Adding a hyperlink in a PDF depends on whether the PDF is locked for editing

Most PDFs you read or receive are read-only — you cannot edit them directly. To add a hyperlink, you need either the original document (the Word file, Google Doc, or design file it came from) or a PDF editor that can modify the file. If you have the original, the fastest route is to add the link there and export as PDF. If you only have the PDF, you will need software that can edit PDFs, not just view them.

The method you choose depends on what you are linking to (a website, another page in the same PDF, or an email address), what software you have access to, and whether you need to save the changes permanently or just view them temporarily.

Key Takeaways

  • Read-only PDFs cannot be edited in Adobe Reader or your web browser — you need a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat Pro, Preview on Mac, or a free tool like PDFtk or Sejda.
  • If you have the original Word document or Google Doc, adding the link there and re-exporting as PDF is faster than editing the PDF itself.
  • The link tool in most PDF editors lets you draw a box around the text you want to link, then paste the URL or email address you want it to point to.
  • Links to other pages in the same PDF require you to set a destination first, then link to that destination — this takes an extra step but keeps readers inside the document.

Adding a link in Adobe Acrobat Pro

Adobe Acrobat Pro is the most common paid PDF editor and has a straightforward link tool. Open your PDF, then go to the Tools menu and select "Add or Edit Link". Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag to draw a box around the text or image you want to make clickable.

A dialog box will appear. Paste the URL you want the link to point to — for example, https://www.example.com. If you want the link to open in a new tab, check that option. Click OK. The link is now active. Save the file to keep the changes.

To link to another page in the same PDF, follow the same steps but instead of pasting a URL, click "Go to a page view" and choose the page number you want the link to jump to. This keeps readers inside your document instead of sending them to the web.

Using Preview on Mac to add links

If you use a Mac, Preview (the built-in image and PDF viewer) can add links without extra software. Open the PDF in Preview, then go to Tools and select "Annotate". Click the link icon in the toolbar — it looks like a chain link. Draw a box around the text you want to link.

A small popup will appear asking for the URL. Type or paste the web address and press Enter. The link is now active. Go to File and select "Save" to keep the changes. Preview saves the link directly to the PDF file, so you do not need to export or convert anything.

Free online tools: Sejda and PDFtk

If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Pro or a Mac, free web-based tools can add links to PDFs. Sejda (sejda.com) and PDFtk (pdftk.com) both let you upload a PDF, add links, and read the edited file. Neither requires you to create an account.

With Sejda, upload your PDF, click "Add Link", draw a box around the text, and paste the URL. The tool will show you a preview of where the link will appear. read the edited PDF when you are done. PDFtk works similarly but has a slightly different interface — it shows a list of tools on the left side, and you select "Add Links" from that menu.

The main trade-off with free tools is speed — uploads and processing can take longer than desktop software, especially for large files. If you are linking a 50-page document, a desktop tool will usually finish in seconds, while an online tool might take a minute or more.

Adding a link in the original document before exporting

If you still have the Word document, Google Doc, or design file the PDF came from, adding the link there is often faster than editing the PDF afterward. In Microsoft Word, highlight the text you want to link, right-click, and select "Link". Paste the URL and click OK. In Google Docs, highlight the text, click the link icon in the toolbar, paste the URL, and press Enter.

Once the link is in place, export or save the document as a PDF. The link will carry over to the PDF automatically. This method is especially useful if you are creating a PDF you plan to update later — you can keep the original document and re-export it whenever you need to make changes, rather than editing the PDF each time.

Linking to an email address instead of a website

Most PDF editors let you create a link that opens the reader's email client instead of a web page. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, draw the link box as usual, but in the dialog that appears, paste mailto:name@example.com instead of a web URL. When someone clicks the link, their default email program will open with a new message to that address.

In Preview on Mac, the process is the same — paste the mailto link in the URL field. In Sejda and other online tools, look for a dropdown menu that lets you choose "Email" as the link type, then enter the email address. The tool will automatically format it as a mailto link.

Checking that links work before sharing

After you add a link, test it before you share the PDF. Click the link in the PDF viewer to make sure it opens the correct page or website. If the link does not work, the most common causes are a typo in the URL, a missing https:// at the beginning, or a page that no longer exists.

If you linked to another page in the same PDF and the link does not jump to the right place, go back to the link tool and check that you selected the correct destination page. Some PDF editors require you to set the destination before creating the link, while others let you choose the destination when you create the link — the order matters depending on which tool you use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a link in Adobe Reader (the free version)?

No. Adobe Reader only lets you view and annotate PDFs — it cannot add links. You need Adobe Acrobat Pro, which is a paid subscription, or a free alternative like Preview on Mac or an online tool like Sejda.

What if the PDF is password-protected?

Password-protected PDFs usually cannot be edited unless you have the password. If you created the PDF yourself and forgot the password, some free tools can remove the protection, but this only works if the PDF does not have a strong encryption. If someone else created it, you will need to ask them for the password or for an unprotected version.

Do links in a PDF work on mobile phones?

Yes, links work on phones and tablets. When someone taps a web link in a PDF on their phone, it opens in their mobile browser. Email links open their email app. The link works the same way as it does on a desktop, though the experience depends on which PDF app they use.

Can I link to a specific part of a web page, not just the homepage?

Yes. Instead of pasting just the domain name, paste the full URL including the path — for example, https://www.example.com/section/page#anchor. Most websites support this, though some older sites do not. Test the link before you share the PDF to make sure it lands on the right section.

What happens if I edit a PDF and the original file is updated?

The changes you made to the PDF do not affect the original document, and updates to the original do not affect your edited PDF. They are separate files. If the original document changes and you need those changes in the PDF, you will need to re-export the PDF from the original document, which will overwrite your link edits.