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Learn my favorite free and effective way to consolidate several PDFs into one file on Windows and Mac

 

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You don't need to pay to combine your PDFs into one document.

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Merging PDF files doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. In fact, I've been doing it for years without spending any money at all. Whether I need to organize project files, create a presentation or just reduce digital clutter, combining PDFs can be done with minimal effort on Windows and Mac devices.

While Adobe Acrobat is a well-known solution, it requires a paid subscription that starts at $13 per month. Fortunately, there are free alternatives I've explored over the years that work just as well. Here's how I've learned to merge PDF documents without spending a single dime, no matter which operating system I'm using in the process.  

Need more PDF help? Check out our tips on how to easily sign PDFs and four free apps for better PDF editing.

How to combine PDFs on Windows

Windows doesn't have a built-in PDF merging tool but I use a free app from the Microsoft Store called PDF Merger & Splitter by AnywaySoft.



Here's how to use it:

  1. Download and open PDF Merger & Splitter from the Microsoft Store. 
  2. Select Merge or Split. If you just need to merge two documents without changing the order of any pages, choose Merge. If you want to combine parts of each document, choose Split. 
  3. Click Add PDFs and select all the files you want to merge. You can rearrange the order or sort them by name and preview the result.
  4. When you're ready, click Merge, then name and save your new PDF.

If you want more control over which pages to include, I recommend using the Split feature first to extract specific pages or page ranges. You can then merge only the parts you need into a single file.

Read more: How to download Windows 11 free

How to combine PDFs on Mac

If you're on a Mac, you're in luck because MacOS comes with a free built-in tool called Preview that makes PDF merging straightforward.

To combine two PDFs:

  1. Open one of the PDFs in Preview.
  2. Go to View > Thumbnails to see a sidebar with page thumbnails.
  3. Select the thumbnail where you want to insert the other file.
  4. Choose Edit > Insert > Page from File, then select the second PDF and click Open.
  5. Save the merged document with File > Export as PDF.

To merge parts of one PDF with another PDF:

  1. Open both PDFs in Preview and enable thumbnails in both via View > Thumbnails.
  2. Hold down the Command key and click the page thumbnails you want to add to the other document.
  3. Drag the selected pages into the thumbnail sidebar of the destination PDF. (If you have MacOS Sierra or earlier, drag the thumbnails directly into a thumbnail in the other PDF.) 
  4. Rearrange, rotate or delete pages as needed.

Note that some secured or encrypted PDFs may not support merging. To check permissions, go to Tools > Show Inspector, then click the lock icon.

Now that you've mastered combining PDFs, make sure to check out other hidden Mac tips and secret Windows 10 tips, and how to download Windows 11 and Microsoft Office apps free.

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