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J
jay fresno
Inspiring
July 25, 2022
Answered

Email hyperlinks created in InDesign do not work in PDF

  • July 25, 2022
  • 5 replies
  • 12173 views

I am using the most current version of InDesign and Acrobat on Windows 10.

 

To create an email hyperlink in InDesign I choose URL and type mailto: in front of the email address with no spaces. I am not using Shared Hyperlink Destination.

 

When I export to PDF the email links don't work correctly. Instead of opening the email application, they try to open a web page.

 

In InDesign, even though I specify URL and put mailto: in front of the email address when I re-open the Hyperlinks panel and choose Edit Hyperlink, the link has changed back to Email and the mailto text has disappeared. I have not made this change -- InDesign is doing it automatically behind my back.

 

How can I create an email hyperlink in InDesign that actually works in the exported PDF?

Correct answer BobLevine

It is NOT a buggy feature. It works as intended.

 

I thought I explained this to you very clearly but I'll try again. I was not discussing mailto in PDF; I was discussing it in general. It would be no different if you tried to use it on a website. It is way too dependent on the user's default settings and that is something you have zero control over. It's a more than 20-year old way of sending emails and it's outlived its usefulness.

5 replies

R
Rachel Laura
Participant
October 30, 2025

This was happening to me, too. It turned out that my mail settings on my Macbook were set to open Chrome when there was an active email link. To fix, open the Mac mail app, even if you don't use that for email. Go to Mail > Settings, and click on the General tab. Next to Default email settings, make sure your email client appears. If you use a web-based mail program, choose your browser. There will be an additional step to direct the browser to your email client.

BobLevine
Community Expert
BobLevineCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 30, 2025

And how exactly do you plan on forcing all of the other users of that form to do this? I stand by all of my earlier statements. Stop using mailto: links.

J
jay fresnoAuthor
Inspiring
July 25, 2022

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I now understand that the email links in Acrobat are unreliable. 

I don't understand why the feature is even in the software since it may or may not work. (Retorical comment, made in frustration with a buggy feature that has caused a lot of wasted time.)

    BobLevine
    Community Expert
    BobLevineCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    July 25, 2022

    It is NOT a buggy feature. It works as intended.

     

    I thought I explained this to you very clearly but I'll try again. I was not discussing mailto in PDF; I was discussing it in general. It would be no different if you tried to use it on a website. It is way too dependent on the user's default settings and that is something you have zero control over. It's a more than 20-year old way of sending emails and it's outlived its usefulness.

      juj88675598
      juj88675598
      Participant
      September 17, 2024

      Wow. I looked at all your responses and have a one question - Since you are so resourceful, have you forgoten all your manners? Guy don`t need parrenting, just clear answers.

        BobLevine
        Community Expert
        BobLevineCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        July 25, 2022

        How is this to be used? Seriously, mailto links are an awful way to do anything to send emails. Where is this PDF going to reside? How will it be distributed?

          J
          jay fresnoAuthor
          Inspiring
          July 25, 2022

          The PDF will be posted on the web. There are several emails listed so that people can click them and send email for more information.

          BobLevine
          Community Expert
          BobLevineCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          July 25, 2022

          Well then, I would highly advise against this. What if the user doesn't have an email app? Do the recipient enjoy spam, because mailto links are a spam magnet. I have not seen one good reason to use them in many years.

           

          Since this is for the web you should create a proper web-based form and use that to send emails.

          Willi Adelberger
          Community Expert
          Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          July 25, 2022

          You write that you choosed URL. Did you try to change URL to E-Mail?

            M
            Community Expert
            Manan JoshiCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            July 25, 2022

            Hi @Willi Adelberger,

            Using Email causes issues as mentioned in the article below. I have not tried if this has been fixed in the latest versions on InDesign though.

            https://creativepro.com/a-fix-for-indesigns-email-hyperlink-problem/

            -Manan 

            -Manan
            Willi Adelberger
            Community Expert
            Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            July 25, 2022

            You did not write that you use email, you wrote that you used mailto:

            That is not the same.

            M
            Community Expert
            Manan JoshiCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            July 25, 2022

            Hi @jay fresno,

            I tried this on CC2021(MAC) and it worked for me. Did you check what hyperlink is shown in the pdf when you hover the cursor over the text in the pdf, is it correct?

            -Manan

            -Manan
            J
            jay fresnoAuthor
            Inspiring
            July 25, 2022

            The hyperlink is correct in the PDF when I hover the cursor over it.

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