The basic method: most PDFs let you add links in the editor you already have
You can add a hyperlink to a PDF using the same tool you use to edit it. If you created the PDF from a Word document or Google Doc, you can go back to that original file, add the link there, and export to PDF again — the link will come with it. If you need to edit a PDF directly, Adobe Acrobat (the paid version, not the free Reader) has a built-in link tool. Free alternatives like PDFtk, LibreOffice Draw, and Sejda also let you add links, though the steps differ slightly between them.
The choice between these tools depends on what you already own and how often you edit PDFs. If you have Microsoft Office or Google Workspace, you probably do not need to buy anything new. If you edit PDFs regularly and want the most straightforward interface, Adobe Acrobat is the standard — but it costs money. If you rarely edit PDFs and want to avoid subscriptions, a free web tool like Sejda works fine for occasional use.
Key Takeaways
- The easiest route is editing the original document (Word, Google Docs, or similar) before converting to PDF, because links transfer automatically.
- Adobe Acrobat's paid version has a dedicated link tool; the free Reader cannot add links.
- Free alternatives like LibreOffice Draw, PDFtk, and Sejda can add links, but require more steps than Adobe's interface.
- Links in PDFs work the same way as links in web pages — they can point to websites, email addresses, or other pages within the same PDF.
Adding a link before you convert to PDF
If you are still working in the original document, add the link there and the PDF will inherit it. In Microsoft Word, highlight the text you want to link, right-click, select "Link," and enter the URL or email address. In Google Docs, highlight the text, click the link icon in the toolbar, and paste the URL. In both cases, when you export or read as PDF, the link stays active.
This method is faster than editing the PDF afterward because you do not have to switch tools. It also means you have a record of the link in your original document, which matters if you need to update it later. If you change your mind about a link, you can edit the source document, re-export to PDF, and you are done.
Using Adobe Acrobat to add links to an existing PDF
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat (the paid desktop version or the web version if you have a subscription). Click the "Tools" menu, then select "Edit PDF." In the toolbar that appears, look for the "Link" tool — it usually looks like a chain link icon. Click it, then click and drag to draw a box around the text or image you want to link. A dialog box will open asking where the link should point: to a web address, an email, another page in the PDF, or a file on your computer.
Adobe Acrobat also lets you set the link appearance — whether it shows a visible box around the text, what color the box is, and whether it appears only when you hover over it. These options are in the link properties dialog. Once you finish adding links, save the PDF and the changes are permanent.
Adding links with free tools: LibreOffice Draw and PDFtk
LibreOffice Draw is a free desktop program that opens PDFs and lets you edit them. Open your PDF in Draw, right-click on the text or image you want to link, and select "Insert Hyperlink." Enter the URL or email address in the dialog that appears. Save the file as a PDF when you are done. The process is similar to Adobe Acrobat but the interface is less polished — buttons are smaller and menus are less obvious.
PDFtk is a command-line tool, which means you type instructions rather than clicking buttons. It is more powerful than Draw for complex edits but requires you to be comfortable with text commands. If you are not familiar with command-line tools, LibreOffice Draw is the easier choice. Both are free and work on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Using web-based PDF editors like Sejda
Sejda is a free web tool that works in your browser — no read or installation needed. Upload your PDF to Sejda, click the "Link" tool from the toolbar, and draw a box around the text you want to link. Enter the URL or email address when prompted. You can add as many links as you need in one session. When you finish, read the edited PDF to your computer.
Web tools like Sejda are convenient for one-off edits because you do not have to install software. They are slower than desktop programs if you are editing large PDFs or adding many links at once. They also require an internet connection. Most free versions limit how many PDFs you can edit per month, though the limit is usually high enough for occasional use.
What types of links you can add
A hyperlink in a PDF can point to a website (any URL starting with http or https), an email address, another page within the same PDF, or a file on your computer or network. Website links are the most common. Email links let readers click to send you a message — the link text usually says something like "Contact us" or shows an email address. Internal links are useful in long PDFs like manuals or reports, where you might link from a table of contents to specific sections.
File links are trickier because they only work if the linked file is in the same folder or a predictable location. If you email a PDF with a file link to someone else, the link will break on their computer unless they have the file in the exact same place. For that reason, file links work best for PDFs you keep on a shared drive or internal network, not for PDFs you send to external people.
Testing your links before you share the PDF
After you add links, open the PDF in a PDF reader (Adobe Reader, your web browser, or whatever you normally use) and click each link to make sure it works. A link to a website should open that page in your browser. A link to an email should open your default email program with a blank message to that address. An internal link should jump to the correct page in the same PDF.
If a link does not work, go back to the editor, right-click the link, and check that the URL or email address is correct. Common mistakes include forgetting the "https://" at the start of a website URL, or typing an email address with a space in it. Once you fix the link and save, test it again before sharing the PDF with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a link to a PDF if I only have Adobe Reader?
No. Adobe Reader is free but read-only — it cannot edit PDFs or add links. You need Adobe Acrobat (the paid version) or a free alternative like LibreOffice Draw or Sejda. If you have a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud or Microsoft 365, Acrobat is usually included.
Do links in a PDF work the same way as links on a website?
Yes. When someone clicks a link in a PDF, it behaves the same as clicking a link on a web page. Website links open in the browser, email links open the email program, and internal links jump to another location in the PDF. The only difference is that file links (pointing to documents on a computer) are less reliable when you share the PDF with others.
If I add a link to a PDF and then convert it to Word, will the link stay?
Usually yes, but it depends on the conversion tool. Microsoft Word and Google Docs can read links from PDFs when you upload them, though the formatting may change slightly. Free conversion tools are less reliable. If keeping the link is important, test the converted document before relying on it.
Can I change or delete a link after I add it to a PDF?
Yes. Open the PDF in the same editor you used to add the link, right-click the link, and either edit the URL or delete it. Save the PDF when you are done. If you use a web tool like Sejda, you can re-upload the PDF and edit the link again in a new session.
What happens if I add a link to a website and that website goes down later?
The link will break — clicking it will show an error message instead of opening the page. You cannot prevent this, but you can update the link if you know the website has moved. Open the PDF in your editor, right-click the link, and change the URL to the new address. This is one reason to keep the original editable document (Word, Google Docs, etc.) alongside your PDF.