How do I add an attachment to a PDF document?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'Edit' > 'Link' > 'Add attachments to PDFs'. Choose the file you want to attach from your computer. The file is now part of your PDF, making it easy to share related documents together.

What is the difference between adding a link and attaching a file in a PDF?

Feature What it does Where the file lives. Add a Link Creates a clickable area that opens another file or webpage. The linked file/webpage stays separate, not inside the PDF. Attach a File Embeds another file directly into the PDF document. The attached file becomes part of the PDF itself.

What are the benefits of attaching files directly to a PDF document?

Keeps all related documents together in one single PDF file. Simplifies sharing, as recipients get all necessary files at once. Ensures that linked files are always available, even if original locations change.

Attach Field Sketch Requirement in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”I finished revised plan sheets but I still need to attach a scanned field sketch with site…+

I finished revised plan sheets but I still need to attach a scanned field sketch with site measurements the surveyor scribbled on a napkin. The PM wants the revision issued this afternoon and I don’t want the contractor to claim we missed key site info. Tell me the simplest, traceable way to attach the sketch so it’s visible to contractors and preserved in the archive, what file name and sheet placement to use, and one thing I must not do that will break the record.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select Tools in the top menu.
3
Choose Protect or look for the attachment tool in the tools panel.
4
Click the paperclip icon or select the attachment tool from the secondary toolbar.
5
Click anywhere on the PDF page where you want the attachment icon to appear.
6
In the file dialog, browse to and select the file you want to embed, then click Open.
7
Choose an icon to represent the attachment and, optionally, enter a description.
8
Click OK to embed the file into the PDF.
Best practiceFor best compatibility, let recipients know that they may need to use Adobe Acrobat or Reader to extract embedded attachments, as some PDF viewers do not support this feature.
9
Save the PDF to retain the embedded attachment.

In the appWith the API

You can view and manage all embedded attachments by opening the Attachments pane in Acrobat.

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

Glossary

words on this page

AttachmentA file that is added inside a PDF, so it travels with the PDF.ExampleThe email included an attachment of the full contract, which opened as a PDF.

SanitizeTo remove sensitive or private information from a document before sharing it.ExampleRemember to sanitize the document by redacting personal details before sharing it publicly.

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.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Must attach field sketch before issuing revised sheets

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to 'Edit' > 'Link' > 'Add attachments to PDFs'.
Choose the file you want to attach from your computer.
The file is now part of your PDF, making it easy to share related documents together.

You should sanitize an attached file to protect sensitive information. When you attach a file, it becomes part of the PDF. If the attached file contains private data, anyone who receives the PDF can see it. Sanitizing removes this data, ensuring your privacy and security when sharing documents.

Feature	What it does	Where the file lives
Add a Link	Creates a clickable area that opens another file or webpage.	The linked file/webpage stays separate, not inside the PDF.
Attach a File	Embeds another file directly into the PDF document.	The attached file becomes part of the PDF itself.

Yes, attaching a large video file will significantly increase your PDF's file size. This is because the video data is stored directly inside the PDF. A larger PDF can be slower to open, send, and download. Consider linking to large files instead, or compressing the video before attaching it.

Keeps all related documents together in one single PDF file.
Simplifies sharing, as recipients get all necessary files at once.
Ensures that linked files are always available, even if original locations change.

Attach Field Sketch Requirement

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help