How to add a link to a PDF on Mac
Make part of a page clickable — out to the web, or to another page in the same document. Free.
A printed reference — “see the schedule on page 31” — is a small piece of work for every reader. A link is one click.
Adding links is free and always will be. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing is watermarked.
Add a link, step by step
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Open Add Links
From the document actions panel, under Content.
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Draw the region
Over the text or the area that should be clickable. Cover the whole phrase rather than one word — a larger target is easier to hit and easier to notice.
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Set the destination
A web address, or a page in this document. Internal links are the more useful of the two in a long report.
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Test it
Click it. A link that points to the wrong page is worse than no link, because the reader trusts it.
What links are good for
- Cross-references inside a long document. “See Schedule 3” becoming a click removes a page-hunt every time anyone reads it.
- A contents page that works. If the document has no outline, a linked contents page is the next best thing.
- References and sources. Linking a citation to where it came from.
- A return link. Long documents benefit from a “back to contents” link in the footer of each section.
The link is a rectangle drawn over an area of the page. If you later edit the text underneath and it reflows, the region stays where it was — so check your links after any significant editing.
Links and trust
Readers cannot see where a link in a PDF goes before clicking it as easily as they can in a browser. Two habits are worth keeping: write the destination in the visible text where it matters, and do not link to something a reader would not expect from the words they clicked.
Links and accessibility
A link whose visible text is “click here” tells someone using a screen reader nothing at all, because they may hear the link text without the sentence around it. Link the phrase that describes the destination instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a hyperlink to a PDF on a Mac?
Open Add Links from the document actions panel, draw a region over the text, and set the destination — a web address or a page in the document. It is free.
Can I link to another page in the same PDF?
Yes, and in a long document internal links are the more useful kind.
Why has my link stopped pointing at the right thing?
A link is a region on the page, not attached to the text. If the text reflowed after an edit, the region stayed put. Check links after editing.
Is adding links free?
Yes.
Do links work for everyone who opens the document?
Yes, in any reasonable PDF reader. They are stored in the document.