How to Insert/Embed a PDF in a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

Sometimes you need to insert/embed a PDF directly into an Excel worksheet, such as when you want to include a marketing flyer that has product specs or pictures.
In a hands-on tutorial, I’ll show you how to insert/embed a PDF in a Microsoft Excel worksheet as an icon. Once it’s inserted, you can click to open the PDF directly from Excel.
00:00 - Preview of the completed worksheet and PDF
00:30 - Insert an Adobe Acrobat Document (PDF) Object as an icon
01:24 - Update the name of the PDF icon

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

What else do you want to learn about Excel? Let me know below in the comments!

[@vijiatg6420]

Nice

[@Ellie-Elle]

Great video! Thank you!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Awww, thanks! I appreciate the support! 🥰

[@kateyjc]

Useful, thanks!

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching! 🌟🤓🙏

[@vijiatg6420]

Very useful Thanks

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Yay! I'm so glad it helped. Thanks for watching! 🤓🌟🙏

[@vijiatg6420]

My pleasure

[@Lumencraft-]

Thanks

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

You bet! Thanks for watching! 🙏🤓🌟

[@AldwinGayo]

Hi thank you for this very useful video. Question how to lock the PDF so it wont move accidentally. Lock it bu you can still be able to double click it to open?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Aldwin! 👋 So sorry for the slow response! Were you able to figure this out? I'm not sure I know of a good way to do this myself. 🤔

[@mrmarketcap]

We did exactly what you did but when I click on the PDF icon, the PDF appears only for about a second and disappears. Do you happen to know why?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi @mrmarketcap! 👋 Hmmm...that's weird. I've never had that happen before. Maybe try the ol' reboot of the computer?

[@mrmarketcap]

@@TinyTechnicalTutorials That didn't seen to fix it. I'm discovering it only happens on one particular computer. Possibly it's an app/plug-in thing. Looking into further.

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

If you figure it out, feel free to post the solution here. It might help someone else! 😊

[@ottie4290]

Can another user who I sent the excel to view the pdf as well?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Unfortunately no, unless you also send them the PDF. 😐

[@Honestcritic79]

Got it, so I think what I need to do is send the a file with both the excel and pdf enclosed, so that the pdf file is linked to the file they already have. Right now it’s showing the pdf as linked to my desktop, which of course prevents them from accessing it. Thanks!

[@jhughes7165]

Does this create a pathway to find the PDF on the local device? Or is it included in the excel file? So, if i was to send this excel file to someone else. would they be able to open the PDF file on their device without having the PDF on their local device?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi JdAZ2022! 👋 Apologies...I'm super behind on comments! If you're still looking for an answer, the PDFs would need to be accessible on the other person's computer. I haven't tested this myself, but something like a shared network drive (if you're working at the same organization) would be one way to do it: techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/excel/how-to-share-excel-file-with-accessible-to-others-embedded-pdf/m-p/1541630. Hope that helps! 😊

[@armitirashidi2852]

HI there . She forgot to tell us that we need to embed the PDF to the excel sheet so the way he did , is actually making PDF icon not embedding PDF .When you go to object section , there is a tab called "create from file" that you need to select the actual PDF . with this method you also do not need to change the icon and waste your time . Hope it helps

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Awwww...good to know! Thanks for posting, Amy! 🙏🌟🤓

[@ehsannabavi7551]

this method wont work if I protect my file. if I leave it out of protection anyone can delete it. is there any other way or maybe a way to protect my file while object link still work?

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Hi Ehsan! 👋 I haven't tried this myself, but according to this post, it's not possible? answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/how-to-open-embedded-objects-in-a-protected-excel/1c84fc77-e198-4de0-ac1f-6159c06f3c22

[@LakshmiNarayananR_Be_Awesome]

very childish explaination

[@TinyTechnicalTutorials]

Oh no! 🤔

[@SohrabAttaran]

Not a childish explanation, perhaps a childish critisism though