How do I add an attachment to a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'Edit' > 'Link'. Select an option to add an attachment (often 'Add attachments'). Choose the file you want to attach from your computer. Save the PDF to include the new attachment.

Why is it important to sanitize attachments before sharing a PDF?

It's important to sanitize attachments because they become part of the PDF. If an attachment contains private details, anyone who gets the PDF can see that information. Sanitizing helps protect sensitive data by removing it before you share the document, ensuring your privacy and security.

What is the difference between adding a link and adding an attachment in a PDF?

Feature Description File Location. Link Connects to another part of the PDF, a website, or another file. The linked file is separate; only a path is stored. Attachment Embeds a file directly inside the PDF document. The attached file is stored within the PDF itself.

If I attach a large video file to my PDF, what happens to the PDF's file size?

If you attach a large video file, the PDF's file size will increase significantly. This is because the video file is embedded directly into the PDF document. A larger PDF might take longer to open, save, or share with others.

Why would I use the 'Edit > Link' menu to manage attachments?

You use 'Edit > Link' because this menu in Adobe Acrobat is where you manage interactive elements within your PDF. Both links and attachments are ways to connect your PDF to other information or files, so they are grouped together for easier editing and management.

Add a link to open a different PDF file in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Add a clickable link in my PDF that opens another PDF...…+

Add a clickable link in my PDF that opens another PDF file called [filename] when clicked.

when the reply comes backWould you like to add more links to other files?

BImprove — “do it better”Suggest a better label or style for my PDF link to...…+

Suggest a better label or style for my PDF link to [filename] so readers know what it does.

when the reply comes backNeed help making your link look better?

CDecide — “help me choose”Help me pick the best place in my PDF to...…+

Help me pick the best place in my PDF to add a link to [filename] so it’s easy to find.

when the reply comes backWant to test if your link works correctly?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select the Tools tab and choose Edit PDF.
3
Click on Link in the secondary toolbar, then select Add link.
4
Drag to draw a rectangle where you want the link to appear.
5
In the dialog that appears, select the link appearance and choose the link action, such as Open a web page or Go to a page view.
6
Click Next and enter the URL or destination as required, then click OK.
7
To attach a file, select the Tools tab and choose Edit PDF.
8
Click on Attach in the secondary toolbar and select Attach File.
9
Click on the location in the PDF where you want the attachment icon to appear.
10
In the dialog, browse to select the file you want to attach, then click Open.
11
Optionally, add a description for the attachment, then click OK.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly check all links and attachments in your PDF by opening the Attachments panel from the left navigation pane.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

PDFA common file type used to share documents that look the same everywhere.ExampleShe saved the brochure as a PDF so everyone would see the exact same layout and fonts.

LinkA clickable area that takes you to another place or file.ExampleClicking the link on the webpage opened a new tab with the product's specifications.

Adobe AcrobatA program used to view and edit PDF files.ExampleYou use Adobe Acrobat to open and read the instruction manual.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

I keep over-attaching or under-attaching when sending to escalation, which slows their decisions and wastes our time.

FAQ

about this task

In Adobe Acrobat, you can use the 'Link' tool to draw a box where you want the link. Then, set the link action to open a file and choose the PDF you want. This makes it easy for readers to open another PDF directly from your document.

If the linked PDF file is moved or deleted, the link in your document will not work. It's important to keep both files in the same place or update the link if you change the file’s location.

Adobe Acrobat lets you link to another PDF, but linking to a specific page inside that file is more advanced and may not always work as expected. Usually, the linked PDF just opens to its first page.

Adding a link to another PDF is helpful when you want to share extra information, references, or related documents without making your main file too long.

Yes, linking to a webpage opens a site on the internet, while linking to a PDF file opens another document stored on your computer or network. Both are useful, but they work differently depending on where the files are kept.

Add a link to open a different PDF file

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help