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In this article, we’ll go through how you can add links directly to a PDF, as well as how to embed a link into text, using Word, so when you convert it to a PDF the hyperlink converts as well. That way, when you send the PDF to someone, they’ll be able to click the linked text to open whatever you’ve attached to it. We answer three questions in this tutorial:
- How do I make links clickable in PDF files?
- How can I make sure PDF links are clickable from converted Word documents?
- How can I insert links (AKA hyperlinks) in an existing PDF?
How to Create Clickable Links in PDFs
Let’s say you’re finishing up your resume and want to start sending it out to some prospective employers. In the application, they’re asking for you to link to your personal website or LinkedIn profile. You can place the whole URL into your PDF, so it can be copied and pasted — but you’d also like to make it so, when people click your name, it will open a new tab in their web browser. Is this possible to do with a PDF? Do you need to convert the document to a Word doc first?
Actually, yes, it’s very possible and easy to build links to text lines and even specific areas of your PDF. These links can take the reader to an external website at the click of a button. We’ll use the powerful PDF.Live editor tool to achieve this.
Add Links to PDF Online
First, you’ll need to access the PDF.Live editor tool and upload a PDF document that you’d like to edit. Once you have the document open, head to the Popular Editing Tools tab and select Edit Text.
This will open the Add Paragraph tool that lets you create and edit text in your document. You can either click somewhere in your document to add new text or click to select existing text. Select some text in your document and highlight it by clicking and dragging where you want your hyperlink to be.
Under the Text Styles box on the right side of the editor, select the URL Link feature.
A dialogue box will appear, prompting you to enter the URL that you want to link to. When a user clicks that text within your document, they’ll be taken to the website that you link here.
Word to PDF With Hyperlinks
If you have a Word doc that already has hyperlinks built in, you’ll be happy to know that converting it to a PDF won’t break the links. For example, this Word doc contained an external link:
If we throw this document into the PDF.Live Word doc to PDF converter, you’ll see that the PDF version of the document still has a working hyperlink!
Whether you end up using Microsoft Word to add your links or PDF.Live’s editor, you’ll be able to easily create interactive PDFs with live hyperlinks!