Fix PDF Links Not Working August 2026 | Simple Solutions

You click a hyperlink inside a PDF document, expecting it to open a web page or jump to another section, and… nothing happens. This scenario plays out daily for millions of people working with digital documents. The root cause is almost always one of a handful of familiar culprits: the wrong conversion method, an underpowered PDF viewer, a browser update that changed how PDFs are handled, or a security restriction buried inside the file itself. In this updated 2026 guide, we will walk you through every reason PDF links stop working and give you the exact steps to fix PDF links not working across every major platform, browser, and creation tool.

Whether you are dealing with Word to PDF hyperlinks not working, Chrome blocking clickable links, Canva exports losing interactivity, or mobile devices refusing to open links, the solutions below cover it all. We have compiled these fixes from real user reports on Adobe forums, Reddit threads, and our own testing to make sure every answer here actually works.

Quick Fixes: Get PDF Links Working Right Now

Before we get into detailed troubleshooting, here are the five most common fixes that resolve the majority of PDF link problems in under two minutes:

• Download the PDF first. Browser-based PDF viewers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) have limited hyperlink support. Save the file to your device and open it in a dedicated reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader instead of viewing it inline.
• Use “Save As” instead of “Print to PDF.” The Print to PDF option flattens your document into a static image, stripping out every hyperlink. Always use File then Save As and choose PDF to preserve interactive elements.
• Check for missing https:// in URLs. A URL that starts with “www.” instead of “https://” may not be recognized as a clickable link by many PDF viewers. Always include the full protocol prefix.
• Try a different PDF reader. If links fail in one app, open the same file in Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit Reader, or Sumatra PDF. This immediately tells you whether the problem is the file or the viewer.
• Disable “Optimize for Fast Web Preview” in InDesign. If you exported your PDF from Adobe InDesign, this setting silently strips hyperlink data during export. Uncheck it before generating your PDF.

If one of those quick fixes solved your issue, you are all set. For more stubborn problems, read on for the full troubleshooting walkthrough.

Why Do Links Stop Working in PDF Files?

PDF hyperlinks are interactive annotations embedded in the document structure. They can point to external websites, email addresses, other pages within the same document, or even separate files on your computer. When these links break, the cause almost always falls into one of four categories.

The conversion method stripped them out. This is the single biggest offender. When you use Print to PDF or a PDF printer driver that treats the document like a printed page, every interactive element gets flattened. The text of the URL may still appear on screen, but the underlying clickable annotation is gone. Word to PDF hyperlinks not working is the most common version of this problem, but it also happens with Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Docs exports.

The viewer does not support interactive elements. Built-in browser viewers, basic mobile PDF apps, and some lightweight readers lack full hyperlink support. PDF hyperlinks not working in Chrome, for example, is a recurring complaint because Chrome’s built-in viewer prioritizes rendering speed over interactivity. The same PDF may work perfectly when opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Security settings are blocking link execution. PDF creators can set document restrictions that prevent users from opening external links. Organizations sometimes enforce these restrictions through IT policies as well. If you see a security warning when you try to open a link, the PDF itself may be locked down.

The file is corrupted. A corrupted PDF can lose its annotation data, including hyperlinks. This can happen during email transit, after merging multiple PDFs, or when a file download was interrupted. Corruption is less common than the other causes but worth checking if nothing else explains the problem.

How to Enable Links in PDF on Desktop Computers

Desktop troubleshooting starts with your PDF reader settings. Most dedicated PDF applications have a setting that controls whether URLs are automatically recognized and made clickable. Here is how to check and fix the most common desktop viewers.

Adobe Acrobat / Reader Settings

Adobe Acrobat Reader remains the most reliable viewer for interactive PDF elements. If links are not working in Adobe Reader, a single settings toggle is usually the culprit.

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.
2. Navigate to Edit, then Preferences, then General.
3. Look for the checkbox labeled “Create links from URLs” and make sure it is checked.
4. Click OK and restart Adobe Reader.
5. Re-open your PDF and test the hyperlinks.

This setting tells Adobe to scan the document for text that looks like web addresses and convert them into clickable links automatically. Without it, even properly formatted URLs appear as plain text. If you are using Adobe Acrobat Pro, you can also check the Trust Manager settings under Preferences to make sure external links are not being blocked by a security policy.

