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Excel Links Broken After Migration to SharePoint? Try These 4 Fixes

Mack John ~ Published: May 14th, 2025 ~ SharePoint ~ 6 Minutes Reading

Are your Excel links broken after migration to SharePoint? You’re not alone. This common issue affects many organizations, but the good news is, it’s fixable. As SharePoint migration experts, we will explain to you why it happens and how to resolve it efficiently.

Why Do Excel Links Break After SharePoint Migration?

Migrating to SharePoint often alters the file paths used in Excel workbooks, which disrupts source data. Here are some common causes why it happens:

  • Hardcoded absolute paths (e.g., C:\Users\…)
  • Linked workbooks that were stored in different folders or locations
  • UNC paths or outdated URLs are not supported by SharePoint
  • Relative vs. absolute links inconsistencies
  • Files opened via browser or OneDrive Web sometimes alter behaviour

Once we import Excel to SharePoint List, Excel can no longer find the old references, which causes link errors. Next, we will explore how to identify these broken links simultaneously. 

How to Identify Broken Excel Links?

Before fixing the Excel links broken after migration to SharePoint error, let’s first confirm how many links are broken, to repair them in one go. Follow the steps given below to detect:

  • Open Excel, and click on Data > Edit Links.
  • Any broken links will appear with “Error: Source not found”
  • Use =CELL(“filename”, A1) to see the full path of the workbook.
  • Combine with =HYPERLINK() or =INFO(“DIRECTORY”) to audit links.
  • Review common formulas (VLOOKUP, INDEX, INDIRECT, etc.) that rely on external references.

Fix Excel Links Broken After Migration to SharePoint – Top 4 Solutions

After detecting all the broken links, let’s explore how to repair them using four reliable methods. Don’t worry, you can opt for any, as our experts tried them and now, we are here to explain to you, i.e.

Method 1. Update Links Manually via Excel

This is a time-consuming method, and is best suited for fixing a small number of links (e.g., 10-15 files). 

  • Go to Data > Edit Links
  • Click Change Source
  • Replace the old file path with the new SharePoint URL
    • For example:
      From: C:\Documents\report.xlsx
      To: https://yourorganizationname.sharepoint.com/sites/marketing/Shared Documents/report.xlsx

Note: Use full SharePoint URLs as shown in the example.

Method 2. Use Find & Replace in Excel

This method is best when the same path is repeated across multiple formulas. But for different paths, it is not recommended, as it becomes time-consuming to resolve Excel links broken after migration to SharePoint. Here are the steps to follow:

  • Press Ctrl + H
  • Find: C:\OldPath\
  • Replace with: https://yourorganizationname.sharepoint.com/sites/…

Note: Backup SharePoint Online to Local Storage before starting with automation. 

Method 3. Automate Link Updates Using Power Automate

Using Power Automate, you can simultaneously repair several broken links. Before moving to the step-by-step instructions, first ensure these points:

  • Having access to Power Automate with an appropriate Microsoft 365 license
  • SharePoint Online site with a document library containing the Excel files
  • Excel Online (Business) connector enabled

After verifying these prerequisites, follow the steps given below to resolve the Excel links broken after migration to SharePoint error:

  • Go to Power Automate
  • Click Create > Automated Cloud Flow
  • Name the flow (e.g., Fix Excel Links in SharePoint)
  • Select When a file is created or modified as the trigger
  • Choose a SharePoint site & document library
  • Add a Condition control:
    • Condition: Name ends with ‘.xlsx’
Use expression:
endsWith(triggerOutputs()?['body/{FilenameWithExtension}'], '.xlsx')
  • Proceed only if the condition is true
  • Add “Get file content” action from SharePoint
  • Configure:
    • Site Address: Your SharePoint site
    • File Identifier: From the trigger output
  • Add the List rows present in a table in Excel Online Business
  • Input:
    • Location: SharePoint
    • Document Library: Documents
    • File: According to your preference
    • Table: Provide the name which exactly matches the table name inside the Excel file
  • Update Hyperlink or Metadata, depending on what you want to update:
  • Add “Update a row” action (Excel Online)
  • Map the row ID and set the new hyperlink value
     Example:

    • Old: C:\OldFolder\Report.xlsx
    • New: https://companyname.sharepoint.com/sites/finance/Shared Documents/Report.xlsx

Use Case – Excel Links Broken After Migration to SharePoint

After migrating 500 Excel files to SharePoint, our finance team needed to update all embedded links referencing Z:\drive\q4.xlsx. This Power Automate flow scanned each file, found matching text in a table, and replaced it with the new SharePoint URL, all within minutes.

The steps are too lengthy, but these are one-time; once you complete this, you get the result in minutes. All the broken files, even 100 or 200, will be fixed. Still, if you find this complex, then don’t worry, let’s move to the next section. 

Method 4: Use VBA to Resolve Excel Links Broken After Migration to SharePoint Issue

A simple VBA script can update links across worksheets:

Sub UpdateLinks()

    Dim ws As Worksheet

    Dim hl As Hyperlink

    For Each ws In ActiveWorkbook.Worksheets

        For Each hl In ws.Hyperlinks

            hl.Address = Replace(hl.Address, "C:\OldPath\", "https://yourorganizationname.sharepoint.com/sites/newpath/")

        Next hl

    Next ws

End Sub

Note: Test the minimum data before mass updates, as automation makes things easier and difficult too. 

Comparison of All the Solution

The below image(table) shows the comparison of all four described solutions to help user to make a wise decision.

Comparison of All the Solution

Best Practices to Prevent Excel Links Broken After Migration to SharePoint in the Future

Preventing this issue in the future is easy; you just need to remember these points:

  • Sync SharePoint Document Library to local folder to ensure data continuity if anything goes wrong.
  • Use relative links instead of absolute paths
  • Avoid storing files in mapped drives
  • Educate users on referencing files via SharePoint URLs
  • Use a robust migration tool that retains metadata and structure

Final Thoughts

Fixing broken Excel links after migrating to SharePoint may seem frustrating, but with the right methods, we can effectively troubleshoot this error.

Using appropriate methods, step-by-step instructions, you can avoid downtime, improve collaboration, and effectively bypass the Excel links broken after migration to SharePoint error.

People Also Ask!

Q. Why are my workbook links not working in Excel?

Workbook links may stop working after migration due to changes in file paths. Excel stores absolute paths, and when files are moved to SharePoint, those paths are no longer valid. That’s the reason workbook links not working in Excel.

Q.Why do my Excel links keep breaking?

Breaking of Excel links may be due to:

  • File relocation (e.g., from local drive to SharePoint)
  • Use of mapped drives or UNC paths
  • Link dependencies on renamed folders/files

To prevent this, update links using tools like Power Automate or manual Excel features.

Q. How to find and fix broken links in Excel?

To detect and fix broken links:

  1. Open the Excel file.
  2. Go to Data > Edit Links (if visible).
  3. Review the status of each link.
  4. Click Change Source to update the file location to its new SharePoint URL.

Q. How do I add a SharePoint link in Excel?

To add a SharePoint link:

  1. Open the Excel file.
  2. Select a cell, then use Insert > Link
  3. Paste the SharePoint file or folder URL
  4. Click OK.