A job application, a visa pack, a tax return or a set of invoices often has to go as one file. Combining PDFs sounds simple, but the built-in options vary a lot by device. This guide shows what is available and a method that works on all of them.
The same method on every device: Merge PDF in a browser
- Open Merge PDF in any modern browser.
- Add your PDFs. On a computer drop them onto the page, on a phone tap to pick them from Files, Downloads or cloud storage.
- Drag the files into the order you want them to appear.
- Press Merge and save the new PDF. The originals are not changed.
The merge happens in the browser. The files are not uploaded to a server, which is useful for IDs, contracts and financial papers. Because it joins the pages without re-drawing them, text stays selectable and quality is unchanged.
On Windows
Windows does not include a simple way to merge PDFs in File Explorer. You can print pages to a new file with Microsoft Print to PDF, but that is awkward for combining several documents and can lose links and form fields. A browser tool or a dedicated PDF program is the practical route.
On a Mac
Preview can merge PDFs without extra software.
- Open the first PDF in Preview and show the thumbnail sidebar from the View menu.
- Drag the second PDF file into the sidebar, below the pages where it should go. You can also drag individual pages to reorder them.
- Choose File, then Export as PDF, and save the combined file.
It works well, but it is less obvious if you want to merge many files or reorder whole documents.
On an iPhone or iPad
The Files app can do it: tap Select, choose the PDFs in the order you want, tap the More button and choose Create PDF. It joins them in the order selected, and you cannot rearrange pages there. For drag-to-reorder, the browser method above works in Safari: choose the PDFs from Files and save the result back to it.
On Android
The same applies. Most Android file managers do not merge PDFs. Chrome or Firefox with a browser tool lets you pick files from Downloads or Google Drive and save a merged PDF without installing an app.
Photos and scans in the mix
If part of your pack is photographs, such as a signed page you photographed or a receipt, turn them into a PDF first. JPG to PDF places each photo on a page, in the order you choose. Then merge that PDF with the rest.
After merging: order, size and extra pages
- Reorder or delete pages with Organize PDF if the order is not quite right.
- Pull out a part later with Split PDF.
- Check the size. The combined file is about the size of the parts together. If an upload limit is a problem, compress it to 2 MB or another target.
- Number the pages with Add page numbers if the pack needs it.
Common problems when combining
- A password-protected PDF. Unlock it first if you know the password, with Unlock PDF, then merge.
- Pages in the wrong order. Reorder the files before merging, or fix pages afterwards with Organize PDF.
- Mixed page sizes. Merged documents keep their own page sizes, so an A4 page next to a Letter page is normal. It prints fine, though some viewers show the difference.
- A very large result. The merged file is as big as the parts. Compress the parts before merging if only some of them are heavy.
For more on keeping private documents off other people's servers while you do this, read How to merge PDFs without uploading them.
Frequently asked questions
Merge and combine: is there a difference?
No. Merge, combine and join all mean putting several PDFs into one file, in the order you choose.
Will merging reduce the quality?
No. Merging places the original pages in a new file without re-drawing them, so text stays selectable and images keep their quality. The merged file is roughly as large as the originals together.
Can I combine photos and PDFs together?
Yes. Turn the photos into a PDF first with Images to PDF, then merge that PDF with the others.