How to Combine PDF Files

What does combining PDF files mean?

As the name suggests, combining PDF files is the process of bringing multiple PDFs into a single document. And while that sounds pretty self-explanatory on its own, there are numerous nuances around this topic that we ought to examine. To start things off, we have to note that the ability to combine multiple files into a single PDF is something that is very frequently used and searched for on the internet.

Therefore, merging PDFs has proven as a useful skill to have for anyone working not just with PDFs, but also with other office and text-based document formats – for example, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files. Combining PDF files is also very relevant for anyone looking to work with images since PDF files often contain images or have even been created by converting an image to a PDF.

Also, note that there are subtle but key differences in exactly how one would go about combining the file. For instance, combining 2 files into 1 file is a thing, but what about combining 3, 5, 10, or more files into a single file? Are you able to rearrange the pages inside the input files and the residing output files? Are you able to use any kind of PDF file or even a non-PDF file in the input files and still receive the combined file?

You get the point – all of those seemingly tiny but pretty important distinctions are what makes combining a complex topic. And the examples above do not even scratch the surface of it. There are a bunch of more technical gotchas related to the files as well – sometimes, PDFs are password-protected or have been signed with a digital signature, so this presents a challenge to any software trying to combine them. The orientation of the pages and even the metadata can also play a role in your results.

All of those subtleties are exactly why multiple vendors can advertise combining, merging, mixing, arranging, etc. PDF files, but only a select few are successful in providing a polished solution that meets all possible use cases. Luckily, MobiPDF has all of those and more on its website! But before we dive right into the nitty-gritty of our PDF combiner, let's answer a much more practical question first.

Why is combining PDF files useful?

So, why might someone want to combine their files and end up with a single PDF in the first place? The obvious thing that comes to mind is the convenience of having just one file and the less clutter that comes with it. Whilst this is a huge benefit, it’s far from the only one, and there are other scenarios where having just one file is best. For instance, it's orders of magnitude easier to just open a single file into any kind of editing, file, text, or image manipulation software.

Not only that, but it’s oftentimes the only option for some software, particularly older versions, that do not necessarily play nice with the notion of having a bunch of files opened all at once. Another practical reason for combining PDFs is if you’re planning on using your output PDF file in any kind of commercial software that charges on use. A good example here is digitally signing a PDF through a paid SaaS service like DocuSign, IronClad, or similar. Those kinds of services tend to charge much less for a single contract signature than they would for two or more, giving you more bang for your buck.

What are the different ways to combine PDFs?

Now that you know about some of the benefits of combining PDFs, the thing that you've probably noticed is that it’s not immediately obvious how to go about actually doing it. Yes, there are many options advertised on the web, but most of those are very platform or file-specific and not at all user-friendly, and have some serious drawbacks.

First of all, we have all of the so-called online tools, which, while quick, tend to be very, very low on actual features and could jeopardize your security. By uploading your file to a Web service, you're always open to the possibility of having your data extracted and harvested somewhere on the Web for eternity. You may also just straight up not get your file back. There are even some shady services that seemingly do the combine PDF service for free, only to put the output file behind a giant paywall once you’re already invested in the process.

Then we have a set of esoteric and hard-to-use and complex tools, most notably CLIs (command line interfaces) and SDK tools. These are essentially software packages that are intended for programmers and require some pretty advanced knowledge of how to use and navigate them to get anything done. Frequently used by programmers and incredibly advanced users, it’s not something we would ever recommend to the average, above-average, or even power user as such tools often have niche licensing schemes where you never know if you’re in the green or not.

This leaves us with the bread and butter of combining tools – commercial desktop applications. They have dedicated GUI (graphic user interface), tooltips, and often even online help guides and videos to help you do the job quickly and efficiently. It is here that you'll find all the features we've previously discussed conveniently laid out in front of you, such as:

• multiple input files

• different formats of input

• rearranging pages

• working with protected documents

These and many other features are exclusively found in commercial desktop apps, including, of course, MobiPDF. This leads us to...

How to Combine PDFs in Windows?

Gone are the days when working with PDF files on Windows required lots of skill and effort. Today, all you have to do is follow these steps:

1. Visit our website and install the app.

2. Upon opening the app, you will be presented with the Home Screen. Once there, click Create.