'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Software for Adding Clickable Links to a PDF: Best Acrobat Alternatives
Question details
The user needs a software alternative to Adobe Acrobat for adding clickable hyperlinks to existing PDF files.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Modifying an existing PDF document to make elements interactive by adding external or internal hyperlinks without relying on an Acrobat trial.
- Observed behavior
- The user owns Illustrator and Photoshop but lacks a dedicated tool designed specifically for full PDF link editing and management.
Make sure you have the exact URLs or page destinations ready, and verify that your target PDF document is not restricted by editing passwords.
Use a Dedicated Third-Party PDF Editor
A fully-featured PDF editor provides the most direct and reliable way to add interactive links to existing PDFs without needing an Adobe Acrobat Pro subscription.
While design tools like Illustrator and Photoshop are excellent for creating artwork, they are not optimized for editing interactive PDF elements like hyperlinks. A dedicated PDF editing software allows you to seamlessly draw link boxes over text or images and assign web URLs or page jumps.
Launch your chosen PDF editor and open the document you wish to modify.
Navigate to the 'Edit' tab on the top toolbar and select the 'Link' or 'Add Hyperlink' option.
Click and drag your cursor over the text or image where you want the clickable link to appear.
In the pop-up dialog box, choose whether the link should open a web page or jump to a specific page within the document, then enter the URL or page number.
Click 'File' and select 'Save' or 'Save As' to preserve the newly added interactive links.
Add Links in the Source Document Before Exporting
If you are the original creator of the document, adding links in the source software (like Word or Illustrator) before exporting to PDF is highly effective.
Add Clickable Links to PDFs Easily with WPS Office
WPS Office features a built-in, robust PDF editor that allows you to easily insert, edit, and manage clickable hyperlinks in your PDF documents. It serves as a perfect, lightweight alternative to expensive software like Adobe Acrobat.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Select the Edit Tab: Click on the 'Edit' tab located in the top navigation ribbon.
- 3. Click on 'Link': Select the 'Link' option and choose 'Add/Edit Link' from the dropdown menu.
- 4. Draw and Configure: Draw a rectangle over the desired area. In the prompt, enter the web URL or select a page jump, then click 'OK'.
- 5. Save Your PDF: Press Ctrl + S or go to 'File' > 'Save' to apply the clickable links permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Photoshop or Illustrator to add PDF hyperlinks?
While Adobe Illustrator can retain basic text-based hyperlinks when saving a file as a PDF, neither Photoshop nor Illustrator is designed for comprehensive PDF link editing. A dedicated PDF editor is recommended for adding or modifying interactive links in existing PDFs.
Why are the links in my PDF not clickable?
Links may not be clickable if the document was flattened into an image during export, removing interactive elements. Additionally, some basic PDF viewers or web browsers may not support interactive hyperlinks. Always use a standard PDF reader to verify.
How do I link a specific page within the same PDF document?
When using a PDF editor, select the 'Link' tool and draw your clickable area. Instead of choosing 'Open a web page', select the option labeled 'Go to a page view' or 'Jump to page', then enter the destination page number.
Are hyperlinks preserved when converting Word documents to PDF?
Yes, standard document processors like Microsoft Word and WPS Writer automatically preserve text hyperlinks when you 'Save As' or 'Export' the document to a PDF format.
