How to Add Hyperlinks to a PDF Exported from Illustrator
Question details
The user needs to add clickable hyperlinks to a PDF document that was created and exported from Adobe Illustrator.
- Product
- PDF Editors (Adobe Acrobat / WPS PDF)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing a PDF file after exporting it from Illustrator to make specific text, buttons, or image areas clickable.
- Observed behavior
- The exported PDF does not have active links natively, requiring post-export modification to insert functional hyperlinks.
Ensure you have the final version of your exported PDF. Re-exporting the file from Illustrator later will create a new document, meaning you would have to add the hyperlinks all over again.
Use a Dedicated PDF Editor to Add Links Manually
The standard and most reliable way to add hyperlinks to an Illustrator-exported PDF is by using a dedicated PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat or WPS PDF.
Because Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor rather than a document publisher, it does not natively export live text hyperlinks in standard PDF presets. Modifying the PDF after export is the industry-standard workflow.
Launch your preferred PDF editor (such as Adobe Acrobat Pro or WPS PDF) and open the file you just exported from Illustrator.
Navigate to the 'Edit' tab on the top menu and select the 'Link' or 'Add Hyperlink' tool from the toolbar.
Click and drag your cursor to draw a rectangular box over the text, graphic, or button that should act as the clickable hyperlink.
In the pop-up dialog box, select 'Open a web page', enter the destination URL, and click 'OK' or 'Apply' to save the link.
Create Slices with URLs in Illustrator (Before Export)
If you have not exported the PDF yet, you can use the Slice tool inside Illustrator to attach URLs directly to certain areas.
Add Hyperlinks to Any PDF Instantly with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a robust, built-in PDF editor that allows you to easily insert, edit, and manage hyperlinks in PDFs created by Illustrator or any other design software.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your Illustrator-exported PDF using the WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Access the Edit Menu: Click on the 'Edit' tab located at the top of the workspace interface.
- 3. Insert the Link: Click the 'Link' button, drag a box over your target text or image, and type in your web address to apply the hyperlink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my hyperlinks from Illustrator disappear after exporting to PDF?
Illustrator is primarily a vector design tool and does not natively support exporting live text hyperlinks to PDFs standardly. To ensure links work properly, it is standard practice to add the interactive hyperlinks using a PDF editor after the file has been exported.
Can I make an image or graphic clickable in an exported PDF?
Yes. By using the link tool in a PDF editor like WPS PDF or Acrobat, you can draw a clickable hyperlink box over any element in the document, including images, graphics, buttons, and text.
Will re-exporting the Illustrator file overwrite my added PDF links?
Yes. If you make visual changes in Illustrator and export a new PDF to overwrite the old one, any hyperlinks you added to the original PDF using a PDF editor will be lost. Always add interactive links as the absolute final step in your workflow.
