Hyperlinks no longer work in Illustrator 2025

[Marcos27562808ay6d]

The ability to add links to shapes to create buttons no longer works in the latest version. When exporting to PDF, the function disappears.
When opening files that previously had them and were working, when exporting with the current version of Illustrator, the hyperlink disappears.
I've checked all the PDF format options, and none of them work.

I'm using version 29.7.1.

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Not having the same issue with 29.7.1 on either Win or Mac. It's working as expected.

What is your exact system?

[fluke-d]

I have a similar issue opening existing files – the image map URLs no longer work in the PDF.
Saving the same file from Illustrator 2024 and they work. Preserve hyperlinks is checked.

Redoing the image map and URL in the existing document doesn't resolve the issue.
Redoing the image map with a different URL does work.

Creating a new document in 29.7.1 and creating a new image map with URL does work.
So does cutting and pasting the original into a new document.

This, combined with the font replacement bug has forced me to go back to 2024.

[fluke-d]

Actually, cutting and pasting into a new document doesn't work all the time.

[Ton Frederiks]

The only way I can create the problem is by creating a new layer above all, drag or create a guide and save as PDF.

The links from the Attributes panel stop working.

Delete the layer with the guide and they start working again.

[Marcos27562808ay6d · Accepted solution]

I figured it out! If the shape is on any layer other than the top one, the button doesn't work.

[fluke-d]

So – it's not a bug, it's a new feature?

[Ton Frederiks]

It looks like you are right,  @Marcos27562808ay6d links need to be in the top layer.

Looks like a bug, but certainly a limitation.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Marcos27562808ay6d & @fluke-d,

Thanks for sharing the details of what you are seeing. Could you please confirm the OS version you are working on and also share a short screen recording showing the workflow from creating the hyperlink to exporting the PDF where it does not work? This will help me review the behavior more closely with the team and see what might be going on.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

[fluke-d]

The problem happens on existing documents with image maps – the links work when exported from Illustrator 2024 but not the latest versions of 2025. Creating a new image map in a new document in 2025 seems to work fine. I'm using Mac OS 15.6.1 – M1 Max, Illustrator v 29.8.1

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @fluke-d, 

Thanks for sharing your observations and the additional details. I'm checking this with the product team.

I'll update the thread as soon as I hear back from them.

Abhishek

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for sharing all the details and observations. I've checked with the product team, and they are aware of this issue and currently working on a fix. I'll keep this thread updated as soon as

I have more information to share.

Abhishek