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3 min fix 3 min read Recently reviewedBeginner

By , IT support technician

Quick Answer

Open the Microsoft Store, download a free tool like PDF Merger & Splitter, and use it to combine your documents securely.

How to Combine and Merge PDF Files for Free ​

Estimated Time to Fix: 3 minutes

Applies to: Windows, Mac
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary ​

Combining multiple PDFs into a single document is a common task, but paid tools like Adobe Acrobat Pro are not always available to every employee. This guide explains how to merge PDFs using free, safe tools without risking your company's sensitive data on shady third-party websites.

Prerequisites ​

  • You must have the PDF files saved to your computer.

Instructions ​

1. Merge PDFs Using a Free App (Windows) ​

If you need to staple two basic documents together and don't need complex editing, a free app from the Microsoft Store is the best option.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows PC.
  2. Search for PDF Merger & Splitter (by AnyUtils) or any IT-approved free PDF tool.
  3. Click Get to install it. (This app does not require administrator rights).
  4. Open the app and click Merge PDF.
  5. Click Add PDFs and select the files you want to combine.
  6. Drag and drop the files in the list to rearrange their order.
  7. Click Merge and save the new, combined file to your computer.

2. Merge PDFs Using Preview (Mac) ​

If you are using a Mac, you do not need to download anything. Apple's built-in "Preview" app can merge PDFs natively.

  1. Double-click the first PDF file to open it in Preview.
  2. Click View in the top menu bar and select Thumbnails. A sidebar will appear showing the pages of your PDF.
  3. Open a Finder window and locate the second PDF file you want to merge.
  4. Drag the second PDF file from the Finder window directly into the Thumbnail sidebar of the first PDF.
  5. The pages will instantly merge. Click File > Save to save the combined document.

3. Use an IT-Approved Online Tool (If Allowed) ​

Many users search Google for "Free PDF Merger" and upload company documents to random websites. This is a massive security risk.

  1. If your company uses Adobe Acrobat Online, go to acrobat.adobe.com.
  2. Sign in with your corporate email address.
  3. Click Combine Files (Note: this feature may require a premium license depending on your organization's subscription).
  4. Drag and drop your files into the browser and click Combine.

Troubleshooting ​

DANGER

Do not upload company documents containing sensitive data (passwords, customer information, financial reports) to free, unverified online PDF mergers (like ilovepdf.com or smallpdf.com). These sites often store your documents on their servers, violating data privacy policies.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Microsoft Store is blockedIT PolicyIf your company blocks the Microsoft Store, you must submit an IT ticket requesting a PDF editor (like Adobe Acrobat or Foxit PDF).
Merged PDF is too large to emailHigh resolutionYou will need to compress the file before emailing. Use an approved tool or upload it to OneDrive and share the link instead.