How to Add Hyperlink to PDF with or without Adobe?

These days, we deal with PDF files a lot, since PDF is a highly flexible format that can be easily viewed and manipulated on different devices. To enrich a PDF document, we may need to add hyperlink to the PDF for accessing to online resources. Many users deem Adobe as the only way to add a hyperlink to PDF, but there are alternatives to add hyperlink to PDF without Adobe.

Add hyperlink to PDF with Adobe if you have installed

Adobe Acrobat series are always good solutions to manage PDF files. You will be allowed to edit the PDF freely within the program, add pdf text, delete sentences, change font size, add page numbers, add hyperlink, etc.

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat DC
2. Go to Tools>Edit PDF>Link. Choose “Add/Edit Web or Document Link” and drag a box to add the hyperlink to where you want to.
3. Then save the file and the hyperlink is added to the PDF.

Add hyperlink to PDF without Adobe

#1 Microsoft Word 2016

If you are a Microsoft Word user, you may have noticed that Microsoft Word 2016 allows inserting PDF into Word, once the PDF is opened in Word, you will be allowed to edit and add hyperlink to the file.

1. Open the Microsoft Word 2016.
2. File>Open to upload the PDF, a dialogue will prompt as following, click “OK” to import the PDF.
3. You will find the file is editable, and add the hyperlink as needed. Then, export the Word file as PDF, you will find the hyperlink is added to your PDF.

Attention:

According to Microsoft Word 2016 users, PDF file will look different in Word. Therefore, when you add hyperlink to PDF in Word, the formatting will need to be manually adjusted.

Alternatives to Add Hyperlink to PDF in Word

Differentiating from Microsoft Word 201616, a PDF converter can convert PDF into editable Word, or other formats, with original PDF file quality reserved. It means, you can convert any PDFs, native or scanned, to editable formats first, and then add hyperlink. 2 PDF programs are recommended as following for Mac and Windows users respectively.

For Mac Users

Cisdem PDF Converter OCR is a recommended due to its excellent performance on doing OCR accurately and instantly. This PDF OCR Software for Mac is designed to create editable PDF or documents in other editable formats (Word, Excel, Txt, PPTX, Keynote, Pages, ePub, HTML, etc.) directly from PDFs. It supports batch conversion and can read file in 200+ languages. More than this, you can use this tool to create PDF from Microsoft Office Files, HTML, CHM, ePub, Image, etc with original file quality preserved, also you can customize the PDF size and quality as needed.

Pros:

• Add hyperlink to scanned PDF
• High quality PDF –to- Editable formats outcome
• Batch making PDF in editable formats
• Multiple output formats
• Extended features: Create PDF, Protect and Unprotect PDF, Compress PDF
• Affordable price

For Windows PC Users

Readiris 16 for Windows is a multifunctional PDF tool. It can directly add hyperlink to PDF, also enables users to compress, organize and edit the file within the program. 

Pros:

• Directly edit PDF within the program

#2 Online PDF Editor

Still, you can add hyperlink to PDF without any software. In this case, you will need a free PDF editor. Here we take PDFescape to demonstrate how to add hyperlink to PDF for free.

1. Go to PDFescape.
2. Upload the PDF you want to add hyperlink.
3. Choose Link and drag a box onto the text that you want to add hyperlink.
4. Save and download the PDF with hyperlink added.

Conclusion

So, Adobe is not the only solution to add hyperlink to PDF, you can utilize Microsoft Word, PDF Converter, even online free PDF editors to add hyperlinks. But when using online free tools, you'd better give a second thought, uploading files to online server will bring potential risk of information leakage. If you are dealing with confidential files, pay for a powerful PDF editor, or get a PDF Converter to make PDF editable in Word, then add hyperlink or any other contents you are allowed to add.