How To Change Hyperlink Settings In Outlook

Managing hyperlink settings in Outlook ensures your links behave exactly how you want. If you’ve ever wondered how to change hyperlink settings in outlook, you’re in the right place—this guide walks you through every step clearly and quickly. Whether you want to remove underlines, change colors, or disable automatic link creation, these tweaks make your emails cleaner and more professional.

Outlook automatically turns typed URLs into clickable links with blue text and underlines. That’s handy sometimes, but it can also clutter your message or clash with your branding. The good news? You can customize nearly every aspect of how hyperlinks appear and behave. Let’s dive right in.

Why Customize Hyperlink Settings In Outlook

Default hyperlink settings work for basic use, but they don’t suit everyone. Maybe you’re sending a newsletter and want links to match your brand colors. Or perhaps you find underlines distracting in formal emails. Changing these settings helps you control the reader’s experience.

Another common reason: you might want to stop Outlook from creating hyperlinks automatically. This prevents accidental clicks or formatting issues when sharing raw URLs. Whatever your goal, adjusting these settings is straightforward once you know where to look.

This section covers the core process. Follow these steps to modify how hyperlinks look and function in your emails. The exact steps vary slightly depending on your Outlook version, but the logic remains the same.

Accessing The Hyperlink Options

First, you need to find the right menu. Here’s how:

Open Outlook and click on File in the top-left corner.
Select Options from the left sidebar.
In the Outlook Options window, click on Mail.
Scroll down to the Compose messages section.
Click the Editor Options button.

This opens the Editor Options dialog, where you control text formatting and link behavior. From here, you can adjust hyperlink settings for new emails, replies, and forwards.

Changing Hyperlink Color And Style

Once in Editor Options, follow these steps:

Click on Advanced in the left pane.
Scroll down to the Cut, copy, and paste section.
Look for the Show AutoComplete Options button—ignore that for now.
Instead, go to General and find the Web Options button. Click it.
In the Web Options dialog, select the Fonts tab.
Here you can change the font style and size for hyperlinks. But for color, you need a different route.

Actually, the most direct way to change hyperlink color is through the Styles pane. Here’s the simpler method:

In any email, type a URL and press Enter to create a hyperlink.
Right-click the link and choose Styles from the context menu.
Select Select All Instances of the Hyperlink style.
Then right-click again and choose Modify.
In the Modify Style window, click Format and choose Font.
Change the color, underline style, or other attributes as desired.
Check New documents based on this template to apply globally.
Click OK to save.

This method works for most Outlook versions, including 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365. The change affects all future hyperlinks you insert.

Disabling Automatic Hyperlink Creation

If you prefer to type URLs as plain text without them becoming clickable, here’s the fix:

Go to File > Options > Mail.
Click Editor Options.
Select Proofing in the left pane.
Click the AutoCorrect Options button.
In the AutoCorrect window, go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
Uncheck the box that says Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
Also uncheck it under the AutoFormat tab for existing text.
Click OK twice to save.

Now, URLs you type will remain plain text. To manually create a hyperlink later, you can still use the Insert Link button or press Ctrl+K.

Removing Underlines From Hyperlinks

Underlines are part of the hyperlink style by default. To remove them, modify the style as described earlier, but set the underline to None. Alternatively, you can manually remove the underline from individual links by selecting the text and clicking the underline button in the ribbon.

For a permanent fix, use the Styles method above and change the underline option to None. This applies to all new hyperlinks in that template.

Advanced Hyperlink Customization

Beyond basic colors and underlines, you can tweak more advanced settings. These include controlling how links open, managing link tracking, and setting default link behavior for different email formats.

Setting Default Link Behavior For HTML Vs Plain Text

Outlook treats hyperlinks differently depending on the email format. HTML emails support rich formatting, while plain text emails strip all styling. To set defaults:

Go to File > Options > Mail.
Under Compose messages, choose your default format (HTML or Plain Text).
If you use HTML, hyperlinks will follow the style settings you configured.
For plain text, URLs appear as raw text and aren’t clickable unless the recipient’s client renders them.

