A URL is not formatted as a hyperlink when you send or receive an instant message that contains a URL in Lync Online

When you send or receive an instant message that contains a URL in Microsoft Lync Online in a Microsoft Office 365 environment, the URL is not formatted as a hyperlink in messages that are sent or received. Therefore, you cannot click the URL. Or, the URL in the message may be preceded by an underscore (_) character and cannot be clicked.

This issue occurs because of security policy settings that are configured in the Intelligent Instant Message (IM) Filter in Lync Online. Hyperlinks that are sent in instant messages potentially could be harmful if the recipient clicks the hyperlink without first verifying its source. The underscore (_) character is added to the hyperlink so that the hyperlink is not clickable. Users have to manually copy and paste the link to a web browser to access the URL.

You cannot make hyperlinks clickable in instant messages that are sent through Lync Online. Users must manually copy and paste the URL to a web browser such as Windows Internet Explorer.