# Writer automatically adds http:// to links, breaking custom protocol browser behaviour

**URL:** <https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/writer-automatically-adds-http-to-links-breaking-custom-protocol-browser-behaviour/3387>\
**Category:** Writer\
**Created:** [February 6, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/writer-automatically-adds-http-to-links-breaking-custom-protocol-browser-behaviour/3387 "2025-02-06T17:41:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Faibk](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.collaboraonline.com/faibk/32/1540_2.png) [@Faibk](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/u/Faibk)\
**Post date:** [February 6, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/writer-automatically-adds-http-to-links-breaking-custom-protocol-browser-behaviour/3387/1 "2025-02-06T17:41:50Z")

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Hello,

I am trying to add hyperlinks with custom protocol to my document, but it keeps automatically adding http:// in front. There seems to be no way to disable this behaviour or manually edit the link to be functional. This “feature” breaks common web functionality.

Specifically I want to add links such as “zotero://select/groups/0000/collections/123” which are valid custom protocols and prompt the browser to open a desktop app. If at all the http:// should only be automatically added if there is no protocol:// string at the beginning of the pasted text.

1. Can I somehow disable this? Is there a workaround?
2. Where can I file for a bug report?

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**Author:** ![darshan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.collaboraonline.com/darshan/32/2230_2.png) [@darshan](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/u/darshan)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:06am UTC](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/writer-automatically-adds-http-to-links-breaking-custom-protocol-browser-behaviour/3387/2 "2025-02-11T10:06:44Z")

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This issue is caused by **Collabora Online (or LibreOffice) automatically assuming “http://”** for links that do not have a standard web protocol. Unfortunately, there is no built-in option to disable this behavior via the UI.

You can report this issue in the **Collabora Online GitHub repository** :  
[GitHub · Where software is built](https://github.com/CollaboraOnline/online/issues)

Or, if this is also an issue in LibreOffice, file it here:  
[https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/](https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/)

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**Author:** ![darshan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.collaboraonline.com/darshan/32/2230_2.png) [@darshan](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/u/darshan)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2025, 10:06am UTC](https://forum.collaboraonline.com/t/writer-automatically-adds-http-to-links-breaking-custom-protocol-browser-behaviour/3387/3 "2025-02-11T10:06:50Z")

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Closed on February 11, 2025, 10:06am UTC