How can I ensure that the PDF links on my Webflow staging site open in a new window, and how can I set the PDF file links to have a domain-matching URL?

If your PDF links on a Webflow staging site need to open in a new window and match your domain’s URL, follow these steps.

1. Upload the PDF to Webflow

• Go to Webflow’s Asset Manager (left panel in the Webflow Designer).
• Click Upload and select your PDF file.
• Right-click the uploaded file and choose Copy URL to get the staging link (e.g., https://webflow.io/.../file.pdf).

2. Ensure Links Open in a New Window

• Select the link element in the Designer.
• Paste the PDF URL in the link settings under "External URL."
• Check "Open in New Tab" in the link settings.

3. Use a Custom Domain-Matching URL

To ensure the PDF file link uses your custom domain instead of Webflow’s staging domain:

• Publish your site to the custom domain.
• Re-upload the PDF in the live version of your site to get the domain-corrected link.
• Update any old Webflow staging URLs with the new custom domain link (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/files/example.pdf).

4. (Optional) Use a Custom Redirect for Better Control

• If the PDF lives on Webflow’s CDN and doesn’t match your domain, create a 301 redirect from a custom path like /your-pdf to the full Webflow PDF URL under Project Settings > Hosting > 301 Redirects.
• Now the visitor sees your domain’s URL when accessing the PDF.

Summary

To ensure PDFs open in a new window, check "Open in new tab" in the link settings. To match your domain, upload the PDF after publishing, then replace the Webflow-hosted staging URL with the custom domain version. If necessary, use 301 redirects for better control over link appearance.