How to combine PDF files

How to combine PDF files
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

It's handy to know how to combine PDF files. Because PDFs can be opened by any computer with a browser, they’re ideal for sharing. But it's more convenient to merge lots of PDFs into one, rather than carpet-bomb recipients with multiple files at once.

Annoyingly, Windows doesn’t have its own tool for combining PDFs, but it’s possible to use completely free software that will do the job just fine. In this guide, we’ll show you how to join PDFs together from any source.

Unlike Windows 10, macOS — Catalina and onwards, anyway — actually does have PDF-combining powers built in. All you need to do is select the files you want to combine in Finder, while using the Gallery view, then click the “Create PDF” button that appears in the right-hand inspector panel.

In Microsoft’s operating system, you’ll need to use additional software or an online tool. We recommend PDFsam: it has a completely free version that will combine PDF files effectively, and by installing it on your PC you don’t have to worry about your uploaded PDFs ever being accessed by unauthorized people.

How to combine PDF files for free

1. On the PDFsam website, click the green “About PDFsam Basic” button, then click the “Download PDFsam Basic” button on the following page.

How to combine PDF files step 1: Download PDFsam Basic from the PDFsam website

(Image credit: Future)

2. Click “Windows downloader (.exe)” to download.

How to combine PDF files step 2: Click Windows downloader (.exe)

(Image credit: Future)

3. Open and run the downloaded executable, then click “Yes” to install.

How to combine PDF files step 3: Run executable and click Yes

(Image credit: Future)

4. Select a language and click “Next.” You can also install a trial version of PDFsam Enhanced, but that’s not necessary for simply combining PDFs, so you can uncheck the option.

How to combine PDF files step 4: Select language, uncheck option to install PDFsam Enhanced and click Next

(Image credit: Future)

5. Close the browser window that pops up and open PDFsam Basic from the desktop shortcut. In the app, click “Merge.”

How to combine PDF files step 5: Open PDFsam Basic and click Merge

(Image credit: Future)

6. Drag and drop the PDF files you want to combine into the marked box. You can drop multiple files in at once, or one by one. 

To change the order in which individual files will appear in the final, merged document, click and drag the file up or down the list.

How to combine PDF files step 6: Drag and drop files into PDFsam. Once listed, click and drag files to change their order

(Image credit: Future)

7. If you like, you can edit the name of the eventual combined file, and click “Browse” to change where it will be saved. Either way, click “Run” to start combining.

How to combine PDF files step 7: Set name and file location, then click Run

(Image credit: Future)

8. Click “Open” to view the finished, combined PDF file. You can now share the contents of all the original files with other people in one go.

How to combine PDF files step 8: Click Open to view combined PDF

(Image credit: Future)
James Archer

James is currently Hardware Editor at Rock Paper Shotgun, but before that was Audio Editor at Tom’s Guide, where he covered headphones, speakers, soundbars and anything else that intentionally makes noise. A PC enthusiast, he also wrote computing and gaming news for TG, usually relating to how hard it is to find graphics card stock.

Read more
MacBook Pro 2021 (16-inch) on a patio table
It's easy to edit PDFs on your Mac — here's how to do it for free
Best e-signature software - Workers using laptops and paper
The best e-signature software in 2025
YouTube logo on an iPhone screen
How to download YouTube videos on iOS, Android, Mac and PC
Microsoft Office is finally as it should have been on iPad
Microsoft tests free Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps for Windows — expect a lot of ads
Google Chrome logo on laptop
Too many Chrome tabs? Here's how to organize them
An FBI agent typing on a computer
FBI issues warning to millions of Americans to avoid these websites that can steal your passwords and banking info
Latest in Computing
Surface Laptop 7 from the front
Amazon just gave Surface Laptop 7 a 'frequently returned' label — here's what's going on
23andME box
23andMe has declared bankruptcy — here's how to delete your data now
Russian flag with padlock smashing through glass
47 VPNs could be axed from Google Play Store following Russian demands
nvidia rtx 50 series
RTX 5060 Ti release date just tipped for April 16 — HP seemingly confirms Nvidia's next-gen GPUs
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
Samsung’s 'Haean' smart glasses will reportedly launch this year — here's everything to expect
An angled view of the distraction-free desk setup I built around the Oakywood Standing Desk Pro
I built a completely distraction-free desk setup with these 10 gadgets — and now I’m truly locked in
Latest in How To
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
Gmail logo on iPhone
I used Google Gemini to declutter my Gmail account — here's how you can do it too
An Amazon Echo speaker with ChatGPT logo next to it
I replaced Alexa with ChatGPT on my Amazon Echo — here's how you can do it too
AirPods Pro 2 in hand
Your earbuds are disgusting — here's the right way to clean them
ChatGPT logo on a smartphone screen being held outside
7 biggest ChatGPT mistakes — and how to fix them
a photo of a woman looking at her fitness tracker
Forget the treadmill — I boosted my metabolism and walked 2,000 steps with this 15-minute workout