How to Combine PDF Files on Windows 10

Dealing with a million PDFs scattered everywhere is a headache nobody asked for. You ever try to send someone three different papers and think, "How to combine these PDF files on Windows 10?".

So, if you’re on this OS and want to know how to merge all your PDFs together—well, you’re in the right spot. I’ll run you through a bunch of ways to compile PDFs, whether you use some online tool or you prefer good offline software (because, honestly, sometimes the internet is just not it).

No tech wizardry required, promise. By the end, you’ll actually feel like you’ve got your document chaos under control. Or at least, less like it’s controlling you.

Option 1. PDF Candy Desktop

Download desktop PDF merger for Windows to combine files into PDF on Windows OS. You'll be able to use the software without access to the Internet, which guarantees complete security of the notes you process.

Ideal for: Government employees – handling confidential files offline.

How to combine PDF files with PDF Candy Desktop

1. Launch the application and select the "Merge PDF" tool. Or drag and drop items into the program's window.
2. Rearrange the sequence, and set the number of pages for merging if needed. You can set permissions and passwords for the resulting file.
3. Choose the save folder and click the "Merge" button.

Note that you can add password-protected PDFs and unlock them directly in the program. What's more, you can specify the pages or page intervals for combining rather than entire documents.

Pros:

• Takes up little disk space and does not use a PC's system resources.
• PDF merger works independently of network availability.
• Don't worry about reloading the page and starting from scratch.
• No advanced PC required (512MB RAM and 1.33Ghz Intel® AMD or compatible processor).
• Utilize it to merge PDF on Windows 10, 11, 8.1, 8, 7, and Vista.

Merging PDF files via offline software is a great way to unite PDFs on Windows quickly and securely. The application is simple to apply and has a variety of functions that make merging your documents straightforward.

Option 2. PDF Candy

The best way to join files online is the "Merge PDF" tool of PDF Candy. Without further interruption, here are the detailed instructions on how to combine files into one PDF on Windows 10.

Ideal for: Freelancers – needing a browser-based solution accessible from multiple devices.

How to use PDF Candy's online PDF combiner

1. Open the online PDF merger in a browser.
2. Click "+Add files" to load PDF. The addition of images is supported, too.
3. Preview images are displayed. Rearrange them in your preferred order, add new files, or delete any accidentally uploaded ones. By clicking the Sort buttons, you can also order them alphabetically: A-Z, Z-A.
4. Click the "Merge PDF" button.

Advantages of online PDF joiner:

• Service works not only with PDF, but also supports JPG, PNG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF formats.
• You can merge PDF through an intuitive interface that makes it so easy to manage the tool.
• Combining your PDF files only requires an Internet connection.
• The quality of the documents you upload will not be affected.
• Compatible with all major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and so on.
• Whether you use Windows OS, macOS or Linux, the service works flawlessly.
• Suitable for iOS and Android devices.
• Files are deleted within two hours, so all your data is safe.

Option 3. Adobe Acrobat DC

With the help of Acrobat DC, a powerful and user-friendly program for merging several PDFs is available.

Ideal for: Corporate executives – creating well-formatted agreements with security options.

How to join PDF with Adobe Acrobat DC

1. Open your Adobe Acrobat DC program.
2. Go to the "Tools" tab and select "Combine Files".
3. Tap "Add Files" then pick the PDFs you intend to join.
4. Once the elements are added, arrange them in your desired order for merging.
5. Press "Combine Files" at the top right of the window.
6. You will be prompted to save the merged one, write a name and location for it and click "Save".

But before you decide to use this PDF merger, it is essential to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of doing so.

Pros:

• The interface is straightforward and easy to navigate. Plus, there are numerous tutorials available online.
• Through its features, it allows you to customize the combined PDF with various formatting options such as page size, orientation, PDF pages order, and more.
• The program includes security instruments that allow you to password-protect your document or restrict the editing permissions of other users.

Cons:

• Price tag’s a bit wild. Honestly, you could grab three decent alternatives before you pay for this one.
• It may not be compatible with some earlier Windows versions.
• Comes up short if you want fancy annotation tools or need to edit a photo. It’s more business, less arts-and-crafts.

