How to combine PDF files on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
Step-by-step ways to merge PDFs on any device, using built-in apps where they exist and a free browser tool where they don’t.
By the PDF365 editorial teamUpdated 6 min read
Combining PDFs is one of the most common document jobs: a CV and cover letter, a set of invoices for your accountant, or scanned pages that arrived as separate files. Some devices can do it with built-in software; others can’t. Here is the quickest method for each, and what to watch out for.
On any device: use a browser tool
The method that works everywhere is a web-based merger. With PDF365 Merge PDF:
- Open the Merge PDF page and choose your files (or drag them onto the page).
- Drag the handles to put them in order, or press Sort A–Z.
- Optionally type page ranges under a file, such as
1-3, to include only some pages. - Press Merge PDFs and download the result.
Because the files are combined inside your browser, nothing is uploaded, which matters when the files are payslips or contracts.
On a Mac: Preview
macOS can merge PDFs with the Preview app that comes with it:
- Open the first PDF in Preview.
- Choose View › Thumbnails to show the page sidebar.
- Drag the other PDF files from Finder into the sidebar, dropping them where you want them to go.
- Choose File › Export as PDF to save the combined document under a new name.
Saving with File › Save instead overwrites the first file, so use Export if you want to keep the originals.
On an iPhone or iPad: the Files app
- Put the PDFs in the same folder in the Files app.
- Tap the three-dot menu, choose Select, and tap each file in the order you want.
- Tap the three-dot (More) button at the bottom and choose Create PDF.
The new file appears in the same folder. If you need a different order, rename the files with numbers first, or use a browser tool where you can drag to reorder.
On Windows
Windows doesn’t include a way to merge PDF files. “Microsoft Print to PDF” can only print one document at a time, and the PDF viewer in Microsoft Edge can view and annotate but not combine files. Use a browser tool such as Merge PDF, or desktop software such as Adobe Acrobat (the paid version).
On Android
Android doesn’t have a built-in merge feature either. A browser tool works well on Android phones: open it in Chrome, tap to choose files from your phone’s storage or Google Drive, and download the merged file to your Downloads folder.
Problems you might run into
“This PDF is password-protected”
Encrypted PDFs can’t be merged until they’re unlocked. If you know the password, remove it with Unlock PDF first.
The merged file is too large to email
Scanned pages add up quickly. Run the merged file through Compress PDF; scans often shrink by more than half. Our guide on why PDFs get large explains what helps most.
A page is sideways or in the wrong place
Open the merged file in Organise PDF to rotate, move or delete individual pages.
Bookmarks or form fields stopped working
Most merge tools, including ours, copy the pages but not each document’s bookmarks or fillable form fields, because they conflict when files are combined. Fill in and flatten forms before merging them.
Tips for a tidy result
- Name files with leading numbers (01, 02, 03) so they sort into the right order automatically.
- Put a cover page or contents page first for long bundles.
- Add page numbers after merging, so they run continuously through the whole document.