PDF How To: Add Bookmarks

Why do I need to add bookmarks?

Bookmarks let screen readers and keyboard users jump straight to important sections in a long PDF. They mirror your document’s structure—like your table of contents or headings—so readers can skip ahead to exactly what they need, especially when plain headings alone aren’t enough.

Source Files

It’s best to make your original source file (e.g., Word, InDesign) accessible before converting it to a PDF. Editing the source file first is usually the easiest and most reliable way to ensure the final PDF is accessible.

View how to add titles to source files.

Word

Apply built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) throughout your document.
(Optional) Insert a Table of Contents (References > Table of Contents).
Go to File > Save As, pick PDF, and click Options…
Under Include non-printing information, check Create bookmarks using: Headings (or Table of Contents, if you added one).
Click OK and save. Word will turn those headings (or TOC entries) into PDF bookmarks.

InDesign

Open the Bookmarks panel (Window > Interactive > Bookmarks).
Click in any text frame or select a paragraph styled as a heading.
In the Bookmarks panel, click the New Bookmark icon.
Rename the bookmark if you want, then repeat for each section.
Export your PDF via File > Export > Adobe PDF (Interactive), bookmarks stay intact.

Adding Bookmarks in Acrobat Pro

Open your PDF and click the Bookmarks tab in the left sidebar.
Go to the page or select the text you want to bookmark.
Click the New Bookmark button at the top of the panel.
Type a clear name for that section and press Enter.
Drag and drop bookmarks to nest them under parent headings if needed.