Export Google Doc as PDF with Hyperlinks
Exporting a Google Doc with hyperlinks intact makes the PDF more useful for digital distribution. The extension preserves both external links and internal document links when exporting.
External links in the exported PDF
Links to external websites are preserved as clickable hyperlinks in the PDF. When a recipient opens the PDF in any modern PDF viewer and clicks a link, it opens in their browser. This works in Adobe Acrobat, Preview on Mac, Chrome's built-in PDF viewer, and most other readers.
Internal links and bookmarks
Links to headings within the same document are converted to internal PDF bookmarks. A table of contents with linked headings becomes a clickable navigation panel in the PDF. Clicking a linked heading in the table of contents jumps to the correct page.
When hyperlinks do not survive the export
Hyperlinks formatted as plain text, where the URL is typed out rather than inserted as a link, will appear as text in the PDF but will not be clickable. Make sure all links in the Google Doc are properly formatted as hyperlinks using Ctrl+K or Cmd+K.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my hyperlinks not clickable in the exported PDF?
The most common cause is that the text is formatted to look like a link but was not inserted as an actual hyperlink. In the Google Doc, select the text, press Ctrl+K, and add the URL.
Does the export preserve email links?
Yes. Email addresses formatted as mailto: links are preserved as clickable links in the PDF.
Related article
How to convert Google Doc to PDF and keep hyperlinks →Ready to Try It?
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