To remove the underline from a link in Excel 2013, select the cell with the hyperlink and press Ctrl + U (or click the Underline button on the Home tab). The link still works, but the underline disappears. To remove underlines from every hyperlink in the workbook at once, change the Hyperlink cell style: on the Home tab, click Cell Styles, right-click Hyperlink, choose Modify > Format > Font, set Underline to None, and click OK.
This guide covers removing the underline from one link or all links, changing link color, removing the link entirely, and stopping Excel from creating links automatically. The steps also work in Excel 2016 and later.
Remove the underline from one link
- Click the cell with the link (click and hold briefly, or use the arrow keys, so you select it without opening the link).
- Press Ctrl + U, or click Underline on the Home tab.
You can also right-click the cell, choose Format Cells > Font, and set Underline to None.
Remove underlines from all links
- On the Home tab, click Cell Styles.
- Right-click Hyperlink (under Data and Model) and choose Modify.
- Click Format, open the Font tab, and set Underline to None.
- Click OK twice.
Repeat for the Followed Hyperlink style so visited links don’t show an underline either. Cell style changes apply to the current workbook.
Change the link color
In the same Format > Font dialog, pick a new Color. Or select the cell and use Font Color on the Home tab for a single link.
Remove the link completely
- One link – right-click the cell and choose Remove Hyperlink.
- Many links – select the cells (or press Ctrl + A), right-click, and choose Remove Hyperlinks. In Excel 2013, you can also use Home > Clear > Remove Hyperlinks.
Stop Excel from creating links automatically
- Click File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
- On the AutoFormat As You Type tab, uncheck Internet and network paths with hyperlinks.
- Click OK.
To undo one automatic link right after typing, press Ctrl + Z.
Links created with the HYPERLINK function
Cells with a =HYPERLINK() formula use the cell’s own formatting. Remove the underline with Ctrl + U or Format Cells as usual.
To prevent links in the first place, read how to disable automatic hyperlinks in Excel 2013.
Frequently asked questions
Will removing the underline break the link?
No. It only changes the formatting.
Why does the underline come back?
When you edit a link, Excel may reapply the Hyperlink style. Modifying the style prevents this.
Can I make this the default for new workbooks?
Save a workbook with the modified style as a template (Book.xltx in your XLSTART folder) so new workbooks use it.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.