You click a link in the PDF. Nothing happens. Or it takes you to a 404. Or it opens the wrong page entirely. The document looks linked but doesn't function.
What's actually going wrong
Links not generated at export. Source app's PDF export didn't preserve hyperlinks. Stale URLs. Links point to pages that have moved or are gone. Internal links broken. Cross-references within the document point to wrong pages.
Links in PDFs are rectangles with destination metadata. If the rectangle exists but the destination is wrong or missing, click does nothing or wrong thing.
The quick fix
For external URLs (web links): edit the PDF in Flint. Click on the broken link area, update the destination URL. Save.
For links that aren't there at all (text that should be linked but isn't clickable), re-export from source with 'Include hyperlinks' enabled in the PDF export options. Most modern source apps offer this; it's just sometimes off by default.
If that didn't work
For PDFs with many broken links across the document, rebuilding from source is faster than fixing one by one. Convert to Word, Word preserves links from text patterns, fix any that didn't carry, export back to PDF.
For internal cross-references (page-to-page links in long documents), these are often easier to recreate than repair. In Word, use proper cross-reference fields; in InDesign, use the hyperlinks panel.
Prevent it next time
Always enable 'Include hyperlinks' or 'Preserve hyperlinks' in your PDF export dialog. Check links after export — open the PDF and click a few before considering the export final. Use URL shorteners for long URLs that change frequently.
FAQ
Why do my Word hyperlinks disappear in PDF?
PDF export setting didn't preserve them. In Word, File > Export > PDF/XPS, click Options, and ensure 'Document properties' is enabled and links are preserved.
Can I add a link to existing PDF text?
Yes. Edit the PDF in Flint, select the text, add link, point to URL or internal page. Save. The text becomes clickable in the output PDF.
Why does my PDF link go to the wrong page?
Internal cross-reference broke during edit or export. The link rectangle still exists but points to wrong destination. Edit in Flint to update.
Are PDF links secure?
Click only links you trust. PDFs can carry links to malicious sites just like emails can. Hover or inspect destinations before clicking, especially in PDFs from unfamiliar sources.
Broken links fix in Flint's editor — click, update destination, save. Done.