PDF Opening Issues

How to Fix Hyperlinks Not Opening in Adobe Acrobat Reader

Steve K Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to open or view hyperlinks embedded within a PDF document using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

How to Fix Hyperlinks Not Opening in Adobe Acrobat Reader

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Clicking a hyperlink within a PDF document to navigate to a web page, another PDF, or an external file.
Observed behavior: Acrobat Reader blocks the action, does nothing, or displays an error such as 'This document can’t be previewed' due to security settings, unavailable files, or incorrect URLs.

Before you start

Ensure your device has an active internet connection and verify that the target website or linked file is currently available and online.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Trust Manager Settings in Acrobat Reader

Modifying the internet access settings in the Trust Manager can resolve issues where web links are blocked by default security protocols.

Adobe Acrobat Reader includes security features that restrict PDFs from communicating with the internet. If these settings are too strict, hyperlinks will fail to open.

Open Preferences

Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader, open your PDF file, click on 'Edit' in the top menu bar, and select 'Preferences'.

Navigate to Trust Manager

In the Preferences window, select 'Trust Manager' from the left-hand Categories panel.

Change Internet Access Settings

Under the 'Internet Access from PDF Files outside the web browser' section, click the 'Change Settings' button.

Allow Web Access

Ensure that 'Allow PDF files to access all web sites' is selected, click 'OK' to save your changes, and try clicking the hyperlink again.

Adjust Trust Manager Settings in Acrobat Reader

Security Check: If you are using a company computer, your organization's IT policies might restrict changes to the Trust Manager.

Solution 2

Manually Open the Link via Right-Click Menu

Use the context menu to force the hyperlink to open in your default browser or download the linked file directly.

Solution 3

Update Reader or Test in a Web Browser

Determine if the issue is a bug specific to your current version of Acrobat Reader or a problem with the PDF itself.

Open PDFs and Links Smoothly

Use WPS Office to View PDFs and Open Hyperlinks Smoothly

If Adobe Acrobat Reader continues to block your links or displays preview errors, switch to the built-in PDF reader in WPS Office. It provides a fast, reliable, and secure environment to read PDFs and seamlessly access embedded hyperlinks.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office Free from the official website and install the suite on your device.
2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office, navigate to the 'PDF' tab, and open the document containing your hyperlinks.
3. Access Hyperlinks Easily: Simply click on the hyperlink in the text. WPS PDF will safely direct you to your default web browser or the target file.

Easily click and open hyperlinks without complex security configuration hurdles.Fully compatible with standard Adobe PDF formats and Microsoft Office documents.Lightweight application that opens large PDF documents instantly.Includes powerful PDF editing, annotation, and conversion features.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Acrobat Reader say 'This document can’t be previewed' when I click a link?

This error generally occurs when the hyperlink points to a destination that Acrobat Reader's built-in viewer cannot process, such as certain complex web pages, unsupported file extensions, or blocked domains.

How can I check if a hyperlink in my PDF is safe before clicking?

You can hover your mouse cursor over the hyperlink without clicking it. A small tooltip will appear showing the exact destination URL, allowing you to verify if the website is legitimate and safe.

Will changing Trust Manager settings compromise my computer's security?

Allowing internet access in the Trust Manager simply permits Acrobat Reader to send the link request to your browser. You will still be protected by your default web browser's security measures and your system's antivirus software.

PDF Troubleshooting