Check PDF Security Restrictions

Some PDF files have permissions set by the creator that restrict what you can do with the document, including following hyperlinks. To check this:

1. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Go to File, then Properties, then click the Security tab.
3. Review the “Document Restrictions Summary” section.
4. If “Linking” is listed as “Not Allowed,” the file creator has restricted link access.
5. You will need the document password to change these permissions, or you can contact the person who created the PDF and ask them to remove the restriction.

There are also free online tools that can unlock PDF restrictions if you have legitimate access to the file but cannot reach the original creator. Search for “Unlock PDF” to find web-based options that remove these restrictions in seconds.

Update Your PDF Reader

Running an outdated version of your PDF reader can cause link failures that were fixed in newer releases. This is especially relevant for Adobe Reader, which receives regular patches for rendering and security issues. Open your PDF reader, check for updates in the Help menu, and install any available updates before moving on to other troubleshooting steps.

Try Alternative PDF Readers

If Adobe Reader is not solving the problem, try one of these free alternatives that handle PDF hyperlinks reliably:

• Foxit Reader: A lightweight, free PDF reader with full hyperlink support and a familiar tabbed interface. It handles both internal and external links well and uses fewer system resources than Adobe Reader.
• Sumatra PDF: An ultra-lightweight reader for Windows that renders PDFs quickly and supports clickable links. It is portable, meaning you can run it without installing anything.
• PDFelement: A full-featured PDF editor that not only reads links but also lets you add, edit, and repair broken hyperlinks in existing PDF files.

Testing your PDF in a second reader is the fastest way to determine whether the problem is with the file itself or with your viewer. If the links work in Foxit Reader but not in Adobe, the issue is your Adobe settings. If they fail in every reader, the PDF needs to be recreated.

How to Fix Word to PDF Hyperlinks Not Working

The number one reason hyperlinks disappear during Word-to-PDF conversion is the method you chose to create the PDF. Microsoft Office offers multiple ways to generate a PDF, and not all of them preserve interactive elements. Understanding the difference between these methods will solve this problem permanently.

Save As PDF vs. Print to PDF: What You Need to Know

Print to PDF (the wrong way): When you use File, then Print, then select “Microsoft Print to PDF” as your printer, Windows treats your document exactly like a physical printout. Every page becomes a static image. Hyperlinks, bookmarks, form fields, and other interactive elements are destroyed in the process. The text of a URL may still appear on the page, but it is no longer clickable because it is now part of an image layer.

Save As PDF (the right way): Using File, then Save As, then selecting PDF as the file type preserves the underlying document structure. Hyperlinks remain as interactive annotations, bookmarks survive, and form fields stay functional. This method exports the document rather than printing it, which is the key difference.

Step-by-Step Proper Conversion

1. Open your document in Word and verify that all hyperlinks work by clicking each one.
2. Go to File, then Save As (or File, then Export in some versions).
3. Choose PDF from the file format dropdown.
4. Click the Options button before saving.
5. Make sure “Document structure tags for accessibility” is checked. This option helps preserve the metadata that keeps hyperlinks functional.
6. Look for any checkbox related to preserving hyperlinks or interactivity and enable it.
7. Save the PDF.
8. Open the resulting PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader and test every link.

PowerPoint and Excel Considerations

The same Save As vs. Print to PDF rule applies to PowerPoint and Excel. However, PowerPoint has an additional wrinkle: hyperlinks attached to shapes, transparent boxes, or image overlays often do not survive PDF export. If you have clickable shapes in your presentation, test the exported PDF carefully. A workaround is to place the hyperlink on a text element instead of a shape, since text-based links are more reliably preserved during conversion.

HTML to PDF Conversion as a Workaround

If you have tried everything and hyperlinks still disappear during conversion, there is another approach that consistently works. Save your Word document as an HTML web page first (File, then Save As, then Web Page), then convert that HTML file to PDF using a converter tool or browser print function. The HTML format preserves link structures natively, and converting from HTML to PDF tends to keep those links intact better than going directly from Word to PDF.

