What people see when they open your link
The 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.
Updated 1 min read
Getting in
- Password: they see This document is password-protected, enter the Password and click Open. After too many wrong attempts they must wait 15 minutes.
- Only specific people: they see Sign in to open this document. They sign in with one of the emails you listed, and confirm that email if they haven't yet.
- Turned off: This link was turned off.
- Expired: This link has expired — ask the person who shared it for a new link.
Once open, the header shows Shared by your name, "fixed copy" for a hosted PDF, and the expiry date if there is one.
Commenting
Step 1: Start a comment
Click Comment, then click (or tap) the spot on the page.
Step 2: Write it
Enter Your name and the comment, then click Post comment.
Step 3: Reply
Click an existing comment pin to open the thread and Reply.
Comments land in your document's comments panel, marked via share link.
Filling and sending a copy back
Step 1: Fill the fields
On a Can fill link, people fill in the fields right on the page.
Step 2: Send it
They add Your name and an optional Email, then click Send to … (your name).
Step 3: You get the copy
You receive an email with Download filled PDF. The copy is also saved with the document's exports; your live document isn't changed.
Editing and downloading
On a Can edit link, named people click Open in editor and work on the same document as you: their changes are yours too. If Allow download is on, everyone sees Download.
They see "The owner's download limit has been reached".
Your plan's edited-document downloads are used up for the month. They can still view the document. Upgrade or wait for your allowance to reset.
Do I get an email for every comment?
No. Comments appear in the document. You get an email when someone sends a filled copy back.
Can they comment on a hosted PDF?
No. A hosted PDF is a fixed copy for viewing and downloading only.
Tools in this article
Did this answer your question?
Related articles
- Share a PDF with a linkIn 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.
- See who opened, downloaded or filled your shared linksOpen Link activity in the sidebar. You'll see activity per day, Links by recent activity, form responses and Recent events (viewed, downloaded, commented, filled in, wrong password, opened after expiry). Your plan keeps activity for 14 days on Free.
- Find documents other people shared with youOpen Shared with me in the sidebar. It lists documents someone invited your email address to edit, with who shared each one and when your access ends. Click one to open it in the editor.
- Highlight, comment on and annotate a PDFUse Highlight, Underline or Strikeout and drag across text; use Sticky or Comment for notes and threads. Open More → Review annotations to reply, resolve and filter, and Done → Export comments for a PDF, CSV or JSON summary.