How to Combine PDF Files: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself with multiple PDF files that you need to combine into one document? This can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, especially if you’re not sure how to do it. Fortunately, there are several methods that you can use to merge your PDF files. In this article, we’ll explore different approaches to combining PDFs and provide step-by-step instructions on how to use each option.

How to Combine PDF Files Using PDF Editing Software

PDF editing software is a program that allows you to edit and modify PDF documents. Many popular PDF editing software tools, including Adobe Acrobat, Foxit PhantomPDF, and Nitro Pro, also offer PDF merging capabilities. Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to merge PDF documents using these tools:

Adobe Acrobat

1. Open Adobe Acrobat and select “File” at the top of the screen, then “Create” and “Combine Files into a Single PDF.”
2. Select the PDF files you want to merge and click “Combine Files.”
3. Edit the document as needed and save the new merged PDF.

Foxit PhantomPDF

1. Open Foxit PhantomPDF and select “File” at the top left corner of the screen, then “Create” and “From Multiple Files.”
2. Select the PDF files you want to merge, and click “Add Files.”
3. Edit the order of the PDF documents as needed and click “Combine.”
4. Save the new merged PDF.

Nitro Pro

1. Open Nitro Pro and click on “Home” on the left side of the screen.
2. Select “Combine” and then “Add Files.”
3. Select the PDF files you want to merge and click “Combine.”
4. Save the new merged PDF.

How to Combine PDF files on a Mac

If you’re a Mac user, you don’t need to install any additional software to merge your PDFs. Apple’s Preview app has built-in tools that allow you to easily merge multiple PDF files. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Preview

1. Open Preview and select “File” at the top of the screen, then “Open.”
2. Select the PDF files you want to merge and click “Open.” The documents will open in separate windows.
3. Select “View” at the top of the screen and choose “Thumbnails.”
4. Drag the thumbnails of the PDF documents that you want to merge into one window and arrange them in the desired order.
5. Save the new merged PDF.

Online Tools for Combining PDF Files

If you don’t want to download any software to your computer, there are many web-based and cloud-based options for merging PDF files. Some popular tools include:

Smallpdf

1. Go to Smallpdf.com and select “Merge PDF” from the main menu.
2. Drag and drop the PDF files you want to merge into the upload box.
3. Click “Merge PDF.”
4. Save the new merged PDF.

PdfMerge

1. Go to PdfMerge.com and click “Choose File”
2. Select the PDF files you want to merge and click “Merge PDF.”
3. Download and save the new merged PDF.

PDFsam

1. Go to PDFsam.com and select “Merge.”
2. Drag and drop the PDF files you want to merge into the upload box or click on “Add” to select files.
3. Click “Merge” and download the new merged PDF.

How to Merge PDF Files Using Microsoft Word

Did you know that you can use Microsoft Word to merge PDF documents? This feature is lesser-known, but it can be convenient if you already have Word installed on your computer.

Microsoft Word

1. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document.
2. Click on “Insert” at the top of the screen and select “Object” from the dropdown menu.
3. Select “Create from File” and click “Browse.”
4. Choose the PDF files you want to merge and click “Ok.”
5. Click “Ok” again to insert the PDFs into the Word document.
6. Save the new merged PDF as a Word document.
7. Click “File” > “Export” > “Create PDF/XPS” to save the Word document as a PDF.

How to Combine PDF Files with Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat is the most well-known and popular software for working with PDF documents. It offers a range of features, including PDF merging capabilities.

Adobe Acrobat DC

1. Open Adobe Acrobat DC and click on “Tools.”
2. Select “Combine Files.”
3. Select the PDF files you want to merge and click “Combine Files.”
4. Save the new merged PDF.

How to Merge PDF Files Using Online PDF Combiner

Online PDF combiners can be a fast and easy way to merge documents for those who use the internet often.

I Love PDF

1. Go to ILovePDF.com and select “Merge PDF.”
2. Choose the PDF files you want to merge.
3. Determine the order in which they should be merged.
4. Then click “Merge PDF.”
5. Save the new merged PDF.

PdfMergeFree

1. Go to PdfMergeFree.com and select “Upload files.”
2. Choose the PDF files you want to merge.
3. Determine the order in which they should be merged.
4. Then click “Merge.”
5. Save the new merged PDF.

Conclusion

Combining PDF files is a task that may seem intimidating at first, but with the right tools and knowledge, it can actually be quite easy. Whether you choose to use PDF editing software, your Mac’s built-in Preview feature, an online tool, Microsoft Word, or Adobe Acrobat, there are many options available for merging PDFs.

Take the time to review the different methods discussed in this article and find the one that works best for you. By doing so, you can streamline your PDF document workflow and save time and effort.