To export a Word document as a PDF on a Mac, first make sure the links are real hyperlinks in Word, then use File > Save As, choose PDF as the file format, and select Export. Open the saved PDF in Preview and test the links before sharing it. Word documents links and PDF export through separate steps, so checking the finished file is the practical way to confirm the links work as intended.

1. Check that each link is a hyperlink in Word

A URL can look like a link without being one. In Word, click or Control-click the text to see whether Word offers link-related actions. To create a hyperlink, select the text or image you want readers to click, choose Insert > Link, and enter the web address. Word for Mac can also link to a place in the same document or create an email link. Microsoft documents these options in Create or edit a hyperlink in Office for Mac.

For a web link, use the full address, including https://, and choose readable link text such as “Download the form” rather than a long raw URL when that makes the document clearer. If the destination is another file on your Mac, consider whether recipients will have access to that same path: a link to a local file may not lead to a usable destination on someone else’s computer. This is a practical sharing limitation, not something PDF export can fix.

You can also create a link by typing a URL and pressing Return or Space; Microsoft says Word automatically turns typed URLs into hyperlinks. Still, check important links before exporting, especially links copied from another file or links whose destinations have changed.

2. Save a separate PDF copy

In Word, choose File > Save As. Enter a PDF filename that differs from the Word document’s filename, select PDF in the File Format list, and choose Export. Microsoft’s current instructions cover Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word 2024 for Mac, and Word 2021 for Mac. The precise dialog appearance can vary by version, but the documented workflow is to choose PDF as the format and export. Microsoft’s Mac PDF instructions specifically advise using a different name so you retain the editable Word document alongside the PDF.

The exported PDF preserves document formatting and is intended for reading rather than editing. Microsoft says Word can automatically create a tagged PDF, which helps assistive technologies determine reading order and navigate the file. The PDF instructions do not document a separate “preserve hyperlinks” switch, so don’t rely on a checkbox or command that is not present in your version of Word.

3. Test the PDF links on your Mac

Open the exported file in Preview by double-clicking it in Finder, or choose File > Open in Preview. Apple documents both ways to open a PDF in Get started with Preview on Mac. Click each important web link and confirm that it opens the intended destination in your browser. If your PDF includes internal links, test those too by clicking them and confirming they jump to the right place.

Testing matters because successful export and functional destinations are separate questions: a link can remain clickable but lead to a moved page, require sign-in, or point to a file unavailable to the recipient. If a link fails, return to Word, edit the hyperlink’s address, export the PDF again, and retest the new copy. Don’t edit only the PDF if you need the Word document to remain the accurate source for future exports.

If the PDF has visible URLs but they are not clickable

Return to Word and confirm that the text is an actual hyperlink, not just a URL that looks like one. Select it and use Insert > Link to add or correct the destination, then export again. Microsoft notes that typed URLs are usually converted automatically, but this behavior can be disabled in Word’s AutoCorrect settings under AutoFormat as You Type. The exact menu labels may vary with the Word version. Microsoft’s hyperlink guide describes both automatic links and the setting.

If the link works in Preview but fails for a recipient, ask them to try a current PDF reader and check whether the destination itself is accessible to them. Preview is useful for a local check, but it cannot guarantee that a website will remain online or that another person has permission to open a restricted page.

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