Why are PDFs with links not working the same in a browser as in my desktop app?

[dianed97898145]

Hi!

I create fillable forms for business owners and I post PDF previews of those forms online.

I add a comment box to the PDF preview with information and I use the link tool to add a link to the part of the comment that leads back to the webpage where the form can be purchased.

I then add a link to that particular webpage that links to that PDF preview.

This way, people at the webpage can click on the link to look at the PDF preview, and anyone who comes across the PDF preview while not at my website has a link right there on the PDF preview to bring them directly to the webpage to purchase it.

The way the link should work:

When I open this PDF preview in my "desktop app" (Windows 10, Adobe Acrobat Standard), I can click on the link I added and it takes me to my website, which is exactly what I want it to do.

The problem:

When the PDF preview opens in the browser rather than within the desktop app, the link seems to be not active or not easily found to be clicked. Instead, when I hover over the text that should be a link, it appears that the link box or the comment box (or both) "activates" and then I can drag that entire comment box around but I can't click the link to be whisked away to the webpage.

Also, if I double click on what should be the link within the comment box, the comment bar on the right opens but the text within the comment bar that should be a link on the PDF preview isn't a link in the comment bar either (which may be as it should be, I don't know) - in addition, that double clicking allows the comments to be edited (but still no link to click on).

My goal is for the PDF preview, and the link in the comments, to work the same way in the browser as it does in my desktop app (as described above, under "The way the link should work:").

I hope all that makes sense, and if it does, what am I doing wrong that's causing it to behave this way when viewed within the browser?

Thank you so much!! 🐵

[creative explorer]

@dianed97898145 can you take a screenshot of what the window and error reads on the pop-up error... it might be something small...

[dianed97898145]

Hi mpchow! 🙂

Thank you so much for your reply. 🙂

There's no error message involved but try67 was able to answer below.

Thank you again and have a great day!!

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Many browsers use their own PDF viewers, even if Adobe Reader is installed, and those viewers are usually pretty bad when it comes to things like fields, links and scripts. There's nothing you can do about that, except for instruct the users to download the file and then open it in Reader, instead of in the browser window.

[dianed97898145]

Hi there, try67!! 🙂 Long time, no chat (not super long but long enough) 😉 I hope that you are doing well!! 🙂

Thank you for the info. Bummer but kind of what I was thinking. I was hoping there might be a way to make it work but I kind of figured otherwise.

Thank you so much for letting me know, and have a great day!!

[dr_christiaan_0419]

Why all of a sudden are LINKS in a Word document not translating to the PDF version of the document?  I have tried numerous times but the Links that work in Word are not there in PDF.  I have tried Adobe, Preview, nothing works! I have done this previously and it DID work. Why not now???

[AnandSri]

Hello @dr_christiaan_0419

I hope you're doing well, and we apologize for the delayed response and the trouble.

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20531 (Win) | 25.001.20529 (Mac), planned update June 10, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and try again.

Is it happening with all the PDFs, or is it specific to one PDF? Are you on a Mac or Windows machine, and what is the version? 

Use the Adobe Acrobat Plugin in Word

• Open your Word document
• Go to the Acrobat tab in the ribbon
• Click Create PDF
• This method preserves hyperlinks and formatting far better than Print or Save As PDF

If you don’t see the Acrobat tab:

• Go to File > Options > Add-ins
• At the bottom, select COM Add-ins > Go
• Check Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Add-in and click OK

Avoid Using Print to PDF or Preview

• These methods do not preserve hyperlinks
• Always use Adobe PDF > Create PDF from the Word ribbon or File > Save As Adobe PDF if available.

Ensure that the Office suite, including Word, is updated to the latest version. 

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.