PDF guide
How to merge two PDFs
There are several reliable ways to combine two PDFs. The best choice depends on your device, whether you can install software, and how sensitive the files are.
Merge PDFShort answer
To merge two PDFs, choose the files, put them in the correct order, combine them with a built-in tool, desktop app, command-line utility, or browser PDF tool, then open the result and check the page order.
Best method by situation
| Method | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mac Finder or Preview | Mac users who want a built-in option | Good for simple merges without installing another app. |
| Windows / Microsoft 365 | Files already in OneDrive or SharePoint | Useful when your organisation already uses Microsoft 365. |
| Linux pdfunite | Command-line users | Fast for whole-file merges, but encrypted PDFs are not supported. |
| Adobe Acrobat | Professional PDF workflows | Best when you need page previews, mixed file types, and desktop editing. |
| PDFsam | Offline desktop merging | Open-source option for Windows, Mac, and Linux. |
| PDF Raku | Quick online merging in the browser | Select PDFs, reorder them, merge, and download the result. |
How to merge two PDFs on a Mac
For a simple merge, open Finder, select the PDF files in the order you want, control-click the selection, then choose Quick Actions and Create PDF. macOS creates a new combined file automatically.
If you need more control, open a PDF in Preview, show the thumbnail sidebar, then drag pages or another PDF into the place where you want them to appear. Save a copy after checking the order.
How to merge two PDFs on Windows
Windows does not have one universal built-in PDF merge command for every local PDF file. If your files are stored in OneDrive or SharePoint and your Microsoft 365 plan supports it, open one PDF, choose the More options menu, select Merge, choose the other file, and save the new PDF.
For local files, use a trusted desktop app such as Adobe Acrobat, PDFsam, or another PDF editor. Check the page order before saving, especially when documents include cover pages or appendices.
How to merge PDFs on Linux
On many Linux systems, the Poppler utility pdfunite can combine whole PDF files from the terminal. The basic command is: pdfunite first.pdf second.pdf merged.pdf.
The input order matters. The first file appears first, the second file appears next, and the output file should use a new name. pdfunite is not intended for encrypted source PDFs.
How to merge PDFs with desktop apps
Adobe Acrobat is useful when you need to combine PDFs with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, or other supported files, and when you want to preview, reorder, or remove pages before creating the final document.
PDFsam Basic is a practical offline option when you want a free open-source desktop app for splitting, merging, extracting, rotating, and mixing PDFs.
How to merge PDFs online with PDF Raku
Open the Merge PDF tool, choose two or more PDF files, reorder them if needed, and select the merge button. When processing finishes, download the combined PDF.
This is the fastest path when you do not want to install software and only need to combine files in the browser. Keep very large or sensitive files on a trusted local workflow if your browser or device has limited memory.
Privacy and file safety
Use a local app when the PDF contains highly sensitive documents or when company policy requires files to stay on your computer.
Use an online browser tool when convenience matters and the files are appropriate for that workflow. Check the privacy note on the tool page before processing.
Common problems
The PDFs are in the wrong order
Rename files with numbers before selecting them, or use a tool that lets you drag files into the right order before merging.
One file is password-protected
Enter the known password or remove protection only if you own the file or have permission. Some tools cannot merge encrypted PDFs directly.
The merged file is too large
Merge first, then compress the output PDF. If quality matters, compare the compressed result before sharing it.
You only need selected pages
Extract or split the pages first, then merge only the pages or files you actually need.
FAQ
Can I merge two PDFs for free?
Yes. Mac users can use Finder or Preview, Linux users can use pdfunite, and browser tools such as PDF Raku can merge PDFs online.
Does merging PDFs change the original files?
Usually no. A merge creates a new combined PDF. Keep the original PDFs until you have checked the output.
Can I merge PDFs without uploading them?
Yes, if you use a local app or a browser-only workflow. PDF Raku is designed to process supported merge tasks in the browser.
What should I do before sending a merged PDF?
Open the merged file, check page order, confirm important pages are present, and compress the file if it is too large to send.
Related PDF tools
Use Merge PDF directly in this browser and download the finished file when processing is complete.
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