How to Add a Hyperlink to a PDF (Free Methods)
Learn how to add clickable hyperlinks to a PDF using free tools. Covers Adobe, LibreOffice, online editors, and more.
Adding a clickable link to a PDF lets readers jump to websites, email addresses, or other pages within the document. Whether you are editing an existing PDF or building one from scratch, here are free ways to embed hyperlinks that work across devices.
Method 1: LibreOffice Draw (Free, Desktop)
LibreOffice Draw can open and edit PDFs directly:
- Open your PDF in LibreOffice Draw
- Select the text you want to turn into a link
- Go to Insert > Hyperlink
- Enter the URL and click Apply
- Export as PDF: File > Export as PDF
LibreOffice Draw treats each PDF page as a drawing canvas, which means it preserves the layout well for most documents. It is free, open source, and runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Method 2: PDFescape (Free, Online)
- Go to pdfescape.com and upload your PDF
- Select the Link tool from the toolbar
- Draw a rectangle over the text you want to link
- Enter the destination URL
- Save and download your edited PDF
PDFescape works entirely in the browser, so there is nothing to install. It is limited to PDFs under 100 pages and 10 MB on the free plan.
Method 3: Sejda PDF Editor (Free, Online)
- Visit sejda.com and open the PDF editor
- Upload your PDF
- Click Links in the toolbar
- Select the area to link and enter your URL
- Download the edited file (free for up to 3 tasks per day)
Sejda handles larger files than PDFescape and preserves formatting well. The main limitation is the daily task cap on the free tier.
Method 4: Add Links Before Exporting
The easiest approach is adding hyperlinks before you create the PDF:
- Google Docs — Highlight text, press Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac), and enter the URL. Then export as PDF.
- Microsoft Word — Insert hyperlinks normally, then Save As PDF. Word preserves hyperlinks in the exported file.
- Canva — Select text or elements and add links before downloading as PDF. Both the free and paid plans support hyperlinks on text elements.
Links added this way are preserved when you export to PDF, and this approach avoids the alignment issues that can occur when overlaying link areas on an existing document.
Sharing Your Linked PDF
After adding hyperlinks, share your PDF with a link that preserves clickable elements. Upload to Linkyhost for a shareable URL with a built-in viewer that keeps links active and clickable. This way, recipients do not need to download the file to interact with the links.
Tips
- Always test links after export by opening the PDF and clicking them
- Use descriptive link text instead of raw URLs
- Internal links (jumping between pages) work best in Adobe Acrobat or LibreOffice
- Some free editors limit the number of edits per day — plan your workflow accordingly
Accessibility Considerations
When adding hyperlinks to a PDF, keep screen reader users in mind. Screen readers announce link text to visually impaired users, so descriptive anchor text is especially important. Instead of linking the word "here," link a phrase that describes the destination, such as "download the project timeline." If your PDF will be widely distributed or shared in a professional setting, consider using a tagged PDF format, which provides structure that assistive technology can interpret. LibreOffice and Adobe Acrobat both support exporting tagged PDFs. Adding alt text or title attributes to links where possible also improves the experience for users relying on assistive devices.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adding links to a PDF after it has been finalized and shared. If you realize you need hyperlinks, add them before distributing the document. Once people have downloaded a copy, they will not get the updated version unless you re-share it. Host the PDF on Linkyhost so you can replace the file and everyone sees the latest version through the same link.
Using absolute positioning for link areas. When adding click areas in tools like PDFescape, make sure they align precisely with the text. A link area that is slightly offset looks correct on your screen but may miss the target text on a different device or zoom level.
Forgetting to test on different PDF viewers. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Apple Preview, Chrome's built-in viewer, and mobile PDF apps all handle hyperlinks slightly differently. Test your linked PDF in at least two viewers before distributing.
Not providing both the link and the raw URL. In printed PDFs, hyperlinks are not clickable. Include the full URL as visible text so readers can type it into their browser. For digital PDFs, use clickable hyperlinked text and optionally include the URL in parentheses.
Hyperlink Types in PDFs
| Link Type | Example | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Web URL | https://example.com | Link to external websites |
| mailto:hello@example.com | Let readers send you an email | |
| Phone | tel:+15551234567 | Tap-to-call on mobile |
| Internal page | Page 15 of same document | Table of contents, cross-references |
| Other PDF | Link to a hosted PDF | Reference additional documents |
Tools for Adding Hyperlinks to PDFs
| Tool | Free | Desktop/Online | Batch Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| LibreOffice Draw | Yes | Desktop | No |
| PDFescape | Yes (limited) | Online | No |
| Sejda | Yes (3/day) | Online | No |
| Adobe Acrobat Pro | No ($22.99/mo) | Desktop | Yes |
| Canva (before export) | Yes | Online | N/A |
| Google Docs (before export) | Yes | Online | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a hyperlink from a PDF?
Yes. Open the PDF in LibreOffice Draw or PDFescape, select the link area, and delete it. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, use the Edit PDF tool to select and remove links. Note that some free tools may not support link removal — they only support adding new links. If you are using LibreOffice Draw, you can also right-click on linked text and choose "Remove Hyperlink" to strip the link while keeping the text intact.
Do hyperlinks work in PDF attachments sent via email?
Yes, as long as the recipient opens the PDF in a viewer that supports clickable links. Most modern PDF viewers (Adobe Reader, Apple Preview, Chrome) support hyperlinks without any extra steps. However, some corporate email systems strip or block links in attachments for security reasons. For reliable link delivery, host the PDF on Linkyhost and share the link rather than attaching the file directly. This also avoids email file size limits and ensures the recipient always sees the latest version.
How do I create a clickable table of contents in a PDF?
The easiest way is to create the table of contents in your source document (Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer) using heading styles, which automatically generate linked TOC entries. When you export to PDF, the table of contents links are preserved. If you need to add a TOC to an existing PDF, use Adobe Acrobat Pro's bookmark feature or add hyperlinks manually using a free PDF editor. LibreOffice Writer's built-in TOC generator works particularly well for this — apply heading styles to your sections, insert an automatic table of contents, and export to PDF.
Can I add a hyperlink to a PDF on my phone?
Yes, though the options are more limited than on desktop. On iOS, apps like PDF Expert and GoodNotes let you add hyperlinks to PDFs. On Android, Xodo and Adobe Acrobat Reader (with a paid subscription) support link editing. For a free option, you can upload the PDF to an online editor like Sejda from your phone's browser and add links there. The experience is best on a tablet or larger phone screen, since precise link placement is difficult on a small display. For anything more than a quick edit, working on a desktop or laptop is more practical.
Do hyperlinks survive when you merge PDFs?
In most cases, yes. When you merge PDFs using tools like LibreOffice, Adobe Acrobat, or Sejda, hyperlinks embedded in the original files are preserved in the combined document. However, internal page links (links that jump to a specific page within the same document) may break after merging because the page numbers shift. Web URL links, email links, and phone links are unaffected since they point to external destinations. After merging, open the combined PDF and spot-check a few links from each original document to verify everything still works correctly.