PDF Links Not Working in Your Browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari Fixes

Browser-based PDF viewers are the most common source of hyperlink complaints. Each browser handles PDF rendering differently, and updates can change behavior without warning. If you are experiencing PDF links not working in any browser, the sections below cover the specific fixes for each one.

Google Chrome

Chrome’s built-in PDF viewer has a history of inconsistent hyperlink support. Multiple Chrome updates throughout 2025 and into 2026 have temporarily broken PDF link functionality for users. The viewer prioritizes speed and security over interactivity, which means some links, especially external web links, may not respond to clicks.

Fix 1: Download the PDF and open it externally. Type chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments into your address bar. Toggle the setting to download PDFs instead of opening them in Chrome. Then open the downloaded file in Adobe Acrobat Reader or another dedicated PDF viewer. This is the most reliable fix.

Fix 2: Test in Chrome Incognito mode. Sometimes a browser extension conflicts with the PDF viewer. Open an Incognito window (Ctrl+Shift+N) and load the PDF there. If links work in Incognito, one of your installed extensions is the problem. Disable extensions one by one to find the culprit.

Fix 3: Clear Chrome’s cache. Corrupted cached data can interfere with PDF rendering. Go to chrome://settings/clearBrowserData, select “Cached images and files,” and clear it. Then reload the PDF.

Fix 4: Install a PDF viewer extension. The Chrome Web Store has extensions that replace the default PDF viewer with one that has better link support. Search for “PDF viewer” and install one with high ratings and recent updates.

Microsoft Edge

Edge uses a PDF rendering engine similar to Chrome’s, so many of the same issues apply. Edge can also cause problems by automatically opening PDF files instead of letting your preferred PDF reader handle them. If Microsoft Edge keeps intercepting your PDF files, see our guide to stop Microsoft Edge from opening PDFs automatically so you can use your preferred viewer.

To troubleshoot link issues specifically in Edge:

1. Open Edge and go to Settings, then Cookies and site permissions, then PDF documents.
2. Toggle “Always download PDF files” to force Edge to download PDFs instead of opening them inline.
3. Open the downloaded file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
4. Alternatively, test the PDF in Edge’s InPrivate mode (Ctrl+Shift+N) to rule out extension interference.
5. Clear Edge’s browser cache through Settings, then Privacy, then Clear browsing data.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox has its own built-in PDF viewer called pdf.js, which has decent but not perfect hyperlink support. If PDF links are not working in Firefox:

1. Open Firefox Settings and search for “PDF” in the search bar.
2. Under Applications, find “Portable Document Format (PDF)” in the list.
3. Change the action from “Open in Firefox” to “Use Adobe Acrobat” or “Save File.”
4. If you prefer to keep using Firefox’s viewer, try disabling all extensions and testing again.
5. Update Firefox to the latest version, as pdf.js receives regular improvements for link handling.

Firefox users on Reddit specifically recommend checking the “Portable Document Format” application setting, as it controls which program handles PDFs. If this is set to the Firefox internal viewer, links may not work. Switching it to a dedicated reader solves the issue immediately.

Apple Safari

Safari on both macOS and iOS renders PDFs using Apple’s native PDF engine, which has good basic hyperlink support but can struggle with complex link types like JavaScript-based links or cross-document references. If Safari PDF links are not working:

1. Download the PDF instead of viewing it in the browser window.
2. Open the file in Preview (macOS) or Adobe Acrobat Reader.
3. On iOS, use the Share button to open the PDF in Apple Books or Adobe Acrobat Reader instead of viewing it inline in Safari.
4. Clear Safari’s cache through Settings, then Safari, then Clear History and Website Data (on iOS) or Safari, then Clear History (on macOS).

How to Open PDF Links on Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are a frequent source of PDF link complaints. The built-in PDF viewers on phones and tablets are typically designed for reading, not interacting with embedded elements. Links that work perfectly on a desktop may appear completely dead on mobile. Here is how to fix PDF links not working on both Android and iPhone.

PDF Links Not Working on Android

Android devices often ship with a default PDF viewer that lacks full hyperlink support. Google Drive’s built-in viewer is a common culprit, as it does not support interactive hyperlinks at all. Many users do not realize this and assume the PDF itself is broken.

