Fix Bookmarks Not Working in Google Docs to PDF
Bookmarks that do not work in the exported PDF are either pointing to a deleted anchor, were not formally inserted as Google Docs bookmarks, or the bookmark target was moved after the link was created. Here is how to rebuild working bookmarks.
Delete and re-insert the bookmark
Place your cursor at the correct target location. Go to Insert > Bookmark. A bookmark icon appears in the left margin. Then go to the link that should point to this bookmark, click it, press Ctrl+K, and in the link dialog select the Headings and bookmarks tab. Pick the bookmark you just created.
Verify the bookmark is visible in the document
Bookmarks show as small blue ribbon icons in the margin when View > Show bookmarks is enabled. Go to View and look for Show bookmarks to confirm your bookmarks are present at the correct locations. If none appear, the bookmarks were deleted.
Use heading styles as bookmark targets
Headings formatted with Google Docs' built-in heading styles (Heading 1 through Heading 6) automatically serve as bookmark targets for internal links. This is more reliable than manual bookmarks because headings cannot be accidentally deleted separately from the text. Link to headings using Insert > Link > Headings and bookmarks.
Check bookmark links after a document copy
When a Google Doc is copied, bookmarks in the copy may not retain their targets correctly. After copying a document, go through each internal link and verify the bookmark target is correct. Re-insert any that are broken.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bookmarks can a Google Doc have?
There is no documented limit on the number of bookmarks. Documents with hundreds of bookmarks for table of contents links work fine.
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