Share a PDF with a link
In the editor, click Done → Share, pick what people can do (Can view, Can comment, Can fill or Can edit), set expiry, password and download options, then click Create link and Copy link.
Updated 2 min read Available on Free, Pro and Business
A share link opens the live document in the browser. People don't need an account unless you limit the link to specific people. Everything is private until you create a link.
Step 1: Open Share
In the editor, click Done → Share. From My documents, open a document's menu and click Share….
Step 2: Choose what people can do
Under People with the link, pick Can view, Can comment, Can fill or Can edit.
Step 3: Set the options
Choose Link expires (Never, 1, 7, 30 or 90 days; 30 is preselected). Turn on Password if people should need one. Turn off Allow download to show the document in the browser only.
Step 4: Limit it if needed
Turn on Only specific people and enter their Emails. They sign in with those addresses to open it. Edit links always need this.
Step 5: Create and send
Click Create link. In Links to this document, click Copy link, Show QR code or Email this link.
What each permission allows
| Permission | People can | Who can open it |
|---|---|---|
| Can view | Read the document | Anyone with the link, or only the people you name |
| Can comment | Read and leave comments on the page | Anyone with the link, or only the people you name |
| Can fill | Fill fields and send a filled copy back to you | Anyone with the link, or only the people you name |
| Can edit | Open it in the editor and change the document | Only signed-in people you name |
Downloading is a separate switch: Allow download works with any permission. Turning it off stops the download button, but people can still screenshot what they see.
How many links you can have
Free includes 3 active share links; Pro and Business are unlimited. A link stops counting once you turn it off or it expires. Hosted PDF links count too. Sharing needs a free account.
It says "Free includes 3 active share links".
Turn off a link you no longer need in the Share dialog, or let one expire. Pro and Business have no link limit.
Can I change a link's password or expiry later?
No. Settings are fixed when you create the link. Create a new link with the settings you want and turn the old one off.
Does the password go out with the link email?
No. Email this link leaves the password out; share it separately.
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Related articles
- What people see when they open your linkThe link opens the document in the browser with "Shared by" your name. Depending on the permission, people can comment, fill fields and click Send to …, open it in the editor, or Download it. Passwords and named-people limits are checked first.
- Turn off, replace or email a share linkOpen Done → Share. Every link to the document is listed with its permission, expiry and views. Click Turn off to stop a link immediately, or Email this link to send it. To change a link's settings, create a new one and turn the old one off.
- Publish a PDF at a fixed web address (hosted PDF)In Share, open the Hosted PDF tab, set expiry, password and download options, and click Publish PDF link. The link always shows the version you published, even after you edit the document. It uses one download from your plan.
- Password-protect or unlock a PDFUse Protect PDF: choose Require a password to open, set the Open password, pick what's allowed and click Protect PDF. Unlock PDF removes a password you know. Both run in your browser, and nobody at PDFBetter can recover a forgotten password.