If you often switch between formats, consider creating a signature with your preferred link style and applying it manually.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts For Hyperlinks

Speed up your workflow with these shortcuts:

Ctrl+K: Insert or edit a hyperlink.
Ctrl+Click: Follow a hyperlink in the reading pane.
Alt+Shift+Left Arrow: Remove a hyperlink.

These shortcuts work in most Outlook versions and save time when managing links.

Managing Hyperlink Security Settings

Outlook includes security features that warn you before opening links. To adjust these:

Go to File > Options > Trust Center.
Click Trust Center Settings.
Select Email Security.
Under Read as Plain Text, check or uncheck options as needed.
Also check the Automatic Download settings to control link previews.

Be cautious here—disabling security warnings can expose you to phishing links. Only adjust if you understand the risks.

Common Issues And Fixes

Sometimes hyperlink settings don’t apply as expected. Here are frequent problems and solutions.

Hyperlink Color Not Changing

If your new color doesn’t show, the issue is often the template. Make sure you selected New documents based on this template when modifying the style. Also, check if the email uses a theme that overrides your settings. Try creating a new email to test.

Automatic Hyperlinks Still Appearing

Double-check that you unchecked both the AutoFormat As You Type and AutoFormat tabs. Sometimes Outlook resets these settings after updates. Revisit the steps above and confirm the boxes remain unchecked.

Hyperlinks Not Clickable In Sent Emails

This usually happens when you send plain text emails. Switch to HTML format for clickable links. Also, ensure you’re using the correct URL format (e.g., starting with http:// or https://).

FAQ: Hyperlink Settings In Outlook

How Do I Change The Default Hyperlink Color In Outlook?

Modify the Hyperlink style as described in the “Changing Hyperlink Color And Style” section. Ensure you apply the change to the template for it to persist.

Can I Disable Hyperlinks In Outlook Entirely?

Yes, by unchecking the automatic hyperlink option in AutoCorrect settings. This stops Outlook from creating new links, but existing ones remain clickable.

Why Are My Hyperlinks Underlined Even After I Remove Them?

The underline might be part of the email’s theme or style. Try modifying the Hyperlink style again and set underline to None. Also check if the text has direct formatting applied.

How Do I Change Hyperlink Settings For All Outgoing Emails?

Use the Styles method and select “New documents based on this template.” This applies the changes to all new emails you compose.

Does Changing Hyperlink Settings Affect Received Emails?

No, these settings only affect emails you send. Received emails display links as the sender formatted them.

Tips For Consistent Hyperlink Management

To keep your hyperlinks uniform across all emails, consider these best practices:

Create a custom email signature with your preferred link style.
Use the same template for all new messages.
Test your settings by sending a test email to yourself.
Regularly check for Outlook updates that might reset your preferences.

Another tip: if you frequently send newsletters, use a dedicated email client or tool that offers more granular link control. Outlook’s settings are sufficient for most business use, but advanced users might need third-party add-ins.

Wrapping Up

Now you know exactly how to change hyperlink settings in outlook. From adjusting colors and removing underlines to disabling automatic links, these tweaks give you full control over your email formatting. The process is simple once you locate the right menus, and the changes stick until you modify them again.

Remember to test your settings after making changes. Send a quick email to yourself or a colleague to verify the links look and behave as expected. If something doesn’t work, revisit the steps—it’s easy to miss a checkbox or forget to apply the change to the template.

Hyperlinks are a small but important part of email communication. With these customizations, your messages will look more polished and professional, whether you’re sending a quick reply or a formal proposal. Take a few minutes to set up your preferences, and you’ll save time and frustration in the long run.

If you run into any issues, the FAQ section above covers the most common problems. And if you’re using an older version of Outlook, some menu labels might differ slightly, but the core logic remains the same. Happy emailing!