What "making a link" in a PDF means

A link in a PDF is text or an image you can click that takes you somewhere else — to a website, to another page in the same document, to an email address, or to a file on your computer. When you create a link in a PDF, you're embedding that destination into the document so anyone who opens it can click and go there without typing anything manually.

The process differs depending on what tool you're using. Some tools let you add links while you're creating the PDF. Others let you add links to a PDF that already exists. The steps are straightforward once you know which tool you have and what kind of link you want to make.

Key Takeaways

  • Links in PDFs can point to websites, email addresses, other pages in the same document, or files — and the method to create them depends on your software.
  • Adobe Acrobat (the paid version) has a dedicated link tool; free tools like Preview on Mac or web-based editors have simpler but more limited options.
  • You select the text or image you want to be clickable, then tell the software where that click should go.
  • Some PDF creators let you add links while you're building the document; others require you to edit a finished PDF afterward.

Adding links in Adobe Acrobat (paid version)

Adobe Acrobat Pro has a dedicated link tool that works on any PDF. Open your PDF, then go to the Tools menu and select "Add or Edit Link." Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click and drag to select the text or image you want to be clickable.

A dialog box appears asking where the link should go. You can choose "Web Link" to point to a URL, "Page in This Document" to jump to another page in the same PDF, "Email" to open an email client, or "File" to open a document on your computer. Type or paste the destination, then click OK. The link is now active — anyone who opens the PDF can click it.

To edit or remove a link later, use the same tool. Select the link and the dialog reappears so you can change the destination or delete it entirely.

Adding links in free and built-in tools

On Mac: Preview (the built-in app) can add links to PDFs, though the process is less obvious than in Acrobat. Open the PDF, click the toolbox icon in the top right, then select "Markup Toolbar." Look for the link icon (it looks like a chain link), click it, then select the text you want to link. A small menu appears where you can paste a URL.

On Windows: Microsoft Edge can open PDFs and has basic annotation tools, but adding links is limited. For more control, use a free web-based PDF editor like Smallpdf, ILovePDF, or PDFtk. Upload your PDF, find the link tool, select your text, and enter the destination URL. read the edited PDF when you're done.

In Google Docs or Microsoft Word: If you're creating a document that you'll later convert to PDF, add links before you export. In Google Docs, highlight text, click the link icon, and paste a URL. In Word, go to Insert > Link. When you export or save as PDF, the links come along with it.

Links to different destinations

Website URLs: Type the full address including https:// (for example, https://www.example.com). Without the https://, some PDF readers won't recognize it as a link.

Email addresses: Use the format mailto:name@example.com. When someone clicks it, their default email client opens with that address in the "To" field.

Other pages in the same PDF: In Acrobat, select "Page in This Document" and choose which page number the link should jump to. This is useful for tables of contents or cross-references.

Files on a computer: Use the "File" option and navigate to the document you want to link to. The path will be embedded in the PDF, so the file needs to stay in the same location relative to the PDF for the link to work on other computers.

Why links sometimes don't work

A link in a PDF might not work if the destination has moved or no longer exists. A website URL that was correct when you made the link might be outdated a year later. There's no way to prevent this — you have to update the link manually if the destination changes.

Links to files on your computer won't work if someone else opens the PDF on a different computer, unless the file is in the exact same folder structure. For sharing, use web links instead of file links whenever possible.

Some older PDF readers don't recognize certain types of links. If your audience is using very old software, stick to straightforward web links (URLs) rather than email links or internal page jumps.

Choosing the right tool for your workflow

If you're making PDFs from scratch and you know you'll need links, create your document in Google Docs or Word first, add the links there, then export to PDF. This is faster than adding links afterward.

If you already have a finished PDF and need to add a few links, Preview on Mac or a free web editor is enough. If you're managing PDFs professionally and need to add, edit, or remove links regularly, Adobe Acrobat Pro is worth the cost because it's faster and more reliable.

For one-off projects, web-based editors like Smallpdf or ILovePDF work fine and require no software installation. Just upload, add your links, and read. They're slower than desktop software but cost nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a link to an image instead of text?

Yes. In Adobe Acrobat, use the link tool and drag around the image instead of text. In web-based editors, the process is the same — select the image area and enter the destination. The image becomes clickable.

What happens if I send a PDF with links to someone else?

The links stay in the PDF and work on their computer, as long as they're using a PDF reader that supports links (nearly all modern ones do). Web links always work. Links to files on your computer won't work unless they have the same files in the same locations.

Can I change a link after I've made it?

Yes. In Acrobat, select the link tool again, click the existing link, and the dialog reappears so you can edit the destination. In web editors, you usually have to delete the link and create a new one.

Do links work in PDFs opened on phones and tablets?

Yes, links work on mobile devices. Clicking a web link opens the browser. Clicking an email link opens the mail app. File links may not work depending on the app you're using to view the PDF.

Is there a limit to how many links I can add to one PDF?

No. You can add as many links as you need. The file size increases slightly with each link, but not enough to matter for most documents.