Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Getting Rid of Workbook Links.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 7, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Paula has a workbook that is linked to other workbooks. These are workbook links, not hyperlinks. She is looking for a way to break all of these types of links.
There are several ways you can approach such a task. One is to manually break the links by displaying the Data tab of the ribbon and clicking Edit Links in the Queries & Connections group. (If the Edit Links tool is not available, it means there are no links in the current workbook.) You can then select the links and click Break Link. You can even select all the links at once by creating a selection set (using Shift and Ctrl to compose the set) prior to clicking on Break Link.
If you prefer not to use the manual method, you can use a short macro to get rid of the links. The following is one example that will do the task:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here:
Sub BreakLinks()
Dim strLink
For Each strLink In ActiveWorkbook.LinkSources
ActiveWorkbook.BreakLink Name:=CStr(strLink), _
Type:=xlExcelLinks
Next strLink
End Sub
A third way to manage your links is to look to a third-party solution, such as FindLink or Name Manager. You can find them at the following pages:
http://www.manville.org.uk/software/findlink.htm http://www.jkp-ads.com/OfficeMarketPlaceNM-EN.asp
FindLink was written by Bill Manville and Name Manager by Jan Karel Pieterse, both Excel MVPs.
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9903) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Getting Rid of Workbook Links.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
If you use UNC paths in your links to external information, those paths may need to be changed at some point. You can ...
Discover MoreMake a hyperlink to a cell in your workbook, edit the structure of that workbook a bit, and you may find that the ...
Discover MoreNeed to change the various targets of a group of hyperlinks? Getting at the underlying link can seem challenging, but it ...
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 ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu 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.
Comments