Other PDF Issues

How to Remove an Adobe Acrobat Link When Sharing PDF Files

Khadija Khan Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to share an actual PDF document as a file attachment rather than sending a cloud storage link.

How to Remove an Adobe Acrobat Link When Sharing PDF Files

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader Mobile App
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sharing a PDF file with contacts through WhatsApp, email, or iMessage.
Observed behavior: The app generates and sends an Adobe Acrobat cloud storage link instead of attaching the physical PDF file.

Before you start

Check whether your PDF is stored locally on your device or in Adobe Cloud storage, as cloud-based files often default to generating shareable links.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the 'Send a Copy' Option in Acrobat Reader

Bypass the default link generation by explicitly choosing to send a copy of the physical file.

When sharing files from the Adobe Acrobat mobile app, especially those synced to the cloud, the app tries to send a collaborative link by default. You can override this by selecting the option to send a physical copy.

Open the share menu

Open the Acrobat Reader app and tap the three dots (More options) next to the PDF you want to share.

Select Send a Copy

Tap 'Share' from the menu. Instead of tapping 'Create Link' or just entering an email, scroll down or look for the 'Send a Copy' option at the bottom of the screen.

Choose your app

Select WhatsApp, your email client, or iMessage from the native sharing menu. The actual PDF file will now be attached.

Use the 'Send a Copy' Option in Acrobat Reader

File Attached Successfully: You will know it worked if you see the PDF icon and file size attached in your messaging app rather than a text URL.

Solution 2

Save the PDF Locally Before Sharing

Download cloud-stored PDFs directly to your device storage to prevent automatic link generation when sharing.

Easily Share Actual PDF Files Using WPS Office

If you want a straightforward way to share PDFs without dealing with mandatory cloud links, WPS Office offers a simple, offline-friendly sharing experience. Easily send files directly as attachments via WhatsApp, email, or any other platform.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF file you wish to share.
2. Access the Share menu: Tap the 'Share' icon located at the bottom of the screen or in the Tools menu.
3. Select Share as File: Choose the 'File' or 'Share as File' option to ensure the actual document is packaged for sending.
4. Send via your preferred app: Select WhatsApp, Mail, or Messages from the popup list to attach and send the physical PDF.

Directly share physical PDF files as attachments without forced cloud linksFully compatible with standard PDF and Adobe Acrobat formatsLightweight PDF reader with powerful built-in annotation toolsSeamless file management for local and cloud documents

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Adobe Acrobat share a link instead of the file?

Adobe Acrobat defaults to sharing cloud links for files saved in Adobe Cloud storage. This is designed to save bandwidth and allow multiple users to add collaborative comments on the same document simultaneously.

Can I permanently disable the link-sharing default in Adobe Acrobat?

You cannot permanently disable the link-sharing default for files stored in Adobe Cloud. However, you can always bypass it on a case-by-case basis by explicitly selecting the 'Send a Copy' option in the sharing menu.

How do I share a local PDF directly without using a PDF app?

You can bypass PDF reader apps entirely by opening your device's native File Manager (like Files on iOS or My Files on Android). Locate the PDF, tap and hold it, select the Share icon, and choose your desired app to send the raw file.

PDF Troubleshooting