PDF is probably the most used file format for all kinds of things — be it invoices, business quotations, downloadable documents, ebooks, or bank statements. Merging PDFs is a piece of cake if you have the right tool. Today, we’ll show you how to do that on Mac using both built-in and third-party apps.
How to merge PDF files using Preview
Preview is a default macOS app perfect for performing basic PDF operations. With its help, you can quickly combine multiple documents or its parts into one PDF without having to pay for a dedicated editing tool. It runs smoothly and comes on your Mac for free, what else is needed? Let’s see how it works.
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Changes you make in Preview are saved automatically. If you want to keep the original PDF file untouched, go to File > Duplicate to create a new file copy.
Put together two or more PDFs
- Open your PDF file in the Preview app (Right-click the file, then choose Open With and select Preview).
- Choose Thumbnails in the View menu to display thumbnails of all the pages in the sidebar.
- Drag and drop another PDF file to the sidebar of an open one, specifically to the thumbnail you wish to place it.
How to combine JPEG files into one PDF on Mac? Follow the same step: just drag and drop it! Also, there is a bit longer way:
- Select a page thumbnail under which you want to place the next PDF or JPEG file.
- Go to the Edit menu > Insert > Page from File.
- Choose the file you want to paste and click Open.
Now that you combine two files, it’s time to save them as a new combined document. In the File menu, choose Export as PDF. Name your file, pick where you want to keep it, and hit the Save button. That’s it!
Merge selected pages from different PDF files
- Open PDF files side by side in individual Preview windows.
- Make sure you see the thumbnails of each file. If not, choose Thumbnails in the View menu.
- Choose the pages you want to replace from one file to another. You can Command+click separate pages or select all at once.
- Drag the chosen page or pages from one file and drop them where you want in the thumbnail section of the other.
You can repeat these steps as many times as needed. Once done, don’t forget to save this brand new PDF file to the destination folder.
How to combine PDF files into one document on Mac with third-party tools
For merging PDF files, Preview is the easiest option to use. But if you have to deal with tons of PDFs daily, using Preview won’t be enough. Here is when dedicated editing software will come in handy.
Combining PDF files is a core feature of any PDF editor. The most popular one is Adobe Acrobat, which has been the driving force behind PDFs for many years. Yet, more intuitive and easy-to-use apps are coming into play these days. For instance, as the name suggests, PDF Expert is great at performing PDF-related operations on Mac.
Both Adobe Acrobat and PDF Expert are paid but offer a free trial. Check them out and choose which one suits you the most.
Need extra help with your Mac performance?
Every Mac needs a little troubleshooting support from time to time. System junk, old cache, and numerous useless files — all these can decrease Mac’s speed and make apps fail, including Preview and other PDF editors.
If your computer regularly malfunctions, perhaps it’s time to clean it up from months-old clutter. CleanMyMac X is a powerful junk-cleaner with a bunch of features designed to solve Mac-specific issues. Here’s how to use it:
- Download CleanMyMac X — get it here for free.
- Launch the app and choose System Junk in the sidebar.
- Press Scan, and then Clean.
Additionally, I recommend using the Maintenance tab. Run the ‘Free Up RAM’ and ‘Run Maintenance Scripts’ tools to optimize your system’s performance and enhance the quality of your user experience.
Merging PDF files is no difficult task with Preview. You can use other tools as well, but as for me, Preview is really quick and gets the job done in a few seconds. For super-fast performance, I recommend optimizing your Mac with CleanMyMac X and deleting junk and cache once in a while.
© Provided by CNET Use these tips to combine PDFs on Mac or Windows devices. Sarah Tew/CNETTrying to merge multiple PDFs together? Don't get stressed. Though working with lots of different documents can get tricky, there are a few easy ways you can combine PDFs together, whether you're constructing a portfolio or just looking for ways to cut down on file clutter.
© Rob Lightner
Step 1 - Download PDFBinder.
One of the most popular tools for combining PDFs is Adobe Acrobat, but that software will cost you at least $13 a month for a subscription. Luckily, there are a few other ways you can combine PDFs for free, no matter what type of computer you're using.
Here's how to combine multiple PDFs for free, whether you're working on a Windows device or a Mac. (We've also got tricks for how to easily sign PDFs, and four free apps for better PDF editing.)
How to combine PDFs on Windows
If you're using Windows, you'll need a third-party app to help you combine PDFs. We tested a few, and found a solid option in PDF Merger & Splitter by AnywaySoft. It's available through the Microsoft Store for free.

Here's how to merge PDFs with this app:
- Open the app, and choose Merge or Split. If you just need to merge two documents without changing the order of any pages, choose Merge.
- Click Add PDFs, and select however many you want to merge. You have the option to move them up or down, or sort by name. You can also preview what the merged documents will look like.
- Once your documents are in order, hit Merge, and name and save the new merged PDF.
If you want to customize your merger a bit more, such as by changing the order of pages or only adding in certain parts of each PDF, you'll have to split them first. To do that, select Split when the app opens. Choose which individual pages or page ranges you want to pull out. You can save them as one PDF, or as individual PDFs.
Read more:How to download Windows 11 free
How to combine PDFs on Mac
On Mac, you can combine PDFs with a built-in tool found in Preview, according to Apple Support.
Here's how to combine two PDFs:
- Open a PDF in Preview.
- Go to View > Thumbnails. You'll see page thumbnails in the sidebar.
- Select the thumbnail for the page where you want to insert the other document.
- Click Edit > Insert > Page from File (if the Page from File selection is dimmed so you can't click it, make sure that the file you have open is a PDF. Some encrypted PDF documents can't be merged, according to Apple . Check the permissions of a PDF by choosing Tools > Show Inspector, then click the lock icon).
- Select the PDF you want to add, and click Open.
- Choose File > Export as PDF to save.
Merge Pdf For Mac Free
And here's how to combine parts of one PDF with another PDF:
- Open the PDFs you want to combine in Preview.
- In each document, choose View > Thumbnails. You'll see page thumbnails in the sidebar.
- Press and hold the Command key, and select the page thumbnails that you want to add to the other document. Let go of the Command key.
- Drag the selected thumbnails to the sidebar of the other PDF, and release where you want them to go. (If you have macOS Sierra or earlier, drag the thumbnails directly into a thumbnail in the other PDF.)
You can rotate, delete and reorder pages from the thumbnail section, too.
Merge Pdf Mac Free Full
Now that you've mastered combining all of your PDFs, make sure to check out other hidden Mac tips and secret Windows 10 tips, and how to download Windows 10, Windows 11 and Microsoft Office apps for free.