How do I add an attachment to a PDF document?

Open your PDF in Acrobat. Go to 'Edit' in the top menu. Select 'Link', then choose 'Add attachment'. Select the file you want to attach from your computer. The attachment will now be part of your PDF.

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

Feature Description Storage. Adding a Link Creates a clickable area that points to an external website or another part of the PDF. Does not store the linked content inside the PDF. Attaching a File Embeds an entire file (like a Word document or image) directly into the PDF. Stores the attached file inside the PDF document itself.

Attach Backups Before Review in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”The reviewer wants the ledger and supporting schedules attached to my audit memo by end of day.…+

The reviewer wants the ledger and supporting schedules attached to my audit memo by end of day. I am juggling multiple PDFs and fear I will link the wrong version. Tell me how to assemble the memo package so the attachments are discoverable and state the one final check to ensure every attachment matches the line item I reference.

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.

Link rectangleA clickable area you draw on a PDF that can open another file or webpage.ExampleWe drew a link rectangle over the company logo in the PDF to open their website.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Attach backups to the memo before review

FAQ

about this task

Open your PDF in Acrobat.
Go to 'Edit' in the top menu.
Select 'Link', then choose 'Add attachment'.
Select the file you want to attach from your computer.
The attachment will now be part of your PDF.

It is important to sanitize attachments because they become part of the PDF. If the attached file contains sensitive or private information, anyone who gets the PDF can see it. Sanitizing removes this private data, protecting your information and ensuring you only share what you intend to.

Feature	Description	Storage
Adding a Link	Creates a clickable area that points to an external website or another part of the PDF.	Does not store the linked content inside the PDF.
Attaching a File	Embeds an entire file (like a Word document or image) directly into the PDF.	Stores the attached file inside the PDF document itself.

If you attach a large video file to your PDF, the PDF's file size will increase significantly. This is because the entire video file is stored inside the PDF document. A larger PDF might take longer to open, save, or send via email.

Yes, you can attach multiple files to a single PDF document. You simply repeat the steps for adding an attachment for each file you want to include. Each attached file will be stored within that one PDF.

Attach Backups Before Review

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help