present in the document still needs to be removed or edited separately. Check one sample address after changing AutoCorrect so you know which behavior Word now uses.
Stop Word from turning typed addresses into links
In Word for Windows, choose File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type, then clear Internet and network paths with hyperlinks. This changes how future addresses are formatted; it does not remove existing links. If you need to build a working internal link instead, see our link within a Word document guide.
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Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com