Summary

Confluence currently does not automatically convert pasted internal page URLs into managed links. This leads to frequent link rot as unmanaged links break when page titles are renamed or pages are moved. We propose that Confluence should detect internal links upon paste and automatically convert them into managed format.

Current Behavior

When users copy and paste a link to another Confluence page (especially from Edge or other browsers), the resulting link is:

• Unmanaged (direct URL), and

• Vulnerable to breakage if the target page is renamed or moved.

This behavior is inconsistent with the intention of internal linking and contradicts Confluence’s goal of maintaining content integrity over time.

Proposed Enhancement

When a user pastes a link into a Confluence page:

• If the URL points to another Confluence page, the editor should recognize it and convert it into a managed link.

• This behavior should apply regardless of browser or link format.

• Optionally, provide a toggle in settings to enforce this behavior workspace-wide.

Benefits

• Prevents link rot across Confluence spaces.

• Improves documentation consistency and longevity.

• Reduces manual correction effort from authors and admins.

• Aligns with the expectations of users coming from tools like Notion or internal wikis that smartly manage internal references.

Workaround

We currently mitigate this with:

• Manual use of the Insert Link (Ctrl+K) function,

• Training users to switch Edge to "Plain Text" paste mode,

• Reminders in Confluence usage guidelines,

• Periodic manual reviews of content for unmanaged links.

These are time-consuming and error-prone solutions.

References

• Related ticket: CONFSERVER-14910 (though not directly about this, it shows the general concern with content discoverability and link integrity).