Change the visible text without changing where the link goes
When you insert a hyperlink into a document, the text you see on the page and the web address it points to are two separate things. You can change what readers see — the display text — without touching the actual link destination. This matters when you want a link to say something meaningful instead of showing a raw web address, or when you need to update what a link says without breaking where it points.
The steps differ slightly depending on which editor you use, but the principle is the same in all of them: right-click the link, find the edit option, and change the display text in the dialog that appears.
Key Takeaways
- The visible link text and the web address it points to are stored separately, so you can change one without affecting the other.
- In Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice, right-click the link and select "Edit Link" or "Edit Hyperlink" to change the display text.
- Some editors let you change the display text directly by selecting it and typing, while others require you to use the link dialog.
- Changing display text does not break the link or affect where it points — the destination URL stays the same.
How to change a link in Microsoft Word
Right-click directly on the hyperlink text in your document. A menu will appear with several options. Select "Edit Hyperlink" from that menu.
A dialog box titled "Edit Hyperlink" will open. You will see a field labeled "Display Text" at the top. This is the text that appears in your document. Clear whatever is there and type the new text you want readers to see. The "Address" field below it shows where the link actually points — leave this alone unless you also want to change the destination.
Click "OK" when you are done. The link text in your document will update when ready, but the link itself will still work exactly as before.
How to change a link in Google Docs
Click once on the hyperlink to select it. A small preview box will pop up showing the link address. At the bottom of that preview, you will see a pencil icon. Click it to open the full link editor.
In the editor that appears, the top field shows the display text. Change it to whatever you want readers to see. The URL field below shows the destination — do not touch it unless you want to change where the link points. Click "Update" to save your changes.
If the preview box does not appear, try double-clicking the link instead, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows) or Cmd+K (Mac) while the link is selected.
How to change a link in LibreOffice Writer
Right-click the hyperlink text. Select "Edit Hyperlink" from the context menu that appears.
The "Hyperlink" dialog will open. Look for the field labeled "Text" — this is what displays in your document. Replace it with your new text. The "URL" field shows the destination address. Leave it unchanged unless you want to alter where the link points.
Click "OK" to explore the change. Your document will update with the new display text while keeping the link functional.
Changing link text by selecting and typing
In some situations, you can change the display text more directly. In Google Docs, you can sometimes select the link text, delete it, and type new text without opening the link editor at all. This works as long as you do not delete the entire link — if you do, you will need to recreate it.
In Microsoft Word and LibreOffice, this approach is riskier because selecting and deleting link text often removes the link itself. Use the right-click method instead to avoid losing the link destination.
What happens to the link when you change the text
Changing the display text does not affect the link's destination. The web address stays exactly where it was. This means you can make a link say "Click here for our privacy policy" instead of showing "https://example.com/policies/privacy-2024", and the link will still point to that exact URL.
This separation also means you can update what a link says without worrying that you will break it. The link will continue to work as long as the destination address has not changed.
When you need to change both the text and the destination
If you need to change where a link points as well as what it says, use the same edit dialog. Change the display text in the "Display Text" or "Text" field, then change the URL in the "Address" or "URL" field. Both changes will take effect when you click "OK" or "Update".
If you only want to change the destination and keep the text the same, you can do that too — just leave the display text field alone and only modify the address field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing link text break the link?
No. The display text and the destination address are stored separately. Changing what the link says does not affect where it points. The link will continue to work exactly as before.
Can I change a link to say something completely different?
Yes. You can change the display text to anything you want. A link that originally said "www.example.com" can be changed to say "Learn more about our services" or any other phrase. The destination stays the same.
What if I accidentally delete the link while trying to change the text?
If you delete the entire link, you will need to recreate it. Use the right-click edit method instead of selecting and deleting to avoid this. If it happens, use Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo when ready.
Do I need to change the link text if I update the destination URL?
No. You can change the destination without touching the display text. However, if the old text no longer makes sense for the new destination, you may want to update it so readers understand where the link goes.
Can I change a link in a PDF document?
Most PDF readers do not allow editing links directly. You would need to open the document in the original editor (Word, Google Docs, or LibreOffice), make the change there, and export it as a PDF again.