Why Do Links in Outlook Look So Strange? (And How to Change It)

If you've ever received a message in Outlook and noticed that the links seem much longer than usual, you’re not alone! Instead of the original URL, you’ll often see something like this: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/...

This is part of a Microsoft security feature called SafeLinks. It’s a useful (but sometimes frustrating) tool designed to protect you from phishing scams, malware, and other online threats. Here’s a deeper look into what SafeLinks does, why it alters your links, and how to turn it off if you want to keep your links as they are.

What Is SafeLinks?

SafeLinks is a feature Microsoft uses to scan links in your emails for any signs of phishing or malicious content. Here’s how it works:

1. Link Scanning: When an email arrives in your inbox with links, Outlook’s SafeLinks feature rewrites them into a secure format, which adds that "safelinks.protection.outlook.com" text. This lets Microsoft track and check the destination for any known threats.

2. Security Checks: If you click on a SafeLink, Microsoft runs the link through security checks. If it’s flagged as suspicious, you’ll be redirected to a warning page that stops you from opening it directly. If it’s safe, the link will send you on to the intended page.

3. Purpose of SafeLinks: The feature is part of Microsoft’s Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to prevent users from clicking on potentially harmful links, especially those associated with phishing scams or malware.

Why Do Links Look Different in Outlook?

SafeLinks works by encoding the original link into a special URL, which is why it looks long and unfamiliar. This transformation helps Microsoft keep track of what’s safe and what’s not. However, it does mean that:

• Links can look more confusing and might appear “broken” or overly complex.
• Hovering over links doesn’t reveal the original URL, making it harder to know exactly where you’re being directed.

Can You Turn Off SafeLinks?

Yes, you can turn off SafeLinks in Outlook’s settings, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Disabling SafeLinks will stop Outlook from transforming future links into their long "safe" format, but it won’t change the links in messages you’ve already received. Here’s how to do it:

1. Sign In to Your Outlook Account

   • Go to Outlook.com and log in to your account.

2. Open Settings

   • In the upper right corner, click on the Settings gear icon.

3. Navigate to Premium Settings

   • Select Premium from the options on the left side. (Note: This feature may only be available for users with an Outlook Premium account.)

4. Adjust SafeLinks Settings

   • Under the Security section, locate the Advanced Security settings.
   • Look for the toggle switch that says Turn off SafeLinks and switch it off.

5. Save and Exit

   • Once you’ve turned off SafeLinks, it will no longer affect links in future messages. However, any emails you received prior to this change will still contain SafeLink URLs.

To SafeLink or Not to SafeLink?

Turning off SafeLinks will give you a cleaner, more familiar link experience, but you’ll lose some added protection that helps filter out risky links. If you’re comfortable with this and prefer simpler URLs, go ahead and make the change! But if you’re prone to clicking on random links, leaving SafeLinks on might not be a bad idea.

Problem Solved? Now You’re In Control!

And there you have it! You now know how to simplify your Outlook links, if you’re okay with slightly less screening. Just remember: with great link clarity comes great responsibility. Now, no clicking on "FREE PRIZES HERE" emails—no matter how many exclamation marks they use!