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MS Word: UNC/Shared Drive Hyperlinks Rewritten as Local C:\ Paths

Sarah Sagan 40 Reputation points
2025-12-11T19:44:22.7233333+00:00

Hello!

I am using a Windows 11 machine running Word (Microsoft 365 Apps for business), version 16.0.19426.20170.

My Word document contains hyperlinks pointing to files on our shared drive. While I can access these links fine, some coworkers are unable to open them. When they hover over these links, the mapped drive letter has been rewritten from S:\ to a local C:\ path. When they click on the link, Word outputs this error: Cannot open the specified file.

Regardless if I create hyperlinks via mapped drive letters (S:...) or full UNC paths (\server\share...), Word sometimes changes them. Based on my research, Word doesn’t access the file directly from the shared drive, but it instead works from a temporary copy stored on my C:\ drive. These C:\ path redirect links don’t exist on other machines, leaving recipients unable to access the intended files.

Is there a way to prevent Word from making this temporary copy? Alternatively, do you have any suggestions for properly inputting hyperlinks to shared drive files? Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows
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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous
2025-12-11T21:04:28.24+00:00

Hi @Sarah Sagan,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Thank you for the detailed information and the examples. What you’re seeing is a known behavior when Word stores file system hyperlinks that were inserted from a local sync folder (OneDrive/SharePoint) or when a document has a Hyperlink base set. Those links resolve correctly on your PC (because the local C:\… path exists) but fail for coworkers whose machines don’t have the same local path or drive mapping.

When Word rewrites hyperlinks to a local C:\… path, it’s usually because the link was inserted from a local sync folder (e.g., OneDrive under C:\Users<you>\…), so Word stores that local path, which recipients don’t share; or because the link uses a mapped drive letter like S:, which varies across PCs; or because the document’s Hyperlink base property forces relative paths to resolve against a local folder, all of which lead to unexpected C:\… targets that fail for others.

Here are a few options you can choose to link:

A. Use UNC paths (recommended for on‑prem shares):

Insert links as UNC (double‑backslash) paths, not mapped drives:

\server\share\Team\Folder\Report.xlsx

  • Type or paste the UNC directly in Insert > Link > Link > Address.
  • Don’t browse via local sync folders when inserting.
  • Make sure recipients have network access (VPN if remote) and share permissions.

B. Use SharePoint/OneDrive web URLs for cloud libraries (recommended):

Copy the https link from SharePoint/OneDrive (“Copy link”) and insert that web URL:

https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/Finance/Shared%20Documents/Report.xlsx

  • This works across devices without relying on local paths or drive maps.
  • If users prefer the desktop app, Office will usually hand off from web to client.

To prevent Word from rewriting your link:

1/ Clear the document’s Hyperlink base:

  • File > Info > Show all properties > Hyperlink base > blank, then save. Reinsert any affected links.

You can see: Revise Hyperlink Base in MS Word

2/ Disable “Update links on save” to stop auto‑relativizing:

  • File > Options > Advanced > Web Options > Files > clear Update links on save > OK.
    User's image

User's image

3/ Insert links by pasting an absolute UNC or https URL:

  • Insert > Link > Link… > Address.
  • Verify the stored target with Alt+F9, you should see { HYPERLINK "\\server\share\..." } or { HYPERLINK "https://..." }

You can see: After the most recent Word update, the hyperlinks show up as code

4/ Avoid mapped drive letters in shared docs:

  • S:\… works only if everyone has the same mapping, UNC avoids that dependency.

If the links still fail on your coworkers’ PCs after trying these suggestions:

  • Confirm they can open the same \server\share\… in File Explorer. If not, it’s a network/permissions issue, not Word.
  • Your org may block certain file links or show warnings, adjust Trust Center/hyperlink warnings as appropriate (admins can also use policy).

Reference:

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this.   

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.

I look forward to continuing the conversation.

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  1. AI answer

    2025-12-11T19:44:34.3233333+00:00

    In Microsoft Word, hyperlinks to files on shared drives can sometimes be rewritten as local paths when the document is opened. This behavior occurs because Word may create a temporary copy of the document on the local drive, which can lead to the mapped drive links being altered to point to a local path (C:) instead of the intended shared drive (S:).

    Unfortunately, there is no direct way to prevent Word from creating a temporary copy of the document when it is opened. However, to ensure that hyperlinks remain functional for all users:

    1. Use UNC Paths: When creating hyperlinks, always use the full UNC path (e.g., \server\share\file) instead of mapped drive letters. This method is less likely to be altered and is accessible from any machine that has network access to the shared drive.
    2. Check Network Access: Ensure that all users have the necessary permissions to access the shared drive and that the drive is properly mapped on their machines.
    3. Avoid Long Paths: Be mindful of the character limits for file paths in Office products, as exceeding these limits can cause issues when opening files from mapped drives or UNC paths.

    By following these practices, you can help minimize issues with hyperlinks in Word documents pointing to shared drives.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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