How to Attach PDF to PDF? (4 Proven Ways)

Although we can share or store multiple PDF documents with ease, sometimes we must access another PDF document while reading the first one. It is because of some relationship between the content of the two PDF files. If you need to access a related PDF while reading the main document, you can either embed the second PDF as a file attachment or add a clickable link to it. An embedded attachment travels with the main PDF and can be opened from an attachment icon, while a link requires access to the online file. This guide covers both approaches so you can choose the one that fits your sharing needs.

The process is straightforward once you choose the right method. Below, we explain four practical options: two using UPDF, one using Adobe Acrobat, and one online method using Sejda and Google Drive.

Part 1. How to Attach a PDF to Another PDF with UPDF? (2 Ways)

UPDF provides two ways to connect one PDF to another. You can embed the second PDF as a file attachment, which keeps it inside the main document, or insert a shareable link to an online copy. The attachment method is better for offline access, while the link method is useful when you want to share an updated cloud version without increasing the main PDF’s file size.

So, if you are looking to attach one PDF to another PDF document with UPDF, you must download it first and then you can follow either of the ways as described below:

Way 1. Attach PDF to PDF Document Via Attachment

The first method is adding a PDF document to another PDF document as an attachment. The process of doing it is very simple since it only requires the following steps:

1. Open a PDF in UPDF and go to Comment mode

You need to open UPDF and then open your PDF document in it. Once the PDF is opened, click “Comment" from the left side to open commenting features in UPDF.

2. Add the PDF file attachment to your document.

Locate the “Attach File” button from the top menu bar that contains all the commenting options. After selecting this tool, click on the place in your PDF file where you want to add the other PDF. Clicking will open the file manager for you, where you can select the second PDF file to add it as an attachment.

Now, whenever you click the attachment button in PDF, that selected file will open without you having to open it manually from your file manager.

Way 2. Attach One PDF to Another PDF Via Link

If you do not want to embed the second PDF, you can upload it to UPDF Cloud, generate a shareable link, and insert that link into the first PDF. This keeps the main PDF smaller, but recipients will need internet access and permission to open the linked file.

1. Open the PDF you want to share

Open the PDF you want to share in UPDF and generate a shareable link for it. Then open the main PDF—the document in which you want to place the link.

2. Go to the second PDF and create a link using the sharing option

Now go to the second PDF document and click “Share this file with others." This button will reveal multiple PDF-sharing options, but you need to click on “Create", you can copy it.

3. Go to the first one and attach your link by editing the PDF

Open the first document and click “Edit” > “Insert & Edit Link." Now, you may click and drag the cursor over any part of the PDF to make it clickable. As you release the cursor, you will see 2 options, select "link to web," then paste the link of that PDF document that we generated earlier and save the PDF document.

Whenever we click on that clickable area with the link to the second PDF, that second PDF will be automatically fetched and opened for you.

What Else Can UPDF Do for You?

In addition to attaching files and inserting links, UPDF can help you complete the rest of the document workflow:

• Edit text, images, and links in PDFs.
• Highlight content and add comments, stamps, or notes.
• Organize, insert, delete, rotate, and extract PDF pages.
• Convert PDFs to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, and other formats.
• Use OCR to make scanned PDFs searchable and editable.
• Compress PDFs before sharing documents that contain large attachments.
• Protect sensitive PDFs with passwords and permissions.
• Share PDFs through links, email, or QR codes.
• Summarize, translate, and explain PDF content with UPDF AI.

With such amazing features and an easy user experience, UPDF will surely be your best choice for all PDF tasks. So, download the app and purchase the UPDF Pro subscription to experience all its features.

Part 2. How to Attach PDF to Another PDF With Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat is among the most popular PDF editing tools that one can use. It not only brings a complete PDF editing experience but also offers other intuitive features like attaching files to PDF documents. Using the file-attaching feature, you can attach a PDF file to any part of another PDF document. Moreover, it allows attaching media in the form of voice recording, which will make reviewing your PDF documents much easier and more productive.

To attach a PDF in another PDF with Adobe Acrobat, we use the Comment feature with the steps below:

1. Open the main PDF in Adobe Acrobat

Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the PDF that will contain the attachment.

2. Select the Attach File tool

Select “Add a comment” from the Quick Action toolbar, and then choose “Attach file” from the menu. The exact location may vary slightly depending on your Acrobat version and workspace layout.

3. Place and save the attachment

Click the new attachment option from the top and select “Attach File" from the dropdown menu. Now, you can select the place in the PDF document where you want to attach the other PDF and select the second PDF file to add to the first one as an attachment. Once you are done attaching files, save the PDF document.

Part 3. How to Link One PDF to Another Online with Sejda

Sejda is an online PDF tool that allows users to merge PDF files, but it does not support adding PDF files, and there is no online tool that supports doing that directly. With online tools, you need to use the link to a PDF document that can be attached as a hyperlink. So, in this guide, we will use Google Drive to generate a link and then attach that link to a PDF document:

1. Generate a link to the second PDF with Google Drive.

We will start the process by going to Google Drive. Locate the PDF document in Google Drive and click the 3 dots on the top right of it to reveal options. In options, you need to hover your cursor over the "Share” option to reveal the “copy link” button. Once you copy the link to that PDF document, we can close Google Drive.

2. Open PDF with Sejda in Edit mode

Now open the Sejda online PDF editor website and go to “Edit" mode. To do this, go to the Sejda website and click “All tools." Now click "Edit" and upload the PDF document to which you want to attach the second one.

3. Add the link to your PDF and paste the link from Google Drive.

The PDF will open in editor view. Here, you can see a menu of tools on the top containing the "Links” button. Click it and select any area with your cursor to make it clickable. In the link properties, you need to select "link to external URL" and paste the Google Drive link here. Once you paste that, click the "Apply Changes" button, and your PDF will be ready for downloading.

FAQs

Conclusion

Connecting related PDFs can make supporting information easier to access, but the best method depends on how the document will be used. An embedded attachment stays with the main PDF and can work offline, while a clickable link keeps the file smaller and can point readers to an updated cloud version. Links, however, require internet access and valid sharing permissions.

This guide covered four practical workflows: embedding a PDF with UPDF, linking to a PDF through UPDF Cloud, embedding a PDF with Adobe Acrobat, and adding a Google Drive link with Sejda. For users who want both attachment and link options in one application, along with tools for editing and managing the finished PDF, UPDF is the most versatile choice among the methods discussed.