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You have a few separate PDFs and want one file: a course split into chapters, scans of a form or the attachments for an application. You don’t need paid software for that, and you don’t need to upload your files to a website either. Your browser can do it.
Before you start
- Put the files in one folder. That makes choosing them a lot quicker.
- Give them a number at the front, for example 01-cover.pdf, 02-letter.pdf. Then they are already in the right order when you add them.
- Is a PDF password-protected? The tool asks for its password and goes on; the password stays in your browser. The merged PDF has no password any more, so protect it again with Protect PDF if you need to.
In four steps
- Open Merge PDF. It works in any modern browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari.
- Choose your files. Drag them into the box or click to pick them. You can also merge Word or PowerPoint files, as long as they are all the same type.
- Put them in the right order. Use the arrows next to each file, or drag the files into place.
- Click Merge and download the result. The new file is on your device straight away.
What stays the same?
Merging places the pages one after another, exactly as they are. Nothing is recompressed, so text and images keep their quality. The new file is about as large as all the files together.
After merging
Often merging is only the first step. From the result you can go straight on:
- Too large to email? Compress the merged file.
- Many pages? Add page numbers so the reader can find their way.
- Want to print it compactly? Put two or four pages on one sheet with Pages per sheet.
- A page too many? Take it out with Delete pages.
On a Mac
On a Mac you can also use Preview: open the first PDF, show the thumbnails and drag the other PDFs in. That works well for a few files. With many files, or if you want to merge Word or PowerPoint files, the browser is handier.
On Windows and your phone
Windows has no built-in way to merge PDFs, and neither do most Android phones. On an iPhone it can be done in the Files app (select the PDFs, then Create PDF). In the browser it works on every device, the same way as on a computer. For the iPhone there is a separate guide: How to merge PDFs on iPhone or iPad.
Your files are not uploaded. Your browser merges them itself, on your own device. You can verify it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How many PDFs can I merge at once?
There is no fixed limit. It depends on the memory of your device: dozens of files usually work fine on a normal laptop or phone. As a guideline, up to 50 MB in total works well on most devices; for larger files a computer is more reliable than a phone.
Can I combine a PDF with a Word file?
Not in one go: you can only merge files of the same type. Convert or save the Word file as a PDF first, then merge the PDFs.
Do bookmarks and links keep working?
Yes. Links and bookmarks inside the separate files are kept in the merged PDF.