1. Install Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android from the Google Play Store.
2. Open your PDF file directly from the Adobe app rather than from your browser or Google Drive.
3. Verify your internet connection is active, since external links require network access.
4. Update both your PDF reader app and your Android system software.
5. If links still fail, download the PDF to your device storage first, then open it from the dedicated reader app instead of streaming it from cloud storage.

Other Android PDF readers worth trying include Foxit Reader for Android and Xodo PDF Reader, both of which handle interactive elements better than most default viewers.

PDF Links Not Working on iPhone

iOS has similar limitations with its default PDF handling. The native Quick Look viewer that opens PDFs in Safari and other apps has limited link support. Here is what to do:

1. Install Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS from the App Store.
2. Alternatively, use Apple’s Books app, which has better hyperlink support than the inline Safari viewer.
3. When you encounter a PDF in Safari, tap the Share button and choose “Copy to Acrobat” or “Copy to Books” to open it in a proper reader.
4. Make sure Low Power Mode is off, as it can disable some interactive features to conserve battery.
5. Clear Safari cache through Settings, then Safari, then Clear History and Website Data.
6. Keep your iOS version and PDF reader apps updated to the latest releases.

PDF Links Not Working from Canva Downloads

Canva is one of the most popular design tools on the market, and its PDF export has a specific quirk that breaks hyperlinks. The issue centers on Canva’s “flatten” setting and how the platform handles interactive elements during download. If you have ever exported a Canva design as a PDF and found that none of your links work, this section is for you.

The Canva Flatten Problem

When you download a design from Canva as a PDF, the export dialog includes a checkbox labeled “Flatten PDF.” If this option is checked, Canva converts every element in your design into a flat image layer. This destroys all hyperlink data, just like the Print to PDF problem in Word. The text of your links may still be visible in the PDF, but they are no longer clickable because they are part of an image.

The fix is straightforward: uncheck “Flatten PDF” before downloading. Here is the exact process:

1. Open your design in Canva.
2. Click Share in the top right corner.
3. Choose Download and select PDF as the file type.
4. Look for the “Flatten PDF” checkbox and make sure it is unchecked.
5. Download the file and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader to test your links.

Canva Links on Shapes and Transparent Objects

Even with the flatten option disabled, some Canva users report that links attached to shapes, icons, or transparent overlay elements do not survive the PDF export. This is a known limitation of Canva’s PDF engine. If your links are on text elements, they should work fine. But links applied to shapes or grouped objects may not transfer.

The workaround is to place your hyperlink on a text element positioned over the shape instead of applying it directly to the shape itself. Text-based links in Canva are consistently preserved in PDF exports, while shape-based links are hit or miss.

Testing Canva PDFs Before Sharing

Always open your downloaded Canva PDF in a full-featured reader like Adobe Acrobat Reader before sending it to anyone. Do not rely on browser previews or mobile quick-look viewers for testing, since those viewers may not support links even if the PDF has them correctly embedded. Test on both desktop and mobile to confirm your recipients will have the same experience.

Mac and macOS-Specific PDF Link Troubleshooting

macOS users face a unique set of challenges with PDF links because Apple’s built-in Preview app, while convenient, has limited support for interactive PDF elements. If you are trying to fix PDF links not working on a Mac, the solutions below address the most common macOS-specific issues.

Preview App Limitations

macOS Preview is the default PDF viewer on every Mac, and it is fine for basic reading. However, Preview has well-documented limitations with hyperlinks. External web links sometimes work, but internal links (jumps to other pages or sections), cross-document links, and links with JavaScript triggers are often non-functional. Preview also does not always render link annotations that were created in third-party tools.

The fix is simple: install and use Adobe Acrobat Reader for Mac instead. Download it free from Adobe’s website, set it as your default PDF viewer in Finder (right-click any PDF, select Get Info, then change the “Open with” application to Adobe Acrobat Reader and click “Change All”), and your link problems will likely disappear.

Mac Safari and Mail Considerations

Safari on macOS opens PDFs inline using the same engine as Preview, which means the same limitations apply. To bypass this, right-click any PDF link in Safari and choose “Download Linked File,” then open the downloaded file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Apple Mail can also cause issues. When you receive a PDF as an email attachment and open it directly from the mail window, macOS may use a lightweight viewer that does not support all link types. Always save the attachment to your desktop first, then open it with a dedicated reader.

