Adding audio to PDFs can help make your documents more engaging. Audio complements visuals and ensures your content is accessible to all users.
If you are an educator, marketer, or professional looking to create informative and interactive PDFs with audio, this guide is for you.
We will cover different ways to add audio to PDFs, like embedding and linking. We will also touch on common issues and troubleshooting tips.
Can You Add Audio to a PDF Document?
Yes, you can add audio to a PDF. Although the original PDF format was designed for static content, a PDF can now also support multimedia elements. This can include audio annotations, voiceovers, and background sounds that make your PDF more interactive.
MP3 and WAV formats are compatible with most modern PDF editors and viewers. You can directly embed the audio or insert a clickable link that plays the audio from an external source.
Usually, when you open a PDF with audio, you will see a Play button that can trigger the sound once or on a loop. The specific playback setting depends on your PDF editor or viewer’s capabilities.
It’s important to note that older or mobile viewers might not be able to accommodate audio multimedia PDFs.
How to Add Audio to a PDF Document: 2 Methods Explained Step-by-Step
You can add sound to a PDF file by embedding it in the document using Adobe Acrobat or Foxit PDF Editor.
#1. Use Adobe Acrobat
To embed audio in a PDF using Adobe Acrobat, follow these steps:
- Open Adobe and upload the PDF you want to add audio to.
- Click All Tools in the top left corner.
- Select View More, then Add Rich Media from the left sidebar.
- Choose Sound.
- Place your audio by dragging it to a specific spot on your page.
Adobe supports MP3 and MP4 audio clips. However, you cannot add audio to PDFs on mobile devices with Adobe Acrobat yet.
#2. Use Foxit PDF Editor
If you prefer to add audio to PDFs on a Mac or a similar PC, use Foxit PDF Editor. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Open Foxit PDF Editor and click Open File to upload your document.
2. Click Edit, then Audio & Video in the toolbar at the top of the page.
3. Choose where you want the audio to be on your page by pressing and holding down your mouse and dragging to draw an area. This will be your Play Area.
4. Click the Browse function in the Dialog Box that pops up to select the audio that you want to add.
5. Change the Content Type if you want. Usually, this will be selected automatically.
6. Check the Embed Content In Document box to make sure the audio plays when you open your PDF on other devices.
7. Decide if you want to include an image in the Play Area via the Poster Settings. This is what will appear when your file is not running. If you do not want an image, choose No Poster.
8. Double-click Audio & Video from the toolbar at the top of the page to open the Audio & Video Properties Box. Here, you can customize the added audio’s appearance, settings, and actions.
9. Switch to the Hand function, also from the toolbar at the top of the page.
10. Click Play to test your audio.
Alternative Method of Adding Audio to PDFs
Instead of adding audio to a PDF by embedding it, you can create a clickable link that directs to a file hosted online. Here is how to do it using PDF.net:
1. Open your document in PDF.net.
2. Click the Text function in the toolbar at the top and then anywhere on the page to add a text box. Or click the Image function to add an image or icon (JPG or PNG).
3. Click the inserted text box or image/icon and choose Add Link.
4. Paste the URL of your audio file in the box that pops up.
5. Customize the text box or image/icon to look like a button for better UX or branding.
6. Save and export your document.
With this approach of inserting audio in PDFs, you can deliver audio-enhanced content without relying on PDF viewers that support embedded multimedia.
Pros and Cons of Adding Audio as a Clickable Link
There are advantages and disadvantages to adding audio to PDF documents this way. Let’s look at a breakdown:
Pros:
- Compatible with almost all PDF viewers and devices
- Does not add to your PDF’s size, so your document loads faster
- Easy to set up using browser-based tools like PDF.net
- Easy to customize for better UX and branding
Cons:
- Relies on the Internet to play the audio
- Audio does not play directly within the PDF’s tab
- Playback will fail if the link to the audio changes or breaks later
Common Issues and Troubleshooting for Audio Not Working in PDFs
If the audio won’t play in your PDF, it is likely due to compatibility issues with the file format, PDF viewer, or how the audio was added. Below are the common reasons PDFs with audio annotations, voiceovers, and background sounds fail to work, along with troubleshooting steps for each issue.
#1. The File Format is Not Supported
PDFs typically support MP3 and WAV audio formats. If you embed or link to a file that is in a different format, such as OGG or AAC, your PDF viewer might not recognize it.
In this case, you need to convert your file using a reliable tool like Audacity.
MP3 is the safest bet; it is widely supported and compressed. You can consider WAV if you want higher quality, but note that the tradeoff is a larger file size.
#2. The PDF Reader Doesn’t Support Audio
Some PDF viewers cannot handle rich media. So, you will have to test your document in one that supports audio playback, like Adobe Acrobat Reader and Foxit PDF Editor. Include a note in your PDF to instruct users to open it in a compatible PDF viewer for full functionality.
#3. The Audio File Path is Broken
When you link to an audio file instead of embedding it, your PDF relies on the URL. If it is not stable, the audio will not play. Your link might have been renamed, moved, or deleted, or its permissions have changed.
Double-check that it is still accessible and set to Anyone with the link can view if hosted on Dropbox or Google Drive. Remember not to rename or move any files you host after linking them. Test the link outside of your PDF to confirm that it still opens properly.
Compress, Split, Merge & More with PDF.net
When you add audio to a PDF, the file size can increase. This makes it load more slowly and interferes with your SEO efforts. If your PDF becomes too large, consider compressing it or splitting it into smaller PDFs.
PDF.net also offers other tools to make managing your PDFs simple. You can prepare them before adding objects to make them dynamic; for example, merge, rearrange pages, or make quick edits without starting from scratch.
How to Add Audio to a PDF FAQs
#1. Can you play audio automatically in a PDF?
Yes, you can play audio automatically in a PDF if it is embedded and your PDF viewer supports rich media. When you embed audio in a PDF, make sure you set it to play when clicked on.
#2. What’s the best format for embedding audio?
The best format for embedding audio is MP3 because it is the most widely supported. It is also not too heavy. WAV is common, but it adds bulk, so you might have to resize your PDF. Avoid OGG and AAC, which are less commonly supported.
#3. Will the audio work on mobile devices?
Audio PDFs will not always work on mobile devices unless your app or browser supports multimedia content. If you know your users use phones or tablets to access your PDFs, insert audio in your PDF via a clickable link.
#4. Can you add a voice recording to a PDF?
Yes, you can add voice recordings to a PDF. Record your voice, save it as an MP3 file, and transfer the audio to your PDF by embedding it. Alternatively, upload the file to Google Drive, then link to it in your document using PDF.net.