Links in PDF disappears in browser after Chrome update!

[one_off]

We just found that links in PDF files are not clickable within the browser after chrome update v.125. For those that have v.124 the links do still work and directs the user to the correct page.

We have hundreds of PDF published that refers to each other with common url links. Previolsy you could click the link within the browser and it open the target PDF. Today we found that the links have dissapeared, if you have Chrome v125. You cannot click them!

But if you download the file and open it in Adobe Reader/Pro the links are there and points to the target.

We just as well got the indication that this problem as well appears in Edge. Is this a known bugg?

[Joel37910461rwcl · Accepted solution]

We fixed this issue by unchecking "Optimize for Fast Web View" in the InDesign export dialog. 

The version that was optimized for fast web view had broken links, while the one that was not optimized had working links. 

[Abambo]

As long as it happens with Chrome and Edge, there is no Adobe product involved, and you need to ask in the Microsoft or Google fora.

[defaultgn631cdd5vpy]

We have the same issue. Did you create PDFs with InDesign? This appears to only occur in Windows versions of Chrome and Edge. We have submitted a ticket with Chrome. You should do the same. 

[maxwithdax]

Are these links you created with the Hyperlink panel or are these simply text elements that format like links with a www and a .com in them? Acrobat has an AutoDetect Hyperlinks feature. Just trying to understand if it is that feature not working in the browser or is it that it is not recognizing the properly created hyperlink from InDesign. 

As others have stated, ultimately if it is created correctly in the PDF but the Viewer is the culprit, there is not much Adobe can do about that.

[defaultgn631cdd5vpy]

Acrobat works fine. Chromium Windows based default viewers(Chrome + Edge) look to be the problem. Links are added with link tool InDesign. There was a Chrome update recently that suddenly removed all links. I have a ticket with Chromium describing this issue. All of our PDFs were fine on previous version until latest update. We even tested this in house on old/new Chrome updates.

[one_off]

I can confirm that we have the exact same problem. Links are created in InDesign. Can you post a link to your Chromium ticket.

[one_off]

Yesterday I created a thread at Google support: https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/275995269/links-in-pdf-disappears-in-browser-after-chrome-u...

[Angelina330507204cgn]

Check your settings in Chrome ... click on Extensions and make sure Adobe Acrobat and Google Docs are toggled on. Quit and reopen your pdf. That worked for me.

[Angelina330507204cgn]

It's Chrome not your PDF. I had this issue with colleagues not being able to get the hyperlinks to work but they were all working for me in Firefox and Indesign and Acrobat

[defaultgn631cdd5vpy]

Unfortunately many users rely on Chrome b/c they do not know any better. They are the ones affected by this. The problem started after a Chrome update last week. Chromium support has tested and verified this as well. Waiting on a fix for now.

[one_off]

This sounds promising. Can you please post i link to this source? 

[Philip31475648sc65]

https://issues.chromium.org/issues/341973428

[JR Boulay]

Chrome is a spyware and a web browser, not a PDF reader.

You should not use it.

[defaultgn631cdd5vpy]

I agree and try not too. But a lot of users and potential customers do use it. Most of those people do not have an Acrobat extension or even anything outside of a browser to view pdfs. 

[Joel37910461rwcl · Accepted solution]

We fixed this issue by unchecking "Optimize for Fast Web View" in the InDesign export dialog. 

The version that was optimized for fast web view had broken links, while the one that was not optimized had working links. 

[defaultgn631cdd5vpy]

Thanks. I'll pass this along for future documents. Still waiting on Chromium to add a fix for the old ones to work. 

[one_off]

Are you sure thus will be fixed in Chromium?

[one_off]

Thanks a lot! This solved the problem, once we publish the PDF without the "Optimize for Fast Web View" the links work.

But it doesn't solve the problem that we have 500 InDesign documents that might have to be republished to properly work. Which is risky for us. Would it possible to configure/edit the published PDFs somehow,  maybe through Acrobat, to make the links in the document to work? Maybe this is a question for another thread?

[Abambo]

But it doesn't solve the problem that we have 500 InDesign documents that might have to be republished to properly work. Which is risky for us. Would it possible to configure/edit the published PDFs somehow,  maybe through Acrobat, to make the links in the document to work? Maybe this is a question for another thread?

By @one_off

This is an issue in Chrome, you need a solution from Google. 

[one_off]

Well, not only.
We can fix the problem with "Optimize for Fast Web View". My questions is, can this be removed or edited in a PDF.

[JR Boulay · Accepted solution]

Yes, Acrobat can fix this.

Tick this option in the Preferences and re-save (as) your PDFs.

This can be done using the Action Wizard.

[simsnet]

Wow, I can't believe there's a solution already.  Thank you Joel!

[defaultgn631cdd5vpy]

Chrome latest update fixed this issue. Update your browser and test your pdfs to check. Worked on my machine today.