Word to PDF on Mac

If you are creating PDFs from Microsoft Word on a Mac, the conversion options differ slightly from Windows. In Word for Mac, use File, then Save As, then select PDF from the format dropdown. Make sure the “Best for electronic distribution and accessibility” option is selected rather than “Best for printing,” as the electronic option preserves hyperlinks while the printing option can flatten them.

Do Links Work in PDF? Understanding What Works and What Does Not

A common question we see is simply: do links work in PDF files at all? The short answer is yes, but the type of link and how it was created determine whether it will function reliably. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect.

Link Types That Generally Work

• Web links (HTTP and HTTPS): Standard URLs starting with http:// or https:// are the most universally supported link type across all PDF viewers.
• Email links (mailto:): Clicking a mailto link opens your default email client with the address pre-filled. Most modern viewers support this.
• Internal page links: Links that jump to a specific page or section within the same PDF are well-supported by dedicated readers like Adobe Acrobat.
• Bookmark navigation: PDF bookmarks in the sidebar function as internal links and are supported by virtually all readers.

Link Types That Often Fail

• Links to local files: References to files on your computer (such as file:///C:/…) are blocked by most viewers for security reasons.
• JavaScript-based links: Links that trigger JavaScript actions are disabled in browser-based viewers and many desktop readers.
• Cross-document links: Links pointing to other PDF files on the same system often fail because the target file may not exist on the recipient’s device.
• Links with special characters: Extremely long URLs or URLs containing unusual characters (brackets, spaces, non-ASCII characters) can fail in some viewers.
• Links in password-protected PDFs: Some viewers disable all interactive features in encrypted or password-protected files.

When creating PDFs with links, stick to standard web URLs and internal page references. These have the highest success rate across all platforms and viewers.

Will Hyperlinks Work in PDF? Best Practices for Creating Reliable Links

Preventing broken links is far easier than fixing them after the fact. If you create PDFs regularly, adopting these habits will eliminate hyperlink issues before they start.

Insert Links the Right Way

1. Use your application’s built-in hyperlink feature (usually Ctrl+K or Cmd+K) to insert links rather than just typing URLs as plain text.
2. Always include the full protocol: https:// not just www.
3. Test every link in your source document before converting to PDF.
4. Avoid applying hyperlinks to shapes or transparent objects in PowerPoint or Canva, as these are the least likely to survive export.

Choose the Right PDF Creation Method

• Best: Export or Save As PDF from your source application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign, Google Docs).
• Good: Use a dedicated PDF creation tool or converter that specifically preserves interactive elements.
• Avoid: Print to PDF, which flattens the document and destroys all interactivity.
• Fallback: Save as HTML first, then convert to PDF if direct export is losing links.

Cross-Platform Testing Before Distribution

Always test your finished PDF on at least three environments before sharing it widely: a desktop PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat), a browser (Chrome), and a mobile device. This catches compatibility issues that you would never notice testing on a single platform. Links that work flawlessly in Adobe Acrobat may be completely non-functional in a browser viewer or on a phone.

Links Don’t Work on PDF: Advanced Troubleshooting

If you have tried the basic and intermediate fixes above and still cannot get your PDF links working, the problem is likely deeper. This section covers the advanced causes and solutions that most troubleshooting guides miss.

InDesign: Disable “Optimize for Fast Web Preview”

If you create PDFs from Adobe InDesign, there is a specific export setting that silently breaks hyperlinks. The setting is called “Optimize for Fast Web Preview” (also sometimes labeled as “Optimize for Fast Web View”), and it restructures the PDF for progressive downloading. The problem is that this restructuring process can strip out or damage link annotations.

Multiple users on Reddit’s r/chrome and the Adobe Community forums have confirmed that disabling this setting resolves PDF hyperlink issues that no other fix addresses. To fix it:

1. Open your document in Adobe InDesign.
2. Go to File, then Export, then choose Adobe PDF (Print) or Adobe PDF (Interactive).
3. In the export options, find the “Optimize for Fast Web Preview” checkbox.
4. Uncheck this option.
5. Export your PDF and test the links.

This is one of the most overlooked fixes for PDF link issues. If you are a designer or publisher who uses InDesign regularly, make unchecking this option part of your standard export workflow.

