Charles from AZ writes:
I have Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010, and recently I did something that won’t allow me to click on a hyperlink in my e-mails. Now when I click, it comes up with a pop-up says that I am to consult my system administrator. What can I do?
Because of the huge amount of spam emails that contain links to questionable sites, which may compromise your computer’s security, Outlook has several options to prevent links in email messages from functioning. If one of these options has been turned on, you can always work around the security feature by right-clicking the link, selecting “Copy Link Location,” and then pasting the link into your web browser’s address bar. Obviously this isn’t an ideal long-term solution, however, as it adds in several unnecessary steps. To permanently fix the issue, you need to figure out which security feature has been enabled and then shut it off.
For the first link-disabling feature to check, open the “File” menu at the top-left corner of the window and select “Options.” If you are using Outlook 2007, instead click the “Tools” button at the top of the window and then click “Options.”
Click the button labeled “Editor Options” at the right hand side of the “Options” window. In the 2007 edition of Outlook, instead navigate to the “Mail Format” tab and click the “Editor Options” button at the bottom of the window.
Navigate to the “Proofing” tab at the left side of the screen and click the “AutoCorrect Options” button at the right side of the window. This step remains the same in either version of Outlook.
In either Outlook 2007 or 2010, click the “AutoFormat” tab at the top of the new “AutoCorrect” window that appears on the screen and then locate the “Replace” heading at the center of the window. Look to see if the check box labeled “Internet and Network Paths with Hyperlinks” is currently un-checked. If the box is empty, click it to fill it with a check mark, and then click the “OK” button.
If you still can’t click hyperlinks in your email messages, Outlook may be disabling the links because the program thinks they are spam or lead to a phishing website. You will need to turn off the feature that prevents these links from being clicked, although this will leave you vulnerable to accidentally clicking real phishing links. Return to the main Outlook screen and navigate to the “Home” tab at the top of the window.
To access the option for preventing phishing links from functioning, click the “Junk” button and select “Junk Email Options.” In Outlook 2007 this option is located in a different menu. Instead of the “Home” tab, open the “Tools” menu and select “Options” again. Click the “Junk Email” button located in the “Preferences” tab.
Remove the check mark from the box labeled “Disable Links and Other Functionality in Phishing Messages” to restore your ability to click links.
Click “Apply” and “OK” to save the change and restore link functionality in your email messages. Because you will be vulnerable to scam messages, it’s recommended to turn this feature back on after you’ve clicked whatever link is contained in the email message.
~Ty Arthur
Thanks to both Charles for asking the question and WorldStart for the answer. Could have sworn I’d tried click-link because that’s use elsewhere in Office but unchecked the appropriate box and all is now copacetic. Much obliged
Hi, I’m using Office 2007. The first option worked just fine and that’s already something. The other fix options didn’t go at all for me. It’s a pity because I was hoping to put away with the problem the way one should. So I’ll just paste my hyperlinks into the navigator and live with it. Thanks for the lead. Bye.
Thank you for this! Outlook Help is useless many of the times. I tried both above and my links are still not clickable. In their Help they say to:
If you want to enable the links in a message, in the Reading Pane or open message, in the InfoBar at the top of the message, click Enable links and other functionality (not recommended).
But I cannot find this “enable links” checkbox. any ideas?
Thank you for your steps to make hyperlinks work again but I have MS Office 2010 Pro Plus and I tried your steps and I still cannot get the links to open in the MS Office Outlook. Any other things that you may have for me to suggest I am willing to try, again thanks.
Ralph.
Thank you for the excellent step by step instructions, and especially for including 2007!
I tried all of this and still cant get hyperlinks to open. Any other suggestions? It’s saying i cant due to restrictions on my computer. I’m the only user, it’s my home computer and i don’t recall ever setting it this way. it just suddenly starting doing this 2 months ago
Bing sent me here assuming I wanted hyperlinks fixed in an email but I wanted them fixed in word ! That’s why I don’t like Bing.
I get a failure that reports that the “Windows can’t open this file” as it does not know which program to use. I have done all the above fixes and copying and pasting the link does work. Any clues or other recommendations?
The second fix worked for my Outlook 2010 with Windows 7.
Thank you SO much!
Suddenly this has happened to me. I am livid. I’ve tried doing both the ideas suggested above but it remains a problem. I just installed a new printer (Epson) and wonder if that had something to do with it. I don’t know. I am frustrated and am angry this has happened. Thanks for your ideas.
Hello. And Bye.