diff --git a/build.py b/build.py
index d51db6880..c12347b55 100644
--- a/build.py
+++ b/build.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def main():
 
     stan_version = f"{stan_major}_{stan_minor}"
     os.environ["STAN_DOCS_VERSION"] = f"{stan_major}.{stan_minor}"
-    os.environ["STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF"] = f"-{stan_version}.pdf"
+    os.environ["STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH"] = stan_version
     path = os.getcwd()
     docspath = os.path.join(path, "docs", stan_version)
     if not (os.path.exists(docspath)):
diff --git a/src/cmdstan-guide/index.qmd b/src/cmdstan-guide/index.qmd
index 2fa102a53..50546c1c5 100644
--- a/src/cmdstan-guide/index.qmd
+++ b/src/cmdstan-guide/index.qmd
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ respectively, similarly, JuliaStan also interfaces with CmdStan.
 
 
 ::: {.content-visible when-format="html"}
-[Download the pdf version of this manual](../cmdstan-guide{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}).
+[Download the pdf version of this manual](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/cmdstan-guide-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf).
 :::
 
 
diff --git a/src/functions-reference/index.qmd b/src/functions-reference/index.qmd
index f140aa721..7bdbc37b8 100644
--- a/src/functions-reference/index.qmd
+++ b/src/functions-reference/index.qmd
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ together with an overview of the inference algorithms and posterior inference to
 
 
 ::: {.content-visible when-format="html"}
-[Download the pdf version of this manual](../functions-reference{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}"
+[Download the pdf version of this manual](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/functions-reference-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf).
 :::
 
 
diff --git a/src/index.qmd b/src/index.qmd
index 816937312..07f79bb00 100644
--- a/src/index.qmd
+++ b/src/index.qmd
@@ -8,16 +8,14 @@ author: "Stan Development Team"
 
 This is the official documentation for Stan.
 
-- The [**Stan User's Guide**](stan-users-guide/index.html) provides example models and programming techniques for coding statistical models in Stan.   [pdf](stan-users-guide{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}).
+- The [**Stan User's Guide**](stan-users-guide/index.html) ([pdf](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/stan-users-guide-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf)) provides example models and programming techniques for coding statistical models in Stan.
 
-- The [**Stan Reference Manual**](reference-manual/index.html) specifies the Stan programming language and inference algorithms.
-[pdf](reference-manual{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}).
+- The [**Stan Reference Manual**](reference-manual/index.html) ([pdf](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/reference-manual-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf)) specifies the Stan programming language and inference algorithms.
 
-- The [**Stan Functions Reference**](functions-reference/index.html) specifies the functions built into the Stan programming language. [ pdf](functions-reference{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}).
+- The [**Stan Functions Reference**](functions-reference/index.html) ([pdf](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/functions-reference-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf)) specifies the functions built into the Stan programming language.
 
 There are also separate installation and getting started guides for
-[*CmdStan*](cmdstan-guide/index.html), the command-line interface to the Stan inference engine,
+[*CmdStan*](cmdstan-guide/index.html) ([pdf](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/cmdstan-guide-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf)), the command-line interface to the Stan inference engine,
 and the R, Python, and Julia interfaces.
 
-
 {{< include copyright_licensing.qmd >}}
diff --git a/src/reference-manual/index.qmd b/src/reference-manual/index.qmd
index 12831a98a..ac89fd2fc 100644
--- a/src/reference-manual/index.qmd
+++ b/src/reference-manual/index.qmd
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ The third part provides auxiliary information about the use of Stan.
 
 
 ::: {.content-visible when-format="html"}
-[Download the pdf version of this manual](../reference-manual{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}).
+[Download the pdf version of this manual](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/reference-manual-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf).
 :::
 
 {{< include ../copyright_licensing.qmd >}}
diff --git a/src/stan-users-guide/index.qmd b/src/stan-users-guide/index.qmd
index 23a43232f..a9123ece1 100644
--- a/src/stan-users-guide/index.qmd
+++ b/src/stan-users-guide/index.qmd
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ when necessary to clarify programming issues.
 
 
 ::: {.content-visible when-format="html"}
-[Download the pdf version of this manual](../stan-users-guide{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PDF >}}).
+[Download the pdf version of this manual](https://mc-stan.org/docs/{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}/stan-users-guide-{{< env STAN_DOCS_VERSION_PATH >}}.pdf).
 :::