Hyperlinks in PDFs make documents interactive — readers can click to visit websites, jump to other pages, or open email clients directly. Whether you're creating a portfolio, a report, or a digital brochure, links make your PDF more useful.
Why Add Links to a PDF?
- Navigation — let readers jump to sections within a long document
- References — link directly to sources, websites, or supporting materials
- CTAs — guide readers to your website, product page, or contact form
- Email links — make it easy to reach you with a single click
The Best Way to Add Links: Start in the Source Document
The easiest way to add links to a PDF is before you export it. In Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or any design tool:
- Select the text you want to link
- Press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) to insert a hyperlink
- Enter the URL
- Export or Save As PDF
The links will be preserved in the exported PDF file, and they'll be fully clickable.
Adding Links to an Existing PDF
If you need to add a link to a PDF that's already been created, text annotation tools can work as a workaround:
- Open your PDF in Docento.app
- Use the Text tool to add the URL as visible text
- Export the PDF
While this adds the URL visibly in the document, it won't be a clickable hyperlink without advanced PDF editing software. For full hyperlink support in existing PDFs, tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro offer a dedicated link tool.
Internal Links and Bookmarks
For long documents, internal links (bookmarks) help readers navigate between sections. These are typically added in the source document using heading styles and are preserved on export.
Testing Your Links
Always test every link in your PDF before distributing it:
- Open the exported PDF in a viewer
- Click each link to verify it opens the correct destination
- Check that email links open the mail client correctly