The Blue Underline
When you type a URL or an email address into Google Docs, the software’s auto-formatting engine detects the pattern, turns the text blue, and automatically applies a solid underline to signify that it is a clickable hyperlink. Even if you disable the automatic link creation feature entirely, you might still find that when you manually insert a link (using Ctrl+K or the link button), Docs insists on applying that default underlined styling. For designers, graphic artists, or anyone creating a highly stylized document (like a modern resume or a corporate brochure), the harsh blue underline is often aesthetically unpleasing and clashes with the document’s design language.
Removing the Underline Formatting
To achieve a cleaner aesthetic and stop Google Docs from automatically underlining your hyperlinks, you must manually strip the underline formatting from the linked text.
Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs does not have a global “Styles” setting to permanently change the default appearance of all hyperlinks before they are created. You must remove the underline after the link exists. Highlight the specific linked text (the blue, underlined words) using your mouse cursor. Look at the formatting toolbar at the top of the screen and locate the Underline icon (an ‘U’ with a line under it, or press Ctrl+U on Windows / Cmd+U on Mac). The icon will be highlighted indicating the formatting is active. Click the Underline icon once to toggle it off. The link will remain fully functional and clickable, but the visual underline will disappear. You can also use the text color tool (the ‘A’ icon) to change the link from blue back to standard black text.