Remove the Clickable Link from a SharePoint Lookup Column Using JSON Column Formatting

If you have worked with SharePoint lists for any amount of time, you have probably noticed that lookup columns are always rendered as clickable links. In many cases, that behavior is useful. But in other cases, it creates unnecessary friction, especially when users do not actually need to navigate to the source item.

The good news is you do not need to redesign your list or remove lookup columns entirely. With JSON column formatting, you can control how the value is displayed and remove the hyperlink behavior while keeping the data intact.

This is a common approach when you need to remove hyperlink behavior from SharePoint lookup columns without changing how the data is stored.

Scenario Overview

Let’s say you have a SharePoint list that tracks Projects. One of the columns is a lookup to a separate list that stores Project Status values such as Planned, In Progress, On Hold, or Completed.

By default, SharePoint renders these lookup values as clickable links pointing back to the source status item. In this case, that behavior is unnecessary. Users are not expected to edit or inspect the status list itself. They just need to see the value in the current view.

This creates a small but common usability issue: users click out of the list unintentionally and lose context.

What we want instead is simple display-only text that stays within the context of the list view.

Instructions

Step 1: Open the List View and Locate the Column

Navigate to your SharePoint list and open the view where the lookup column is displayed. Column formatting is applied per view, so make sure you are working in the correct one.

Find the lookup column that contains your project status values.

Step 2: Open Column Formatting

Click the column header, then select Column settings followed by Format this column.

Step 3: Switch to Advanced Mode

In the formatting pane, choose Advanced mode so you can paste in custom JSON.

Step 4: Apply the JSON Formatting

Use the following JSON to render the lookup value as plain text:

{
  "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json",
  "elmType": "div",
  "txtContent": "@currentField.lookupValue"
}

Step 5: Save Changes

Click Save and return to your list view.

What the JSON is Doing

This is a lightweight formatting rule, but each part plays a specific role in overriding SharePoint’s default behavior.

• $schema

  This points to the SharePoint column formatting schema. It is not required, but it helps with validation and IntelliSense in some editors.

• elmType: "div"

  This tells SharePoint to render the field as a simple block-level HTML element instead of the default link. You could also use span if you prefer inline behavior, but div gives you more flexibility for layout and styling.

• txtContent: "@currentField.lookupValue"

  This is the key piece. Instead of rendering the full lookup object, this tells SharePoint to display only the lookup’s text value. This replaces SharePoint’s default link rendering and outputs the raw text value instead.

Optional Enhancements

Once you take control of rendering, you can extend the behavior depending on your needs. These small additions help tailor the display for readability, usability, and data quality.

Add Styling

Use styling to improve visual hierarchy or align the column with your overall list design. This is useful when you want status values or key fields to stand out slightly without changing the data itself.

{
  "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json",
  "elmType": "div",
  "txtContent": "@currentField.lookupValue",
  "style": {
    "font-weight": "600",
    "color": "#323130"
  }
}

Handle Empty or Missing Values

Lookup fields can sometimes return null or blank values, especially if the source item changes or is removed. Adding a fallback keeps your list clean and avoids confusing empty cells.

{
  "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json",
  "elmType": "div",
  "txtContent": "=if(@currentField.lookupValue, @currentField.lookupValue, 'No Status')",
  "style": {
    "font-weight": "600",
    "color": "#323130"
  }
}

Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting is useful when you want status values to carry visual meaning. For example, completed items can be highlighted in green while everything else stays neutral.

{
  "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json",
  "elmType": "div",
  "txtContent": "=if(@currentField.lookupValue, @currentField.lookupValue, 'No Status')",
  "style": {
    "font-weight": "600",
    "color": "=if(@currentField.lookupValue == 'Completed', '#107c10', '#323130')"
  }
}

Additional Reading

For a deeper breakdown of supported properties and formatting patterns, refer to Microsoft’s official documentation on SharePoint column formatting.

Edge Cases

A few things are worth keeping in mind when using this approach:

• Some lookup configurations may not behave consistently with lookupValue. If you see blank results, try replacing it with @currentField.
• Multi-value lookup columns require a different approach and may not render correctly with this simple pattern.
• If the source item in the lookup list is deleted, the displayed value may become blank or fallback depending on configuration.
• This formatting does not change permissions or data relationships. It only changes how values render in the view.

Results

After applying this formatting, the lookup column will display as plain text instead of a clickable link.

This helps maintain focus inside the list, especially in dashboards or operational views where users are scanning and updating items frequently.

Summary

Lookup columns in SharePoint default to clickable links, but that is not always desirable. Using JSON column formatting, you can override the default rendering and display only the lookup value as plain text.

This keeps your data structure intact while improving how users interact with the list. It reduces unnecessary navigation, improves focus, and gives you more control over how information is presented in everyday list views.