Use this guide to learn how to link a PDF to various materials such as online resources, different pages within your PDF or other documents.
You can also see our tutorial on how to create a PDF link for more information.
Linking a PDF vs. Adding a Link to a PDF
In this guide, we demonstrate how to link to other materials from within your PDF as opposed to linking to your PDF from outside sources.
| Feature | Linking a PDF | Adding a Link to a PDF |
| Definition | Sharing or embedding the entire PDF file via a URL or attachment | Inserting clickable hyperlinks within the content of the PDF document |
| Purpose | To give someone access to the full file | To direct readers to websites, email, or other PDF sections from inside the document |
| How It's Used | - On websites - In emails - In cloud storage shares |
- In text (“Click here”) - On images/buttons inside PDFs |
| Common Tools | Google Drive, Dropbox, SharePoint, OneDrive | PDF Reader Pro, ComPDF Web Demo, Mac Preview |
| Best For | - Easy sharing - Website embedding - Download access |
- Interactive documents - Professional reports - E-books |
Linking inside a PDF (as this guide will demonstrate) will allow you to:
- Save users time when checking your citations with direct jumps to the appropriate page
- Link to cited websites or other important resources directly from your PDF
- Link to other documents that might be helpful to readers of your PDF
Top Tools to Link a PDF
We recommend PDF Reader Pro and ComPDF Web Demo to link your PDFs to the web or other documents.
See the details of each application below:
| Tool | Features for Linking | Pricing |
| PDF Reader Pro | Add citations/footnotes with links to final references within the PDF, various document types within the PDF, and URLs to different websites. | |
| ComPDF Web Demo | Add links to a URL, specific pages or to an email by clicking and placing within your PDF |
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How to Link a PDF
Follow the guides below to link a PDF in three different ways:
- From a footnote in your PDF to your reference section in the same PDF
- From your PDF to the URL of a specific website
- From your PDF to a different PDF or document through a link
Using PDF Reader Pro
You can download a free 7-day trial for Mac or Windows here:
Free Download 
Free Download
Step 1: Open Your PDF
Click “Open File” or drag and drop the document into the Home interface.
Step 2: Click “Tools” on the Main Menu
Choose the icon that looks like a chain link.
Step 3: Click to Place the Link
This will open a panel on the right-hand side.
- To link to another page within the document (for example, from a footnote to a final reference page) use the “Go to Page” tab on the right and enter the destination page.
- To link to a website, click on the middle tab on the right-hand panel and enter the URL you want to send the reader to.
- To link to a document stored online, for example, another PDF that opens on a browser, you can also enter the hyperlink within this middle tab.
- Alternatively, you can choose to send the user to a specific email address by using the last tab and entering the address. For example, if you are listing contact information and you want the reader to be able to quickly open an email to that address.
Using ComPDF Web Demo
Step 1: Upload Your PDF
Click the page icon with the arrow on it to get started.
Step 2: Click “Annotations” on the Top Menu’s Drop-Down
You can also click “Annotations” on the left-hand panel to see a guide displayed.
Step 3: Click the Chain Link Icon
Click on the page to place your link.
- To link to a website, click on the first tab on the right-hand panel and enter the URL you want to send the reader to.
- To link to a document stored online, for example, another PDF that opens on a browser, you can also enter the hyperlink within this first tab.
- To link to another page within the document (for example, from a footnote to a final reference page), use the “Go to Pages” tab in the middle of the right-hand panel and enter the destination page.
- Alternatively, you can choose to send the user to a specific email address by using the last tab and entering the address. For example, if you are listing contact information and you want the reader to be able to quickly open an email to that address.
We hope you found this guide helpful. We publish guides and tutorials on a weekly basis to help you learn more about how to use the latest PDF software tools.
