How to merge PDF files in Windows 10.

A woman merges PDF files in Windows 10.

Whether you want to organize your home life, office space, or anywhere in between, you should learn how to combine multiple PDFs into one unified document.

Why learn how to merge PDF files in Windows 10? With the combination of work files, home documents, school assignments, and more, the digital world can sometimes feel a bit chaotic. If you have, for example, multiple onboarding documents for new employees or a growing collection of family recipes, you can tidy up your virtual filing cabinet by merging multiple PDF documents into one. Let’s explore how you can do this in just a few steps.

Why combine PDF files in Windows 10?

Merging PDF files allows you to store them more neatly and reduce the number of folders you have in your Documents tab on your PC. You could combine anything from invoices and tax records to old reports. You might also want to merge PDFs to send them more efficiently. If you want a colleague to view two of your PDFs, it’ll be easier for them to have just one link to click to view both. It’s also possible that you had one project (such as a job application or a group project) split into several PDF files, and now you need to combine them. If any of these are the case for you, you’re in luck because it’s simple to learn how to combine PDF files in Windows 10.

Is merging PDF files the same as combining PDF files?

Merging and combining are basically the same, and this article uses the two terms interchangeably. If there is any difference, it’s that “combine” is a slightly broader term than “merge.” Merging PDFs means that you put the two documents together using software or an online tool that will maintain the formatting of each file. If you combine PDF files, you might just copy and paste all of the text and images from one file and add them to a blank page on the next file. In this article, you’ll learn how to merge (or combine) PDF files in Windows 10.

Will I lose formatting when I merge PDF files in Windows 10?

When you merge PDFs with Adobe Acrobat online services, you shouldn’t have any trouble with the formatting of your PDF files. The formatting will stay the same, and the only hiccups you might encounter are needing to reorder or rotate the pages that you’ve merged. Keep reading to learn how to merge PDF files using Windows 10.

How to combine PDF files in Windows 10.

When you open a PDF in Windows 10, it opens with the operating system’s default viewer — Microsoft Edge. You can easily view PDF files within Edge, but unfortunately, the app doesn’t allow you to combine multiple PDFs. Instead, you will need to use a third-party app or online tool. Here’s how to merge PDF files using Windows 10 with Adobe Acrobat online services:

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat online services.
  2. Drag and drop your files, or click the Select files button and locate your files via the dialog box.
  3. Once your files upload, select Merge.

Once the files merge, you can take the time to organize or reorder your files if necessary. When you’re happy and all set with your document, simply download your new PDF for safekeeping or take steps to share it with others. And don’t forget — if you end up with a large file size, you can easily compress PDF files online to make sharing even easier.

Can I split them after I combine PDF files?

After merging your PDF files, you might need to split them again. Fortunately, it’s easy to split PDFs with Windows 10. Follow the simple steps below:

  1. Use any browser to navigate to Adobe’s online tool to split PDFs.
  2. Upload the PDF you need to split.
  3. Select the lines between the thumbnail images of your PDF pages to split.
  4. When you’re finished, select continue.

You can now save your split PDFs. You may need to log in to a free Adobe account to access the online tool.

More ways to work with PDFs in Windows 10.

PDF is one of the most shareable, printable, and secure document formats around. It’s likely that you’ll need to use this file format again and again. After you merge PDF files in Windows 10, check out these other resources for converting your PDF to different file types and sizes:

Take a moment to discover everything you can do with Acrobat online services to combine, organize, and share documents for a (paperless) peace of mind.