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How to Open Links in Highlighted Text in Adobe Acrobat for iOS
Question details
Users are unable to open hyperlinks in Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS when the text is covered by a highlight annotation, as tapping selects the highlight instead of opening the link.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- iOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to open an embedded hyperlink inside a PDF that has been marked with a text highlight annotation.
- Observed behavior
- Tapping the highlighted text triggers the annotation-editing mode, capturing the tap and preventing the hyperlink from opening.
Ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS, and verify that the document's hyperlink is actually active and functional on a desktop device before proceeding.
Tap an Unhighlighted Part of the Link
The quickest workaround is to locate and tap a portion of the hyperlink that is not completely covered by the highlight annotation.
In Adobe Acrobat for iOS, touch events are captured by the topmost layer. If any part of the text extends beyond the highlight's bounding box, you can bypass the annotation layer.
Use the pinch-to-zoom gesture on your iOS device to zoom in as closely as possible on the highlighted hyperlink.
Look for a character, punctuation mark, or space at the beginning or end of the link's bounding box that is not covered by the yellow highlight.
Carefully tap the exposed section of the text. This will bypass the highlight layer and trigger the hyperlink directly.
Temporarily Remove or Move the Highlight
If the entire link is completely covered and the tap is always captured by the highlight, you can delete it temporarily to access the link.
Open the PDF on a Desktop Viewer
Since this is a specific limitation in the iOS app's touch interface, using a desktop computer avoids the touch-overlap issue entirely.
Easily Read PDFs and Open Highlighted Links with WPS Office
WPS Office provides an intuitive and powerful PDF reader for both mobile and desktop. It accurately handles layered annotations and hyperlinks, ensuring you can tap and open highlighted links on your iPhone or iPad without frustrating touch conflicts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office from the App Store on your iOS device.
- 2. Open your PDF: Launch the application and import your PDF document containing the highlighted links.
- 3. Tap the link seamlessly: Tap directly on the highlighted hyperlink. WPS PDF's intelligent touch handling will open the link without accidentally selecting the annotation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does tapping a highlighted link in Acrobat iOS select the highlight instead?
In Acrobat iOS, annotations are layered above the text. When you tap the screen, the app registers the touch on the highlight annotation's bounding box first, triggering the edit menu rather than the underlying hyperlink.
Can I lock the highlight annotation to prevent it from being tapped?
Currently, Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS does not offer a feature to 'lock' annotations or send them to the back, meaning they will always capture your tap if they fully cover a link.
Does this hyperlink issue happen on the desktop version of Adobe Acrobat?
No, this is primarily a touch-interface limitation on the mobile version. On a desktop (PC or Mac), you can hover and click the hyperlink directly without accidentally selecting the highlight annotation.
