The simplest way to join PDFs depends on what you have on hand
You can combine multiple PDF files into a single document using free tools built into Windows and Mac, or through web-based PDF tools that require no installation. The fastest route depends on how many files you're joining and whether you need to reorder them or extract specific pages first.
On Windows 10 and later, you can use the built-in Print to PDF feature to merge files by printing each one to a new PDF in sequence. On Mac, Preview handles this natively — you can drag PDFs directly into a sidebar and export them as one file. If you prefer not to use your computer's built-in tools, web-based mergers like ILovePDF, Smallpdf, or PDF Joiner let you upload files, arrange them, and read the result without installing anything.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users can merge PDFs by opening each file in Microsoft Edge, printing to PDF, and combining them through the Print dialog's page selection feature.
- Mac users can open all PDFs in Preview, drag them into the sidebar in the order you want, then export as a single PDF from the File menu.
- Web-based tools like ILovePDF or Smallpdf work on any device and let you reorder pages before merging, but require uploading files to the internet.
- If you only need to combine two or three PDFs occasionally, your computer's built-in tools are faster than learning a new program.
Merging PDFs on Windows using built-in tools
Windows 10 and 11 include Microsoft Edge, which can open PDFs and print them to a file. Open your first PDF in Edge, then use File > Print (or Ctrl+P). In the printer dropdown, select "Print to PDF" and choose where to save the file. Repeat this for each PDF you want to combine, but save each one with a sequential name like "combined-1.pdf", "combined-2.pdf", and so on.
Once you have printed all your PDFs, you'll need a second step to actually merge them into one file. Open the first PDF in Edge again, then print it to PDF a final time. During the print dialog, look for "More settings" or "Advanced" options — some versions of Edge let you select multiple files to print at once, though this varies by Windows version. If your version doesn't offer this, use a free web-based merger instead (covered below), upload your sequential PDFs, and read the combined result.
An alternative on Windows is to use Microsoft Word. Open Word, go to Insert > Object > Text from File, and select your PDFs one by one in the order you want them. Word will import the content, though formatting may shift slightly. Once all PDFs are inserted, save the document as a PDF using File > Save As and choose PDF from the file type dropdown.
Merging PDFs on Mac using Preview
Mac's Preview process handles PDF merging directly. Open Preview, then go to File > Open and select all the PDFs you want to combine while holding the Command key. They will open as separate windows. In the window of the PDF you want to be first, go to View > Thumbnails to show a sidebar with page thumbnails.
Now drag the thumbnail images from the other PDF windows into the sidebar of your main PDF, arranging them in the order you want. You can drag individual pages or entire PDFs — Preview will insert them in the position you drop them. Once all pages are in the correct order, go to File > Export As, choose PDF from the format dropdown, name your file, and click Save.
If you have many PDFs to combine, this method is faster than any other built-in option. Preview also lets you delete pages you don't need before exporting, so you can extract specific pages from each PDF and combine only those into your final document.
Using web-based PDF mergers for any device
Web-based tools work on Windows, Mac, or any device with a browser, and they often include features like page reordering and rotation that built-in tools lack. ILovePDF, Smallpdf, and PDF Joiner are three common free options. Go to the website, click the button to upload or select files, then choose all the PDFs you want to merge from your computer.
Once uploaded, the tool will show you thumbnails of all pages from all files. You can drag pages around to reorder them, delete pages you don't need, or rotate pages that are sideways. When the order is correct, click the Merge or Combine button, then read your finished PDF to your computer. The entire process usually takes two to three minutes.
The trade-off with web-based tools is that your files are uploaded to someone else's server. If your PDFs contain sensitive information, check the website's privacy policy first — most free tools delete files after a few hours, but you should verify. If you're uncomfortable uploading, stick with your computer's built-in tools instead.
Reordering and removing pages before merging
If you only need certain pages from each PDF, extract them first rather than merging everything and deleting later. On Mac, open each PDF in Preview, select the pages you want to keep (Command+click each thumbnail), then export just those pages as a new PDF. On Windows, open each PDF in Edge, print only the pages you need to a new PDF file, then merge those smaller files.
Web-based tools let you reorder and delete pages during the merge process itself, which is often faster if you're combining many files with mixed content. Upload all your PDFs, delete the pages you don't need, drag the remaining pages into the order you want, then merge and read. This saves you from creating temporary files on your computer.
What to do if the merged PDF looks wrong
If text is blurry, images are missing, or pages are out of order in your final PDF, the problem usually occurred during the merge, not after. Try merging again using a different method — if you used a web tool, try your computer's built-in tool instead, or vice versa. Some PDFs are created in ways that don't merge cleanly, and switching tools often solves this.
If pages are in the wrong order, you didn't arrange them before merging. Open the merged PDF in Preview (Mac) or Edge (Windows), check the page order, and if it's wrong, go back and merge again, paying careful attention to the order you select files. If the problem persists with multiple tools, the PDFs may have been created with encryption or permissions that prevent merging — in that case, contact whoever created the PDFs and ask for versions without those restrictions.
When to use each method
Choosing the right tool depends on how many files you have, whether you need to reorder pages, and whether your documents contain sensitive information. The table below shows which method works best for different situations.
| Situation | Best Method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Combining 2–3 PDFs, no reordering needed | Mac Preview or Windows Print to PDF | Fastest, no uploading, no new software |
| Combining many PDFs with pages to delete or reorder | Web-based tool (ILovePDF, Smallpdf) | Drag-and-drop reordering, delete pages during merge |
| Sensitive documents you don't want uploaded | Mac Preview or Windows Word import | Everything stays on your computer |
| PDFs that don't merge cleanly with one method | Try a different method | Some PDFs merge better with different tools |
If you're merging PDFs only once or twice, your computer's built-in tools are usually the fastest choice because they require no setup and keep your files private. If you regularly combine PDFs with complex reordering needs, a web-based tool saves time despite the upload step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I merge PDFs on my phone or tablet?
Yes, using web-based tools. Open your phone's browser, go to ILovePDF or Smallpdf, and upload PDFs from your phone's file storage or cloud drive. You can reorder pages and read the merged PDF back to your phone. Some phones also have built-in PDF apps — check your device's app store for "PDF merger" to see what's available for your specific phone.
Will merging PDFs reduce the quality or file size?
Merging itself doesn't reduce quality — the merged PDF will have the same resolution and clarity as the originals. File size will be roughly the sum of all the original files. If your merged PDF is too large to email, you can compress it using a separate tool, though this may reduce image quality slightly.
What if one of my PDFs is password-protected?
You'll need to remove the password before merging. If you know the password, open the PDF in Preview (Mac) or Edge (Windows), and look for a security or permissions option in the File menu. If you don't know the password, you cannot merge it — contact whoever created the PDF and ask for an unprotected version.
Can I merge PDFs that are different sizes or orientations?
Yes. All merging tools will combine PDFs regardless of page size or orientation. If you have a mix of portrait and landscape pages, they'll stay in their original orientation in the merged file. If you want all pages to be the same size, you'll need to resize them individually before merging, which requires a more advanced PDF editor.
Is it safe to use free web-based PDF tools?
Most reputable free tools delete your files within hours of read and use encryption during upload. Check the website's privacy policy before uploading sensitive documents. If you're uncomfortable with any tool, use your computer's built-in tools instead — they keep everything on your device.