How to Add a Link to a PDF (Free Methods)
Learn how to add clickable links to a PDF for free. Step-by-step methods for creating shareable PDF links without paid software.
There are two common things people mean by "adding a link to a PDF" — making a PDF accessible via a URL so you can share it, or adding clickable hyperlinks inside the PDF document itself. This guide covers both approaches with free tools, so no matter which one you need, you will find a step-by-step method below.
Method 1: Turn Your PDF into a Shareable Link
If you want other people to be able to view your PDF through a simple web link, the fastest approach is to upload it to a hosting service.
- Go to Linkyhost PDF Link Generator
- Upload your PDF file
- Copy the generated URL
- Share it anywhere — email, messaging apps, social media, or embed it on a website
Your PDF is now accessible to anyone with the link. No software installation needed, and the recipient does not need to download anything. The document opens in a browser-based viewer that works on desktop and mobile.
This method is ideal when you want to send a resume, share a report with a client, or distribute a brochure without worrying about file size limits in email.
Method 2: Add Clickable Links Inside a PDF
If you want to embed hyperlinks within the PDF content itself — so readers can click on text and jump to a website, email address, or another page — here are free options.
Using Google Docs
- Open Google Docs and create or import your document
- Highlight the text you want to link
- Press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) and paste your URL
- Download the document as a PDF — the links will be preserved
Google Docs is the simplest option if you are creating a document from scratch. The hyperlinks carry over cleanly when you export to PDF, and you do not need to install anything.
Using LibreOffice (Free Desktop App)
- Open your document in LibreOffice Writer
- Select the text to hyperlink
- Go to Insert > Hyperlink
- Enter the target URL and click Apply
- Export as PDF via File > Export as PDF
LibreOffice is a good choice when you need more formatting control than Google Docs offers, or when you are working with an existing document that was originally created in Word or another desktop editor.
Using Online PDF Editors
Several free online tools let you add links to existing PDFs without installing software:
- Smallpdf — Drag-and-drop interface, limited free edits per day
- PDFescape — Lets you draw link areas over existing text
- Sejda — Free for up to 3 tasks per day, handles most PDF sizes
These editors are useful when you have a finalized PDF and need to add a link or two without recreating the document.
Tips for PDF Links
- Test your links — Always open the exported PDF and click each link to verify it works
- Use descriptive anchor text — "View our pricing" is better than "click here"
- Keep URLs short — Long URLs can break in some PDF viewers. Use a URL shortener if needed
- Add a QR code — For printed PDFs, include a QR code so readers can access links from their phone
Share Your PDF Online
Once your PDF has the links you need, upload it to Linkyhost to get a free shareable URL that works on any device. The built-in viewer preserves clickable links, so recipients can interact with your hyperlinks without downloading the file.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using "click here" as link text. This gives the reader no information about where the link goes and is poor for accessibility. Use descriptive text like "View our pricing page" or "Download the full report."
Not testing links after export. PDF export can sometimes break hyperlinks, especially when converting between different tools. Always open the final PDF and click through every link before distributing it.
Adding links as plain text URLs. A raw URL like https://www.example.com/products/category/item-123 is ugly and hard to click on mobile. Always hyperlink descriptive text instead of pasting raw URLs into your document.
Forgetting about internal links. Hyperlinks in a PDF do not have to point to websites. You can link to other pages within the same PDF document, which is useful for creating a clickable table of contents or cross-references. LibreOffice Writer and Adobe Acrobat support internal document links.
Using URL shorteners that expire. If you shorten URLs for your PDF and the shortener service deletes them after a few months, all the links in your distributed PDF break permanently. Use a reliable shortener or link directly to the destination.
Link Types in PDFs
| Link Type | Use Case | Tool Support |
|---|---|---|
| Web URL | Link to websites, product pages, forms | All tools |
| Email link (mailto:) | Let readers send an email with one click | All tools |
| Internal page link | Jump to another page in the same PDF | LibreOffice, Adobe |
| Phone link (tel:) | Tap to call on mobile devices | Most tools |
| File download link | Link to other hosted documents | All tools |
Step-by-Step: Adding Links in Canva
Canva is one of the most popular design tools for creating PDFs, and it supports hyperlinks in both free and paid plans.
- Open your Canva design (any template type)
- Select the text, button, or image element you want to link
- Click the link icon in the toolbar (or press Ctrl+K / Cmd+K)
- Paste your URL
- Click Apply
- Download as PDF — links are preserved in the exported file
- Upload the PDF to Linkyhost to share with a built-in viewer that keeps links active
Note that Canva's free plan supports adding hyperlinks to text elements. Some advanced linking features, like linking to specific pages within a multi-page design, may require Canva Pro. For most use cases — linking to external websites, email addresses, or phone numbers — the free plan works fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do hyperlinks in PDFs work on mobile?
Yes. Clickable links work in PDF viewers on both iOS and Android. Web URLs open in the mobile browser, email links open the mail app, and phone number links can trigger a phone call. Most modern phones have built-in PDF viewers that handle hyperlinks correctly. Test your PDF on a phone before distributing to confirm all links work as expected, since some older or less common viewer apps may not support every link type.
Can I add links to a scanned PDF?
Scanned PDFs are images, not selectable text, so you cannot hyperlink existing text directly. However, you can add clickable link areas on top of the scanned content using PDFescape or LibreOffice Draw. Draw a transparent rectangle over the area you want to make clickable, then assign a URL to it. This effectively creates an invisible button that overlays the scanned text. For better results, consider running OCR (optical character recognition) first to convert the scanned content into selectable text, then add hyperlinks normally.
How do I add a link to a PDF that opens another PDF?
Host the target PDF on Linkyhost to get a URL. Then add a hyperlink to that URL in your source PDF using any of the methods described above. When the reader clicks the link, the second PDF opens in their browser. This is a common approach for linking between related documents, such as linking a summary report to a detailed appendix or connecting a product catalog to individual spec sheets.
Can I add a link to a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Absolutely. Every method in this guide is free and does not require Adobe Acrobat. Google Docs, LibreOffice, Canva, PDFescape, and Sejda all let you add clickable hyperlinks to a PDF at no cost. Adobe Acrobat Pro offers the most comprehensive PDF editing features, but for adding basic hyperlinks, free tools handle the job well. If you are creating a new document, the simplest approach is to add links in Google Docs or Canva before exporting to PDF. If you need to edit an existing PDF, LibreOffice Draw or PDFescape are both solid free options.
Do hyperlinks work in all PDF viewers?
Most modern PDF viewers support clickable hyperlinks, but behavior varies slightly. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview, Google Chrome's built-in viewer, and the default PDF apps on iOS and Android all handle standard web URL links without issue. However, some lightweight viewers or older software may not support all link types — particularly mailto links, tel links, or internal page references. If your audience uses a variety of devices, stick to basic web URL hyperlinks for the most reliable experience and test in at least two different viewers before distributing.
How many links can I add to a single PDF?
There is no practical limit to the number of hyperlinks a PDF can contain. You can link every heading, reference, and call-to-action in your document without affecting file size or performance. That said, adding too many links can overwhelm the reader. Focus on linking the most useful elements — your table of contents, key references, calls to action, and contact information. A well-structured PDF with purposeful links is far more effective than one where every other word is clickable.