How to combine multiple PDF files into a single document on a Mac or PC

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• You can combine multiple PDF files into one document using basic software.
• Mac users can use the Preview app to combine their PDF files into one document.
• PC users can download free software programs like Adobe Acrobat to combine PDFs.

From invoices and work presentations to ebooks and random webpages, if there's one thing you can count on, you're bound to accumulate a lot of files on your computer.

If you have multiple PDFs, you can actually combine them into a single document. But the way it works will depend on your computer. Mac users can do it via the Preview app, while PC users will have to download third-party software.

Here's how to get it done:

How to combine PDF files in Preview on a Mac

1. Open your PDF. If Preview isn't the default option, right-click your PDF and select Open with and then choose Preview.

2. In the top toolbar, select View and then Thumbnails. Page thumbnails will then appear in the sidebar of your document.

3. Select a thumbnail page — your other PDF will appear just after that page.

4. In the top toolbar, select Edit and then Insert followed by Page from File.

5. Choose your other PDF in the pop-up window and select Open.

6. In your compiled PDF, choose File in the top toolbar.

7. Click Export as PDF.

Quick tip: If you just want to add a page or two from another PDF, you can open both PDFs in Preview and make the thumbnails visible. Drag the thumbnails from your secondary PDF to the thumbnail section of the PDF you want to use as your final and then save the file.

How to combine PDFs on a PC

Unlike Macs, PCs don't have a built-in option to combine PDFs. But you can use free software to get it done. Here, we'll demonstrate how to do it with Adobe Acrobat:

1. Open Acrobat and go to the Tools tab.

2. Select Combine files.

3. Click Add Files and choose the files you want to include in your PDF.

4. Arrange the content by clicking and dragging the pages, or press Delete to remove unwanted pages

5. When you're done, click Combine Files.

6. Name your new file and click Save.

Quick tip: Other options for PC users looking to combine PDFs include PDFsam, PDF Merger & Splitter, and ABBYY FineReader PDF.

Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino.