The simplest way to combine PDFs depends on what you already have

You can combine two PDF files on Windows, Mac, or a phone without buying software. The easiest method uses free tools built into your operating system or a free online converter. If you use Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you can also insert one PDF into another as an image. The route that works best depends on whether you need the PDFs to stay searchable, how large they are, and whether you want to keep the original files separate.

Most people can finish this task in under five minutes using one of the three methods below. None of them require you to create an account or read a program.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows has a built-in PDF printer that can combine files by printing one PDF to a file, then printing the second PDF and selecting "append to file" in the print dialog.
  • Mac users can open both PDFs in Preview, drag pages from one into the other, and save the result as a new file.
  • Free online tools like ILovePDF or Smallpdf let you upload two PDFs and read the combined file without creating an account.
  • If you only need the PDFs side-by-side for reference, inserting them as images into a Word or Google Docs file is faster than combining them into a single PDF.

Combining PDFs on Windows using the Print method

Windows does not have a dedicated PDF merger, but you can use the Print to PDF feature to combine files. Open the first PDF in any program that can read it — Adobe Reader, Microsoft Edge, or Chrome all work. Go to File, then Print. In the printer dropdown, select "Print to PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF".

In the print dialog, choose where you want to save the file and give it a name. Click Print. Now open the second PDF in the same way, go to File and Print again, and select the same PDF printer. This time, look for an option that says "Append to file" or "Add to existing file" — the exact wording depends on which PDF printer you are using. If you see this option, select it and choose the file you just created. If you do not see it, you will need to use one of the other methods below instead.

Combining PDFs on Mac using Preview

Mac's built-in Preview app can merge PDFs without any extra software. Open the first PDF in Preview. Then open the second PDF in a separate Preview window — you can do this by opening Preview again and selecting File, then Open, or by dragging the second PDF onto the Preview icon in your dock.

In the first Preview window, click View in the menu bar and select Thumbnails. You will see small images of each page from the first PDF on the left side. Now switch to the second Preview window, select all pages (Command+A), and copy them (Command+C). Go back to the first window, click at the end of the thumbnail list, and paste (Command+V). The pages from the second PDF will appear at the end. Save the combined file with a new name using File, then Save As.

Using a free online tool to merge PDFs

If you do not want to use your computer's built-in tools, free websites can combine PDFs in your web browser. ILovePDF, Smallpdf, and PDF Merge are three common options. Go to the website, click the button to upload or select files, and choose your two PDFs. The site will combine them in the order you selected and let you read the result.

These tools work on any device — Windows, Mac, phone, or tablet — and you do not need to create an account. The main trade-off is that you are uploading your files to someone else's server. If the PDFs contain sensitive information, use one of the methods above instead. Most of these sites delete your files after a few hours, but you should check their privacy policy if you are unsure.

Inserting one PDF into a Word or Google Docs file

If you do not actually need a single PDF file and just want both documents in one place, inserting them into Word or Google Docs is often faster. In Microsoft Word, go to Insert, then Object, then Text from File. Select both PDFs (hold Ctrl and click each one) and insert them. Word will convert them to editable text and images, and you can save the result as a Word document or export it as a PDF.

In Google Docs, you cannot insert a PDF directly, but you can upload the PDF to Google Drive, open it in Google Docs, and copy the text and images into your main document. This method works best when you want to edit or annotate the content, or when you just need to reference both documents in one place without creating a formal merged PDF.

What to do if the files are very large or password-protected

If either PDF is larger than 100 MB, online tools may refuse to process it or take a very long time. In this case, use your operating system's built-in method instead — the Print to PDF method on Windows or Preview on Mac. Both handle large files without uploading them anywhere.

If one or both PDFs are password-protected, you will need to remove the password before you can combine them. Open the protected PDF in Adobe Reader or another PDF reader, enter the password, and save it as a new file without the password protection. Then use any of the methods above to combine the unprotected versions.

Keeping your original files organized after merging

Once you have created the combined PDF, decide whether you still need the original two files. If you are keeping them, move all three files into the same folder and give them related names — for example, "Report_Part1.pdf", "Report_Part2.pdf", and "Report_Combined.pdf". This makes it clear which files go together.

If you no longer need the originals, delete them and keep only the combined file. Before you do, open the combined file and verify that all pages are there and in the right order. It takes 30 seconds and prevents the mistake of deleting the originals only to discover a page is missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I combine more than two PDFs at once?

Yes. On Mac, use Preview and paste multiple PDFs into the same file. On Windows, you can print a third PDF and append it to the combined file you already created. Online tools usually let you upload three or more files at once.

Will combining PDFs make them harder to search?

No. As long as the original PDFs were searchable text (not scanned images), the combined file will be searchable too. You can search for a word and find it anywhere in the merged document.

What if I want to combine only certain pages from each PDF?

Preview on Mac lets you delete unwanted pages before saving. On Windows, print only the pages you want by typing the page numbers in the print dialog (for example, "1-5, 10-15"). Online tools often have an option to select which pages to include before merging.

Does combining PDFs change the file size?

The combined file will be roughly the same size as the two originals added together, maybe slightly smaller due to compression. If file size matters for uploading or sharing, check the combined file's size before you delete the originals.

Can I undo a merge if I change my mind?

No, but you can always delete the combined file and keep the originals. This is why it is a good idea to save the combined file with a new name instead of overwriting one of the originals.