How to Add Links to a PDF (5 Methods + How to Share PDFs as Links)

Published on: March 15, 2022

Last updated: November 28, 2025

Looking to make your PDF more interactive and shareable? You’re in the right place. This guide covers two common needs people have when working with PDFs:

Adding clickable links inside your PDF – whether that’s linking to websites, email addresses, or other pages within your document. Perfect for product catalogs, portfolios, reports, or any document where you want readers to click through to additional resources.

Turning your PDF into a shareable link – so you can easily send it to clients, colleagues, or customers without bulky email attachments. Instead of saying “see attached,” you can share a clean URL that opens your document instantly.

The good news? Some solutions (like Flipsnack) handle both automatically. You’ll upload your PDF, add interactive links where you need them, and get a shareable link to distribute – all in one workflow.

In this article, we’ll cover four practical methods for adding hyperlinks to PDFs, plus how to create shareable links for your documents. Whether you need Adobe’s precision editing tools, the familiar interface of Google editing tools, or a simpler drag-and-drop solution, you’ll find the right approach for your needs.

First things first: How to turn a PDF into a shareable link

Before we dive into adding clickable elements inside your PDF, let’s quickly address how to create a link to your PDF – since many people searching for “how to hyperlink a PDF” actually mean “how do I share this PDF as a URL?”

The traditional approach: Cloud storage

Upload your PDF to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, then generate a shareable link. Anyone with that link can view or download your PDF. This works fine for basic sharing, but your PDF remains static – no interactive elements, no tracking of who viewed it, and it still looks like a plain PDF.

The smarter approach: Interactive flipbook platforms

When you upload a PDF to Flipsnack, you automatically get a shareable link – but your document becomes so much more than a static file. Your PDF transforms into an interactive flipbook with page-flipping animations, and you can add clickable links, videos, and other interactive elements. Plus, you’ll see exactly who’s viewing your content and which pages get the most engagement.

This approach kills two birds with one stone: you get your shareable link and the ability to make your document interactive.

Now let’s look at how to add clickable links within your PDF documents.

Method 1: Use Flipsnack to add links and auto-detect existing ones

Flipsnack offers the most streamlined approach if you need both a shareable link and interactive elements in your document. When you upload a PDF, it automatically converts into a flipbook format while preserving any existing hyperlinks from your original file.

How it works:

Upload your PDF to Flipsnack. The platform instantly detects any hyperlinks already embedded in your document – no manual recreation needed. From there, you can add new links to text, images, or buttons using the visual editor. The interface is intuitive: select the element you want to make clickable, choose your link type (external URL, email, phone number, or page navigation), and you’re done.

Once you save your flipbook, Flipsnack generates a shareable link automatically. You can distribute this URL via email, social media, or embed it directly on your website. Recipients see an interactive, page-flipping experience rather than a static PDF.

Key advantages:

• Automatic link detection – existing hyperlinks transfer from your PDF without manual work
• Multiple link types – web URLs, mailto links, phone numbers, and internal page navigation
• Built-in analytics – track views, engagement, and which pages readers spend time on
• Instant shareable link – no need for separate hosting or cloud storage
• No software installation – works entirely in your browser

Best for: Digital catalogs, marketing materials, portfolios, reports, and any document you’re sharing online where you want both interactivity and viewer insights.

Method 2: Add links in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC

1. Choose Tools, click on Edit PDF, then on Link, and finally, select Add/Edit Web or Document Link.
2. Select the area that you want to hyperlink.
3. Then, in the Create Link dialog box, choose the options you want for the link appearance and click on the Open a Web Page button for the link action.
4. Hit Next and enter the link.
5. Click Ok and you’re done!

Method 3: Add links in Google Docs

1. I suggest you gather all your information in a Google Docs file. All you need is a Google account that you can easily make and it’s also free.
2. Select the word or phrase you want to be hyperlinked.
3. Go to the Insert button that’s situated at the top of the document and then click on the Link button.
4. Write the destination of your URL, then hit Apply.
5. Turn your document to PDF. (Click File, then Download and select PDF Document)

Method 4: Add Links in Word

1. Just like with Google Docs, you have to first select the word, phrase, or image you want to be hyperlinked.
2. Then, go to the Insert tab, and in the Links group, click on the Link button.
3. Select Existing File or Web Page and then type the web address in the Address box. 
4. Export your document as PDF. (Go to File, then Save as, and select Adobe PDF)

Method 5: Add Links in InDesign

1. Open the document that you want to add a hyperlink to.
2. Select the text, image, or area that you want to hyperlink.
3. Choose Window, then Interactive, then click on Hyperlinks to open the Hyperlinks panel.
4. Click on the top right button from the newly opened popup and select New Hyperlink. It will open a New Hyperlink dialog box. Make sure that the URL is selected in the Link to drop-down list and write the URL in the URL text field. Choose an appearance for the clickable text, then click OK.
5. Make sure that the Hyperlinks checkbox is selected in the Export PDF dialog box when you create the PDF file.

