How to combine PDF files?

Learn how to combine multiple PDF files into a single document with our guide, which covers five different methods for merging PDFs. Discover the pros and cons of each option, including Smallpdf, Adobe Acrobat DC, Sejda PDF, PDFsam Basic, and Preview on Mac.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Method 1: Combine PDF with Smallpdf
• Method 2: Combine PDF with Adobe Acrobat DC
• Method 3: Combine PDF with Sejda PDF
• Method 4: Combine PDF with PDFsam Basic
• Method 5: Combine PDF with Preview on Mac
• Conclusion

Introduction

Combining multiple PDF files into a single document can help you organize your digital documents and make them more accessible. Fortunately, there are several ways to combine PDF files for free, and in this article, we will cover five methods you can use to merge PDF files.

Comparative Table:

• Smallpdf is a free online tool that is easy to use, but it has some limitations in terms of customization options and upload limit.
• Adobe Acrobat DC, on the other hand, offers extensive customization options and no upload limit, but it comes with a paid subscription.
• Sejda PDF is a free online tool with limited customization options and a 50MB upload limit.
• PDFsam Basic is a free and open-source desktop application with extensive customization options, but it is slightly more complicated to use than the online tools.
• Preview on Mac is a built-in application that is easy to use, but it has limited customization options compared to the other methods.

Method 1: Combine PDF with Smallpdf

Smallpdf is a popular online tool that allows you to merge PDF files quickly and easily. With Smallpdf, you can combine multiple PDF files into a single document in just a few clicks. Simply upload your files to the Smallpdf website, select the pages you want to merge, and download the combined PDF file.

How to combine PDF files using Smallpdf:

Step 1: Go to the Smallpdf website

To start, open your web browser and go to the Smallpdf website.

Step 2: Select “Merge PDF”

Once you are on the Smallpdf website, select “Merge PDF” from the main menu at the top of the page.

Step 3: Upload the PDF files you want to combine

In the “Merge PDF” window, you will see a box labeled “Drop PDF files here.” You can drag and drop the PDF files you want to combine into this box, or you can click the “Choose Files” button to select the files from your computer.

Step 4: Arrange the PDF files in the order you want

After you have uploaded the PDF files you want to combine, Smallpdf will display them in the order in which they were added. You can rearrange the files by clicking and dragging them to the position you want.

Step 5: Combine the PDF files

Once you have arranged the PDF files in the order you want, click the “Merge PDF” button. Smallpdf will then combine the files into a single document.

Step 6: Save the combined PDF file

After the PDF files have been combined, Smallpdf will provide you with a download link to the new document. You can download the document by clicking the “Download” button. You can also save the new document to your Dropbox or Google Drive account, or you can share the download link with others.

Step 7: Review the combined PDF file

Before you close Smallpdf, it is a good idea to review the new document to make sure it is formatted correctly and that all the pages are included. You can do this by scrolling through the document or using the search function to look for specific keywords.

Combining PDF files into a single document can make it easier to manage your documents and keep them organized. The process is simple and can be done in just a few steps. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily combine your PDF files into a single document using Smallpdf.

Method 2: Combine PDF with Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe Acrobat DC is a powerful PDF editor that offers a variety of tools for working with PDF files. One of these tools is the ability to combine multiple PDF files into a single document. With Adobe Acrobat DC, you can drag and drop PDF files to merge them, reorder pages, and customize the document settings.

We will walk you through the steps to combine PDF files using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC:

Step 1: Open Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

To start, open Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on your computer. If you do not have it installed, you can download it for free from the Adobe website.

Step 2: Select “Tools” from the menu bar

Once you have Adobe Acrobat Reader DC open, select “Tools” from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

Step 3: Select “Combine Files”

From the “Tools” menu, select “Combine Files.” This will open a new window.

Step 4: Select the PDF files you want to combine

In the new window, select “Add Files” and choose the PDF files you want to combine. You can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Command key (Mac) while clicking on the files. Once you have selected all the files you want to combine, click “Open.”

Step 5: Arrange the PDF files in the order you want

After you have selected the PDF files you want to combine, they will appear in the order in which they were selected. To rearrange the order, simply click and drag the files to the position you want.

Step 6: Combine the PDF files

Once you have arranged the PDF files in the order you want, click the “Combine Files” button. Adobe Acrobat Reader DC will then combine the files into a single document.

Step 7: Save the combined PDF file

After the PDF files have been combined, you can save the new document by selecting “File” from the menu bar and then choosing “Save As.” You can give the new document a name and select a location to save it.

Step 8: Review the combined PDF file

Before you close Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, it is a good idea to review the new document to make sure it is formatted correctly and that all the pages are included. You can do this by scrolling through the document or using the search function to look for specific keywords.

Combining multiple PDF files into a single document can save time and make it easier to manage your files. By following the steps outlined in this paragraph, you can easily combine your PDF files into a single document using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.

Method 3: Combine PDF with Sejda PDF

Sejda PDF is a free online tool that allows you to merge PDF files with ease. With Sejda PDF, you can upload multiple PDF files, reorder pages, and customize the document settings before merging the files into a single document.

How to combine PDF files with Sejda PDF:

Step 1: Go to the Sejda PDF website

To begin, open your web browser and go to the Sejda PDF website.

Step 2: Select “Merge PDF”

From the main menu on the Sejda PDF website, select “Merge PDF” to open the merge tool.

