Why does Outlook no longer show the original URL on hovering over a link in an email message?

Anonymous

Starting in 2019 sometime, Windows Outlook began showing the original URL on hovering over a link in an email message.

Before that, it had only shown the rewritten safelinks version, which is very difficult to read and not at all helpful to someone who's trying to check what's behind that link's display text.

This was a vast improvement, and these days it is essential to be able to quckly check links if people are to have a chance of avoiding phishing traps.

It's particularly important for those users (probably the majority) who wouldn't understand the safelinks URL, and might well assume it's safe because it's a microsoft.com link.

Sadly, though, some time within the last few months my Outlook 365 has reverted to showing the unreadable safelinks URL in both the hover popup and the status bar at the bottom of the Outlook window. I currently have Windows Outlook Version 2404 Build 16.0.17531.20152 Click-to-run.

The safelinks service is good, but there will always be malicious links that get past it, and people need to be able to decide whether or not to click on a link by seeing the actual URL it would go to, not simply assume that safelinks will take care of it.

Has anyone else noticed this?

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48 answers

Anonymous

2024-08-13T15:10:06+00:00

Ticket was just opened with MS. Want to bet on how long it will take to get a response?
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Anonymous

2024-08-13T14:53:32+00:00

I have just submitted this issue via the support button in the New Outlook. As Microsoft don't seem to be monitoring this thread, if others wouldn't mind submitting this issue via the Support button as well, I think that would definitely help push things along a bit.

To do this, just click 'Help' on the top ribbon, then click Support. You can then type a brief description (don't need to submit a dump file or record the screen) and then submit this to Microsoft. Hopefully the more that report this, the more it will highlight the issue to Microsoft.

Thank you.
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Anonymous

2024-08-13T14:32:02+00:00

I, too, have been struggling with the "New" Outlook not showing URLs when hovering over the links. I echo most of your comments about security concerns and how we've trained our employees to check links before clicking.

As a workaround I found the web version of Outlook - https://outlook.office.com shows the URL when you hover. I believe the web version of Outlook is nearly identical in features to the "New Outlook," so this might be an option for some of you.
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Anonymous

2024-08-12T14:34:13+00:00

So it sounds like yourself and some others get the URL to appear when hovering over some of the time, but not all. Strange indeed. What we do know is Microsoft need to fix this as it's simply not working properly in the New Outlook. We would look like numpties teaching staff how to spot dodgy URL's, then roll out the New Outlook which doesn't let you view the URL before clicking it.
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Anonymous

2024-08-09T15:50:30+00:00

So with this version

I have hover over MOST links (the links in the Microsoft Community emails, for example).

I do NOT have hover in links of some messages (most recently, one of the phishing tests from our infosec peeps). How's that for maddening?

Also, and most frustrating when I'm trying to make documentation, I lose the hover text when I try to take a screenshot (win-shft-s). How's that for useless?

Thanks fer nuffin', Microsoft!
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