How to add email buttons to your PDF

Beyond standard web links, you can make elements in your PDF trigger email actions when clicked. This is particularly useful for contact forms, feedback requests, or sales materials where you want readers to reach out directly.

Using mailto: links

The technique works across all the methods we’ve covered. Instead of entering a web URL (like https://example.com), you use a “mailto:” link format. 

For example: mailto:contact@yourcompany.com

When readers click this link, their default email application opens with your address pre-filled in the “To” field. You can even pre-populate the subject line and body text: mailto:sales@company.com?subject=Product Inquiry&body=I’m interested in learning more about…

Where this works best:

• In Flipsnack: Add mailto links to buttons, images, or text in your flipbook editor
• In Adobe Acrobat: Use the Link tool and paste your mailto URL in the link destination field
• In Word or InDesign: Insert the mailto link just like any hyperlink before exporting to PDF

Practical applications: Sales brochures with “Contact Us” buttons, portfolios with inquiry forms, event programs where attendees can email organizers, product catalogs with direct quote request links.

Keep in mind that mailto links only work for recipients who have email clients configured on their device. For web-based audiences, consider also providing a standard email address or contact form link as a backup.

Which method should you choose to make a PDF link clickable?

The right approach depends on your workflow, technical comfort level, and what you need your final document to do.

Choose Flipsnack if: You need a shareable link and want interactive features beyond basic hyperlinks. Flipsnack automatically detects existing links, provides engagement analytics, and creates a polished flipbook experience. Best for marketing materials, digital catalogs, portfolios, and any content you’re publishing online.

Choose Adobe Acrobat if: You need precise control over your PDF file itself, especially for documents that will be printed or need to remain in PDF format for legal or archival purposes. Adobe offers the most comprehensive PDF editing capabilities, but requires a paid subscription and steeper learning curve.

Choose Word if: You’re creating documents from scratch in Microsoft Word and want to add links before converting to PDF. This works well for reports, proposals, and text-heavy documents where Word is already your primary authoring tool. Simple and straightforward, but you’ll need to re-export the entire PDF if you need to make changes later.

Choose InDesign if: You’re designing professional publications like magazines, brochures, or branded materials where layout precision matters. InDesign gives you maximum control over design and hyperlink styling, making it ideal for graphics-heavy documents. Best for design professionals already working in the Adobe ecosystem.

Feature	Flipsnack	Adobe Acrobat	Word	InDesign
Ease of use	Easy	Moderate	Easy	Advanced
Cost	Free plan available	$19.99+/month	Included with Microsoft 365	$54.99/month
Creates shareable link	Yes, automatically	No (requires separate hosting)	No	No
Analytics & tracking	Yes: views, avg. time spent, clicks, locations, devices	No	No	No
Best for	Digital publishing	PDF editing	Simple document creation	Professional design

For most online use cases, Flipsnack offers the best balance of ease of use, interactive features, and built-in sharing capabilities. If you need to maintain strict PDF format or work with highly sensitive documents, Adobe Acrobat remains the industry standard.

Conclusion on the best method to add links to your PDF

Adding hyperlinks to your PDFs transforms static documents into interactive experiences that engage readers and drive action. Whether you’re creating product catalogs with clickable links, business proposals with embedded contact buttons, or marketing materials with tracking capabilities, the right method depends on your specific needs and workflow.

For most digital publishing scenarios, Flipsnack offers the most comprehensive solution—combining automatic link detection, interactive flipbook features, built-in analytics, and instant shareable links in one platform. If you need precise PDF file editing or work within specific design workflows, Adobe Acrobat, Word, and InDesign each serve their purpose well.

The key is choosing a tool that matches both your technical comfort level and your document’s final destination. Static PDFs work fine for internal documents, but when you’re sharing content online, interactive flipbooks give you the engagement and insights that traditional PDFs simply can’t provide.

Frequently asked questions