Switch Your PDF Printer Driver

If you must use a print-based method to create your PDF, the specific PDF printer driver matters. The default “Microsoft Print to PDF” driver is the worst offender for stripping hyperlinks. Switching to a different driver can solve the problem:

• Adobe PDF printer: If you have Adobe Acrobat installed, the Adobe PDF printer driver preserves hyperlinks much better than the Microsoft default.
• Microsoft Print to PDF: This is the driver that causes the most problems. Avoid it if your document contains links.
• Third-party PDF printer drivers: Tools like PDFelement and BullZip include PDF printer drivers that are specifically designed to preserve interactive elements during the print process.

To switch your PDF printer driver on Windows, go to Settings, then Devices, then Printers and scanners. Set a different PDF printer as your default, or select it manually when you choose the Print option in your application.

Detecting and Repairing PDF Corruption

A corrupted PDF can manifest in several ways that look like link problems. Here are the specific signs that your PDF file is corrupted rather than just having a viewer or settings issue:

• Links that used to work suddenly stopped working without any changes to the file or your software.
• The PDF displays incorrectly: missing text, garbled characters, or pages that render partially.
• You see error messages like “There was an error processing a page” or “The file is damaged and could not be repaired” when opening the PDF.
• The same PDF works on one device but refuses to open or display properly on another.
• File size is significantly smaller or larger than expected compared to similar documents.

If you suspect corruption, try these repair steps:

1. Re-download the file. If you received the PDF via email or cloud storage, download it again. The original download may have been interrupted.
2. Open it in a different viewer. If the PDF shows different symptoms in different readers, corruption is likely.
3. Use Adobe Acrobat’s repair tool. In Adobe Acrobat Pro, go to File, then Properties, then click “Optimize” or use the Preflight tool to check for and repair structural errors.
4. Re-export from the original source. If you still have the original Word, InDesign, or Canva file, generate a fresh PDF. This is the most reliable fix for corruption.
5. Try an online PDF repair tool. Several free web-based services can repair corrupted PDF structure, which may restore broken link annotations.

Links Broken After Merging PDFs

Merging multiple PDF files into one document can break hyperlinks, especially if the merge tool does not properly update the internal link targets. When PDFs are combined, page numbers change, and internal links that pointed to “page 5 of document A” may no longer resolve correctly in the merged file. External web links are usually preserved during merging, but internal navigation links, table of contents entries, and cross-document references often break.

To avoid this, use a high-quality PDF merge tool. Adobe Acrobat Pro’s Combine Files feature handles link updating better than most free alternatives. If your links broke after merging, try re-merging with Adobe Acrobat, or manually recreate the internal links in the merged document.

Email Client Interference

When you email a PDF as an attachment, the email client may modify the file during transit. Gmail and Outlook have both been known to alter PDF attachments in ways that break interactive elements. This is more common than most people realize.

If your recipient reports broken links in a PDF you emailed, try these alternatives:

1. Upload the PDF to a cloud storage service (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) and share the link instead of attaching the file.
2. Send the PDF in a password-protected ZIP file, which prevents the email client from modifying the contents.
3. Ask the recipient to download the attachment to their computer first rather than opening it directly in the email client’s built-in viewer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

PDF links not working is a widespread frustration, but nearly every case traces back to one of the causes we covered in this guide: a flattened document from Print to PDF or Canva’s flatten setting, a browser viewer that lacks full link support, an outdated or misconfigured PDF reader, security restrictions locking down the file, or corruption from a bad download or merge. Once you identify which of these is the culprit, the fix is usually straightforward.

The single most important habit to build is using Save As PDF or Export to PDF rather than Print to PDF when creating documents. This one change prevents the majority of link-loss problems at the source. Pair that with testing your finished PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Reader before sharing, and you will rarely encounter broken links again. For recipients who report issues, the first question to ask is always: “Did you open the PDF in a dedicated reader, or are you viewing it in a browser?” That distinction alone resolves most support requests.

If you are still dealing with stubborn link problems after trying everything in this guide, the nuclear option is to recreate the PDF from scratch using the proper Save As method with all the recommended settings. It takes a few extra minutes, but it is the guaranteed fix when nothing else works.