Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Editing a Hyperlink.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 2, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Once a hyperlink is placed in your worksheet, it is not unusual to periodically need to change the link in some way. This is quite easy to do, using any of the following methods:
To select a cell in which a hyperlink is located, simply click on an adjacent cell (one without a hyperlink) and use the arrow keys to select the cell. If you try to click on the cell directly, you will instead activate the hyperlink.
At the conclusion of any of these steps, the Edit Hyperlink dialog box is visible. The difference between this instance and actually adding a hyperlink is that all the information in the dialog box is already filled in. You can make edits to your heart's content, and then click on OK to save your changes.
While pulling up the Edit Hyperlink dialog box provides the most flexibility (you can change everything about the link in one place), it can be a pain to do. If all you want to do is change the text used for the hyperlink, Excel makes the process very easy. Simply change the contents of the cell, and the hyperlink text is automatically changed. Thus, you can select the cell containing the hyperlink and begin typing. What you type becomes the text for the hyperlink.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2139) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Editing a Hyperlink.
Create Custom Apps with VBA! Discover how to extend the capabilities of Office 365 applications with VBA programming. Written in clear terms and understandable language, the book includes systematic tutorials and contains both intermediate and advanced content for experienced VB developers. Designed to be comprehensive, the book addresses not just one Office application, but the entire Office suite. Check out Mastering VBA for Microsoft Office 365 today!
Do you use special characters (such as the pound sign) in your worksheet names? If so, you could run into problems ...
Discover MoreWhen you enter a URL or e-mail address in a worksheet, Excel usually converts it to a clickable hyperlink. This doesn't ...
Discover MoreIf you have a whole slew of hyperlinks in a worksheet and you want to get rid of them, it's easier than you think. This ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments