To rename a link in Word, change its display text while keeping the destination address. The words readers see and the address the link opens are separate fields.
Change the visible link text in desktop Word
- Right-click anywhere in the existing hyperlink and choose Edit Hyperlink.
- In Text to display, enter a short description of the destination. Leave Address unchanged if the destination should stay the same.
- Select OK, then check both the visible text and the link target.
Microsoft’s hyperlink instructions describe editing a link’s displayed text and address. To make a new link instead, see our guide to adding a hyperlink in Word.
In Word for the web
Click in the existing link, then choose Insert > Link. Change the Display text field and keep the destination in Enter Link if it is still correct. Microsoft’s Word for the web link guide documents this route.
Check the result
Use text that tells readers where the link goes, such as “Microsoft Word support,” instead of “click here.” If the link points to a file, email address, or heading in the same document, inspect its destination before saving. A link that looks renamed can still send readers to an old address if that field was not updated.
If Edit Hyperlink is unavailable, confirm the document is editable and that you clicked actual linked text. Ordinary blue underlined text may be formatting rather than a hyperlink. You can undo an accidental change, then edit the link again.
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