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?
TL;DR
- Upload the PDF in Webflow’s Asset Manager, copy the URL.
- Set link settings to use the PDF URL and check "Open in New Tab".
- Publish the site, then re-upload the PDF to get a domain-matching link.
- Update old links with the new domain-based URL.
- Optionally, set a 301 redirect for better control over URL appearance.
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-pdfto 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.