How to Attach Files to PDFs in Adobe Acrobat

This tutorial shows how to attach files to PDFs in Adobe Acrobat. The benefit of attaching a file to a PDF, as opposed to using an external link, is that the attachment will travel with the PDF if you move it to a different location (e.g., a different folder or different server).

This tutorial also explains the following tasks:

How to open attachments
How to delete attachments
How to add descriptions to attachments

Visit “How to Create In-Text Links to Attached PDFs in Adobe Acrobat” for information about creating in-text links to attachments, including links to specific page views within attachments.

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. However, the steps are the same in Acrobat Standard DC and similar in older versions of the software.

Attention Acrobat Reader Users: Adobe’s free PDF software, Acrobat Reader, doesn’t have a tool for creating links. If you need to create links but don’t have access to Acrobat, create the document with the links in Microsoft Word and then convert the Word file to a PDF.

How to Attach a File to a PDF

You can attach a variety of files to a PDF, including other PDFs, Microsoft Word files, Excel files, images, or video files. Note, however, that your reader needs to have the appropriate software to open the file.

Select the Tools tab.

Adobe Acrobat Tools tab — Figure 1. Tools tab

Select the Edit PDF button in the Tools pane.

Adobe Acrobat Edit PDF button — Figure 2. Edit PDF button

Select the More button in the Edit PDF toolbar.

Adobe Acrobat Edit PDF More Button — Figure 3. More button

Select Attach File from the drop-down menu.

Adobe Acrobat Attach File option — Figure 4. Attach File option

Select the file you want to attach in the Add Files dialog box.

Selected file in Adobe Acrobat Add Files dialog box — Figure 5. Selected file

Select the Open button.

Adobe Acrobat Add Files dialog box Open button — Figure 6. Open button

Your attachment will appear in the Attachments panel.

Adobe Acrobat Attachments panel — Figure 7. Attachments panel

How to Open an Attachment

The following steps are for Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and Acrobat Reader.

Select the attachment in the Attachments panel.
Select the Open File button.

Adobe Acrobat Open File button — Figure 8. Open File button

(Optional Step) If you are opening an attachment that is not a PDF (e.g., Word file, Excel file), choose an option from the Open File dialog box.

Adobe Acrobat Open File dialog box options — Figure 9. Opening options

Select the OK button.

Adobe Acrobat Open File dialog box OK button — Figure 10. Open File OK button

PDF attachments will automatically open in a separate tab in Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.

How to Delete an Attachment

Select the attachment in the Attachments panel.
Select the Delete button.

Adobe Acrobat Delete button — Figure 11. Delete button

Select the Yes button in the dialog box asking if you are sure you want to delete the attachment.

Adobe Acrobat Delete Attachment dialog box Yes button — Figure 12. Yes button

The attachment will be removed from the Attachments panel immediately.

How to Add a Description to an Attachment

You can add a description to help your readers understand the purpose of the attachment before they open the file.

Right-click the attachment in the Attachments panel.
Select Edit Description from the shortcut menu.

Figure 13. Edit Description option

Enter a description in the Edit Attachment Description dialog box.

Adobe Acrobat Edit Attachment Description dialog box — Figure 14. Edit Attachment Description dialog box

Select the OK button.

Adobe Acrobat Edit Attachment Description OK button — Figure 15. Edit Attachment Description OK button

Your description will appear in the Description section of the Attachments panel.

You will probably have to expand the panel by dragging the border to the right to see the Description section.

Adobe Acrobat Attachments panel Description section — Figure 16. Description section in the Attachments panel

Related Resources

How to Create Internal Links in PDFs with Adobe Acrobat (links within the same PDF)

Three Ways to Create Bookmarks in PDFs with Adobe Acrobat

How to Insert Files into Existing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac)

How to Create a PDF Portfolio in Adobe Acrobat

Updated March 12, 2022