Renaming files linked to from within Excel typically breaks those links. Excel references external files via their full path, including the exact filename. When you rename a file outside Excel, the stored reference inside your Excel workbook no longer matches the actual file location, causing the link to fail. Excel does not automatically detect or update the workbook to reflect external filename changes.

For example, if an accounting department workbook links to a source file named "Q1_Sales_Data.xlsx" stored on a shared drive, renaming that source file to "Q1_Revenue_Final.xlsx" would break the link. Similarly, a monthly report pulling data from a file named "April_Master_List.csv" would need re-linking if that file was later renamed to "April_Primary_Data.csv".

This limitation requires manual intervention to repair links using Excel's "Edit Links" feature, which involves browsing to locate the renamed file. While simple for occasional changes, this process is inefficient and error-prone when managing multiple files or complex workbooks across teams. It necessitates careful file naming conventions or alternative data integration methods to maintain efficiency and avoid disruptions in critical business or research workflows.