How-To

How to Combine PDF Files on Mac

Updated

Sometimes you may need to combine PDF files into one document. On a Mac, you can do this using the built-in Preview app in just a few steps.

Depending on the project, you may need to combine PDF files into one document. On Mac, you can do this using the built-in Preview app in just a few steps. Better still, the combined file is still a PDF so that you can share it with any Windows and Mac users with ease. Here’s how to combine PDF files on Mac.

Combining PDF Files on Mac

Whether for professional, education, or personal use, you may have to combine two or more PDFs into one file. To combine, you’ll want to use the Preview app on your Mac.

  1. Open your PDF in Preview.
  2. Select View > Thumbnails to show the thumbnail images of your PDF.
  3. Choose a page thumbnail to highlight where you want to insert another PDF.

PDF thumbnails

Next:

  1. Choose Edit > Insert > Page from File.
  2. Highlight the PDF you want to insert.
  3. Click Open.
  4. To save, choose File > Export as PDF.

PDF page from file

Your imported PDF is now part of your original PDF. Choose File > Save to update the file.

Combining Partial PDF Pages to Another PDF

In the previous example, you added an entire PDF to another. If you only want to add certain pages to a PDF, following these instructions.

  1. Open the PDF you want to add pages.
  2. Separately open the other PDF.
  3. Select View > Thumbnails on the second PDF to show the thumbnail images.
  4. Press and hold the Command key, then select the page thumbnails that you want to add to the other document.
  5. Release the Command key.
  6. Drag the combined page thumbnails into the other PDF’s sidebar, being careful to drag to the correct location between pages.
  7. Release the combined page thumbnails to drop them into the other PDF.

The selected PDF pages are now part of the original PDF. Select File > Save to update the file.

Rotate, Delete, and Reorder Pages

You can make minor changes to the pages in a PDF using the Preview app on your Mac.

To rotate a page:

  1. Open your PDF in Preview.
  2. Select View > Thumbnails to show the thumbnail images of your PDF.
  3. Choose the thumbnail page you want to rotate.
  4. Select Tools > Rotate Left or Rotate Right to change the page.

PDF rotate page

Repeat Steps 1-4 to rotate other pages in a PDF. Select File > Save to update the file.

To delete a page:

  1. Open your PDF in Preview.
  2. Select View > Thumbnails to show the thumbnail images of your PDF.
  3. Choose the thumbnail page you want to delete.
  4. Select Edit > Delete to remove the highlighted page from the PDF.

PDF delete

Repeat Steps 1-4 to delete other pages in a PDF. Select File > Save to update the file.

To reorder pages:

  1. Open your PDF in Preview.
  2. Select View > Thumbnails to show the thumbnail images of your PDF.
  3. Choose the thumbnail page you want to move.
  4. Drag the thumbnail page to a new location in the sidebar.

Repeat Steps 1-4 to reorder other pages in a PDF. Select File > Save to update the file.

Share and Export

Once you’re done adjusting your PDF and saving it, you can share the file. To do so:

  • Either click the share button in the Preview app;
  • Choose File > Share, then select your sharing option.

To save your PDF into another format:

  • In Preview, choose File > Export, choose a format, then click Save.

Whether you want to combine PDFs, adjust how they look or share/export them, you can slightly edit PDFs from the Preview app. Yes, this means you don’t need an expensive PDF editing app like Adobe Acrobat or a similar title to get started.

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