Step 3: Upload the PDF files you want to combine

In the merge tool, you will see a box labeled “Drag & drop PDF files.” You can drag and drop the PDF files you want to merge into this box, or you can click the “Upload PDF files” button to select the files from your computer.

Step 4: Arrange the PDF files in the order you want

After you have uploaded the PDF files you want to combine, Sejda PDF will display them in the order in which they were added. You can rearrange the files by clicking and dragging them to the position you want.

Step 5: Merge the PDF files

Once you have arranged the PDF files in the order you want, click the “Merge PDF” button. Sejda PDF will then combine the files into a single document.

Step 6: Save the combined PDF file

After the PDF files have been merged, Sejda PDF will provide you with a download link to the new document. You can download the document by clicking the “Download” button. You can also save the new document to your Google Drive or Dropbox account, or you can share the download link with others.

Step 7: Review the combined PDF file

Before you close Sejda PDF, it is a good idea to review the new document to make sure it is formatted correctly and that all the pages are included. You can do this by scrolling through the document or using the search function to look for specific keywords.

Method 4: Combine PDF with PDFsam Basic

PDFsam Basic is a free and open-source PDF editor that allows you to merge PDF files quickly and easily. With PDFsam Basic, you can merge multiple PDF files into a single document, customize the document settings, and even split PDF files into smaller documents.

How to combine PDF files with PDFsam Basic:

Step 1: Download and install PDFsam Basic

The first step to combine PDF files with PDFsam Basic is to download and install the software. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the instructions to install the software.

Step 2: Launch PDFsam Basic

After installation, launch PDFsam Basic by double-clicking on the program icon on your desktop or by searching for it in your computer’s application menu.

Step 3: Select “Merge” mode

In the PDFsam Basic home screen, select “Merge” mode.

Step 4: Add the PDF files you want to merge

In the “Merge” window, click the “Add” button to select the PDF files you want to merge. You can select multiple files by holding down the “Ctrl” key while clicking on each file. You can also drag and drop the files directly into the PDFsam Basic window.

Step 5: Arrange the PDF files in the order you want

After you have added the PDF files you want to merge, you can arrange them in the order you want. You can do this by dragging and dropping the files up or down in the list.

Step 6: Choose the output folder and file name

Under “Destination” in the “Merge” window, select the folder where you want the merged PDF file to be saved. You can also choose a name for the merged file.

Step 7: Merge the PDF files

Click the “Run” button to start merging the PDF files. PDFsam Basic will merge the files into a single document.

Step 8: Review the merged PDF file

After the merging process is complete, PDFsam Basic will open the merged PDF file in your default PDF viewer. It’s a good idea to review the merged document to ensure that all pages are included and in the correct order.

Combining PDF files with PDFsam Basic is a simple and straightforward process that can help you keep your documents organized and accessible. With the ability to drag and drop files and arrange them in the desired order, PDFsam Basic makes it easy to merge multiple PDF files into a single document.

Method 5: Combine PDF with Preview on Mac

If you are using a Mac computer, you can use the built-in Preview app to merge PDF files. With Preview, you can drag and drop PDF files to merge them, reorder pages, and customize the document settings.

We will guide you through the steps to combine PDF files with Preview on Mac:

Step 1: Open Preview

To start, open the Preview app on your Mac. You can find Preview in the Applications folder or by searching for it using Spotlight.

Step 2: Open the PDF files you want to merge

Once you have opened Preview, open the first PDF file you want to merge by selecting “File” from the menu bar and then clicking “Open” or by using the keyboard shortcut Command + O. You can also drag and drop the PDF file directly into the Preview window.

Step 3: Open the Thumbnails sidebar

Once the first PDF file is open, click the “View” menu in the menu bar and select “Thumbnails” or use the keyboard shortcut Command + Option + 2. This will open the Thumbnails sidebar on the left side of the Preview window.

Step 4: Add the additional PDF files

To add more PDF files to the document, click the “File” menu in the menu bar and select “Open” or use the keyboard shortcut Command + O to open the file selection window. Select the PDF files you want to add and click “Open.” The PDF files will open in separate windows, but their thumbnails will appear in the Thumbnails sidebar.

Step 5: Drag and drop PDF thumbnails to merge

To merge the PDF files, simply drag the thumbnails from one PDF file and drop them onto the thumbnail pane of the other PDF file. Repeat this process for all the PDF files you want to merge.

Step 6: Save the merged PDF file

Once you have combined all the PDF files, select “File” from the menu bar and click “Save” or use the keyboard shortcut Command + S to save the merged PDF file. Choose a location to save the file, give it a name, and click “Save.”

Step 7: Review the merged PDF file

After saving the merged PDF file, open it in Preview to ensure that all pages are included and in the correct order. It’s also a good idea to check the document for any formatting or layout issues.

With the ability to drag and drop PDF thumbnails, Preview makes it easy to merge multiple PDF files into a single document. By following the steps outlined in this paragraph, you can easily combine your PDF files into a single document using Preview on Mac.

Conclusion

Combining PDF files can be a useful way to organize your digital documents and make them more accessible. Whether you prefer to use an online tool like Smallpdf, a powerful PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat DC, or a free and open-source PDF editor like PDFsam Basic, there are several options available to help you merge your PDF files quickly and easily. And if you are using a Mac computer, you can use the built-in Preview app to merge PDF files without any additional software. Whatever method you choose, combining PDF files can help you keep your digital documents organized and easy to access.

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