How to Add Bookmarks to PDF on Mac: Easy Steps (macOS Sequoia Compatible)

Bookmarks are a lifesaver when working with multiple documents every day. They make it easier to navigate, read, and reference important sections of a PDF without wasting time scrolling.

On Mac, there are different ways to add bookmarks to a PDF using free tools. In this guide, we’ll show you how to add bookmarks with both UPDF and Adobe Acrobat.

How to Add Bookmarks to PDF on Mac with UPDF

Although many tools are available to add bookmarks to PDF on Mac, UPDF for Mac is unique. We are not saying that other PDF editors don't allow you to add bookmarks to your PDF documents.

There are many powerful tools like Adobe Acrobat DC, Skim, Inkscape, and many more. But most of them are very expensive and cannot work well. So we recommend that you use UPDF. You can download UPDF to your Mac here.

Step 1: Open the PDF File

First, open UPDF on your Mac. Click on the "Open File" button present on the main interface of UPDF. 

After clicking on the "Open File" button, you'll be asked to select the PDF document from your Mac. Choose the respected PDF document that you want to add a bookmark to the PDF.

Step 2: Add Bookmarks to PDF

From the left sidebar, select the “Bookmarks” option. Navigate to the page where you want to add a bookmark, then click “+ Add Bookmark.” You can choose to place it at the top of the list or at the bottom of the list, depending on your preference.

After adding a bookmark, it will be named after the page number by default. To rename it, simply select the bookmark, right-click, choose “Rename,” and then enter your preferred name.

By default, a bookmark’s destination is set to the beginning of the page. If you’d like to change it to a different location on the same page, right-click the bookmark, select “Set Destination,” and then click on the exact spot where you want the bookmark to point.

Alternatively, navigate to the page and location where you want to add the bookmark. Right-click at that spot and select “Add Bookmark.” With this method, you can add bookmarks for the exact destination.

You can also add a Child for a specific bookmark by right-clicking on it.

Step 3: Save PDF

Now, you can click on the "Save" button to save the PDF with bookmarks.

Download UPDF via the button below now and go to add bookmarks to the PDF.

Bonus Tip: Split PDF by Top Level Bookmarks

If you need to split a PDF by top-level bookmarks after adding them, you can click on the "Organize Pages" > "Split" > "Split by Top Level Bookmarks" to split them.

Beyond bookmarks, UPDF offers a wide range of powerful features. You can edit PDFs, convert them to various formats, compress files, perform OCR, create PDF forms, and much more. Watch the video below or check out this review article to learn all about it.

How to Add Bookmarks to a PDF on a Mac with Adobe Acrobat

Here we've another powerful tool that lets you add bookmarks to PDF on Mac. Adobe Acrobat is one of the most demanding and leading PDF readers and editors. Adding a bookmark with Adobe Acrobat is slightly different from UPDF, but the purpose is quite the same.

Here's how you can add a bookmark to PDF on Mac using Adobe Acrobat:

• Step 1: Open the Adobe Acrobat on your Mac and choose the PDF file from your device.
• Step 2: To open the bookmark panel on Adobe Acrobat, click on the “Bookmark" button located on the left side in old Acrobat and on the right side in the new Acrobat.

• Step 3: Now, go to the page where you want to add a bookmark.
• Step 4: After choosing the page to add a bookmark, select the text or click on the area where you want to add a bookmark. Right-click to select "Add Bookmark".

• Step 5: Now, you can see your bookmark is added. To add more bookmarks, you can repeat the same steps.

Part 2. FAQS About Adding Bookmarks to PDF

Conclusion

There are many PDF tools available, but finding the right one for your needs can be tricky. One key question is: which tool is best for adding bookmarks to PDF on Mac? Many PDF readers can do the job, but some are full of ads or come with expensive subscriptions.

Our goal is to provide users with a powerful, affordable solution that includes all the features you might need. So the best tool to add bookmarks is to use UPDF. Download UPDF today and see for yourself!