PDF Editing Issues

Fix PDF Links Opening the Comment Editor Instead of Following the Link

Adam Davis Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

Tapping a hyperlink in a highly annotated PDF mistakenly selects the markup and opens the comment editor instead of launching the link destination.

How to Fix PDF Links Opening the Comment Editor

Product: PDF Reader
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Trying to navigate through a PDF document using embedded links while the document contains extensive hand-drawn markup created with an Apple Pencil.
Observed behavior: The PDF app opens the Comments sidebar and displays a blue editing box around the annotation, interpreting the tap as an editing action rather than a hyperlink click.

Before you start

Ensure your device and PDF application are updated to the latest versions, as touch recognition and link-handling interactions are frequently optimized in software patches.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to Read-Only Mode and Use Finger Touch

Exiting the markup interface prevents the app from interpreting your taps as editing commands.

When a document has extensive annotations, active editing modes prioritize selecting those annotations over interacting with the underlying text or links. Changing your interaction method is the fastest way to bypass this.

Exit Markup Mode

Tap the 'Done' or 'Close' button in your PDF app to exit the active annotation toolbar.

Enable Navigation Mode

Look for a 'View', 'Read', or 'Hand' tool icon and select it to lock your annotations in place and switch to viewing mode.

Tap the Link

Use your finger instead of the Apple Pencil to tap the hyperlink. This signals to the app that you are navigating rather than attempting to draw or select a markup object.

Switch to Read-Only Mode and Use Finger Touch

Interaction Tip: Using your finger typically overrides the stylus-centric drawing mode, allowing standard touch interactions like following links to work seamlessly.

Solution 2

Disable Annotation Selection in Settings

Changing how the app handles touch input on annotations can force links to take priority.

Solution 3

Test Without Annotations

Isolating the issue helps determine if the hand-drawn markup is physically blocking the hyperlink's touch area.

Smooth PDF Reading

Navigate Annotated PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office

WPS Office offers a dedicated Reading Mode that strictly separates document viewing from editing. This ensures that tapping a hyperlink opens the web page immediately, without accidentally selecting your Apple Pencil annotations or opening the comment sidebar.

1. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your heavily annotated PDF document.
2. Enter Reading Mode: Tap the 'Tools' menu at the bottom and select 'Read' or 'View' mode to lock the document from accidental edits.
3. Click the Hyperlink: Tap the embedded link using your finger. WPS Office will instantly navigate to the link destination without triggering the comment editor.

Dedicated Reading Mode prevents accidental markup editsFully compatible with standard PDF links and interactive annotationsIntelligent touch recognition separates stylus and finger inputs perfectlyLightweight, fast, and free to download for daily use

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PDF app open a blue box around my drawing when I tap a link?

The app is interpreting your tap as a request to move or edit the hand-drawn annotation located over or near the link. Exiting the editing interface or switching to a read-only mode will resolve this.

Can I use my Apple Pencil to click links in a PDF?

It depends on the app's internal settings. By default, many PDF editors treat Apple Pencil input strictly as drawing or selecting tools. Using your finger is usually the most reliable way to activate embedded hyperlinks.

Will flattening the PDF fix the link clicking issue?

Flattening the PDF merges annotations into the page background, which stops them from being selected. However, depending on how you flatten the document, it might also remove the interactive hyperlinks entirely, so it is safer to simply switch to a read-only viewing mode.

PDF Troubleshooting