If you want to know how to use hyperlinks in a GoodNotes planner, start with the navigation mode rather than repeatedly tapping the same tab. Goodnotes currently documents a simple tap for PDF hyperlinks on iOS, while Android, Windows, and Web use Read-Only mode; in Edit mode, a long-press can expose Open Link. Before troubleshooting the app, also confirm that the original planner PDF actually contains working hyperlinks.
This guide focuses on hyperlinks that are already embedded in an imported planner PDF. It also explains how those links differ from links you create inside Goodnotes, because the two types can behave differently when you edit or export a document.
Quick answer: use a planner hyperlink in 5 steps
- Open the imported planner in Goodnotes and go to a page with a known linked tab, button, or index item.
- On iOS, tap the PDF hyperlink. On Android, Windows, or Web, enter Read-Only mode and then tap it.
- If you are in Edit mode, long-press the linked area and choose Open Link when that option appears.
- Test a second known link so you can tell the difference between one broken link and a document-wide problem.
- If nothing responds, test the original PDF in another PDF viewer before changing or deleting your working planner.
If the file is still being imported or organized, use the Goodnotes digital planner import guide first. Import problems and hyperlink problems can look similar, but they have different fixes.
Check that the source PDF really contains hyperlinks
A tab can look clickable without containing a real PDF hyperlink. Decorative tabs, screenshots, preview images, and flattened artwork may resemble an interactive planner even when there is no link annotation underneath them.
Before changing app settings, keep an untouched copy of the original download and test one or two obvious destinations. A month tab that should jump to a monthly overview is useful because the expected destination is easy to recognize. If the original PDF works in another viewer but not in Goodnotes, you have narrowed the problem to the current app mode, import state, or platform behavior rather than the visible tab design itself.
If you are not sure how planner tabs and embedded links differ, read Digital Planner Tabs and Hyperlinks Explained. That guide covers the navigation concept; this article stays focused on actually using and troubleshooting the links.
How to follow PDF hyperlinks on iOS
Goodnotes’ current support guidance says that PDF hyperlinks on iOS can be followed by tapping the linked text or image. Start with a known planner tab or index item and tap once. If it opens the expected page, test one more link before you begin writing heavily in the planner.
If a tap selects, writes, or edits instead of navigating, do not assume the PDF is damaged. Try the link interaction available in the current interface, and test the same destination again. The exact toolbar appearance can change as the app is updated, so the official Goodnotes support page should remain the source of truth for button names and navigation controls.
How to follow hyperlinks on Android, Windows, and Web
For Goodnotes on Android, Windows, and Web, the current official navigation article instructs users to enter Read-Only mode and then tap the PDF hyperlink. This separates navigation from editing so a tap can follow the embedded destination instead of acting on the page.
When you are in Edit mode, Goodnotes also documents a long-press on the link followed by Open Link. This is useful when you want to keep the editing tools available but still need to move through the planner. If your screen does not look exactly like a tutorial screenshot, rely on the current mode and link behavior rather than matching an old toolbar icon pixel for pixel.
Imported PDF links vs links created inside Goodnotes
Two kinds of links are easy to confuse. An imported planner can already contain hyperlinks created in the source PDF, while Goodnotes also lets you create links inside your own notes. Identifying the type matters when a link fails or when you export the document.
| Link type | Where it comes from | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Imported PDF hyperlink | Embedded in the planner PDF before import | Confirm the source PDF contains the link and use the current navigation mode for your platform |
| Goodnotes-created link | Added inside Goodnotes to supported text or objects | Confirm the linked website, document, or page still exists and that the current document type supports the link |
| Visual tab with no link | Artwork or a label with no hyperlink annotation | No app setting can follow a destination that is not embedded in the file |
Goodnotes currently documents links on text, stickers, and shapes, with internal document links supported in regular notebooks and Whiteboards. That is a separate feature from following hyperlinks that arrived inside a planner PDF.
Why a GoodNotes planner hyperlink may not work
You are in the wrong interaction mode
If tapping writes, selects, or edits instead of navigating, switch to the documented navigation mode for your platform. On Android, Windows, and Web, that means Read-Only mode for direct tapping; in Edit mode, try the long-press Open Link route.
Only one tab is broken
Test another link that should lead somewhere obvious. If other tabs work, the issue may be limited to one missing or incorrect hyperlink in the source PDF. Keep the original file so you can compare behavior without overwriting your annotated copy.
No links work in the original file
Open the untouched source PDF in another viewer. If the tabs never navigate there either, the file may not contain working hyperlink annotations. Goodnotes can follow links that exist in an imported PDF, but it cannot automatically reconstruct missing planner navigation just because a tab is visible.
Links disappeared after export
Goodnotes distinguishes between Editable and Flattened PDF exports. Its current documentation says that pre-existing hyperlinks and outlines from an imported PDF are preserved when the PDF Data Format is set to Editable. A Flattened PDF does not preserve those original PDF text hyperlinks and outlines in the same way.
For the complete export workflow, including page selection and file checks, use the Goodnotes planner PDF export guide.
Use a safer hyperlink testing workflow
- Keep the original download unchanged. Store it separately from the copy you annotate.
- Import one clean working copy. Avoid creating multiple copies until you know the basic navigation works.
- Test three destinations. Try a tab, an index item, and an external link if the planner includes one.
- Note your platform and mode. This makes troubleshooting more precise when the same file is used on more than one device.
- Verify exports before sharing them. Open the exported PDF in the viewer the recipient is likely to use and test the links you need.
- Back up important annotations. Hyperlink troubleshooting should not put completed planning work at risk.
This workflow does not guarantee that every planner will behave identically across every app or device. It simply separates file verification, navigation mode, and export behavior so you can identify the problem without making unnecessary changes.
Frequently asked questions
Do all digital planners have clickable hyperlinks?
No. A planner must contain actual hyperlink annotations for clickable navigation. A visible tab or button does not prove that a link is embedded underneath it.
Why does tapping a planner tab write on the page?
You may be in an editing or writing mode. Use the current Goodnotes navigation method for your platform; on Android, Windows, and Web, direct PDF-link tapping is documented in Read-Only mode.
Can Goodnotes add links inside my notes?
Yes. Goodnotes documents link creation for supported text and objects such as stickers and shapes. Those links are different from hyperlinks that were already embedded in an imported planner PDF.
How do I keep original planner hyperlinks when exporting?
For pre-existing hyperlinks in an imported PDF, Goodnotes currently recommends the Editable PDF data format when you need to preserve the original hyperlinks and outlines. Always test the exported file afterward.
Continue your digital planner setup
Once your navigation works, keep the planner workflow simple: preserve the original file, use a separate working copy, and verify important exports before sharing them. If you are choosing a new planner, look for clear product-specific information about the file format and navigation rather than assuming every PDF has the same features.
Temply Studio products are digital downloads. Before purchasing, review the individual product page for the current included files, format, software requirements, delivery details, and license information.
Official Goodnotes sources
- Navigate PDF Hyperlinks
- Create external and internal links
- PDF outlines and hyperlinks are missing when I export a document
- Differences between Editable and Flattened PDF Formats
Temply Studio
Stop chasing your goals with sticky notes and scattered notebooks. Our premium digital planners and Canva templates are designed to help you plan with intention, stay consistent, and actually enjoy the process.