Option 4. PDF-Xchange Editor

Merging PDF files is an effective approach to saving time and energy when working with multiple documents. With PDF-Xchange, you can join numerous PDFs together to form a single file quickly and easily.

Ideal for: Engineers – stitching technical diagrams or project materials with custom page sizes.

How to use PDF-Xchange Editor to combine PDF

1. Open the Editor on your Windows device.
2. Click on "File" and choose "New Document".
3. Select the option "Combine Files into a Single Document".
4. Add the documents, adjust the order, and press "OK".

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using PDF-Xchange Editor to merge PDFs.

Pros:

• The PDF combiner is fast.
• It offers a wide range of options for customizing your merged file, such as changing the page size or adding a watermark.
• You can save your work as a project so that you can continue editing later.

Cons:

• The free version of the software is limited in its features; you'll need the paid version for full functionality.
• The interface can be perplexing for beginners, and there are many settings that pose a challenge to comprehend.
• The software may not work properly on older versions of Windows.
• Support from the company can be unreliable; response times may be slow, and sometimes they don't respond at all.

Option 5. ABBYY FineReader

If you require combining PDF files in Windows, FineReader can be a great option. It is a powerful PDF software that enables users to convert, edit, and combine PDFs quickly and easily.

Ideal for: Academics – pulling scanned research papers.

How to merge PDF with ABBYY FineReader

1. Place the files you want to compile in PDF in one folder.
2. Right-click the PDFs.
3. Choose "Combine files into one PDF".

Here are the upsides and downsides of utilizing ABBYY for joining PDF files.

Pros:

• With an intuitive interface, it facilitates the merging of PDFs.
• Fully compatible with all versions of Windows.
• Documents are converted quickly and accurately.
• Not only can you combine PDFs but also convert other file formats such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Cons:

• This option will work with FineReader 15 or higher.
• Although the PDF combiner has many options, the cost may be too high for some.
• Though safety components exist, they are minimal in comparison to other software programs.
• Unfortunately, not compatible with Macs or other operating systems.

If you’ve already got ABBYY FineReader sitting on your Windows machine, merging PDFs is a breeze. The interface? Super easy to figure out. The conversions look sharp, too. That said, if you’re all about security or you need something that plays nice with, say, Mac or Linux, you might want look elsewhere.

Option 6. PDF Merger & Splitter

Merging multiple PDF files into one document can be done with this app from Microsoft Store. Here's a quick guide on how to use PDF Merger & Splitter

Ideal for: Small business owners – quickly assembling invoices and receipts.

How to use PDF Merger & Splitter for combining PDFs

1. Launch the program.
2. On the main menu, click "Merge PDF" and then "Add PDFs".
3. Select the PDF files you want to combine and hit "Open".
4. Once all of your papers are added, you can arrange them by tapping "Move Up/Down".
5. Set page size settings and press "Merge PDF".
6. Choose where you want to save your new merged draft and opt for "Save".

Here we look at the pros and cons of this PDF joiner:

Pros:

• User-friendly and straightforward PDF combiner.
• The process of combining PDFs is quick with no need for manual editing.
• The software is free.

Cons

• As the files are merged into a single one, they may become too large for the software to handle.

Using the PDF Merger & Splitter, it is fast and simple to join materials! With just a few clicks, you can have your documents combined into one neat report for sharing or storage. However, it has limited features, so it may not be suitable for more complex merging tasks.

Why merge PDF?

Combining with PDF merger is basically the adulting hack you never knew you needed. You slap a bunch of files together, and suddenly your digital life feels way less chaotic. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Simply organize texts. Merging multiple PDFs into a document helps keep related elements together. This facilitates finding and manipulating PDFs. Just join related PDFs into one chunky doc, and you’re not digging through 17 random files anymore.
• Keep sizes manageable. , you can diminish archives to store them. Instead of juggling a dozen tiny papers, by combining several smaller PDFs into larger one you get single neat draft that’s easier to alter (and sometimes even smaller).
• Create a single source of truth. If you’re working with a group, one merged archive means no one’s stuck with the wrong version from three weeks ago.
• Make more secure. When everything’s in one item, it’s way simpler to slap on a password or toss in a digital signature. No more half-secure messes everywhere.
• Simplify sharing. Sending a combined PDF is way less painful than attaching a million files to an email. Your coworkers will thank you.

Overall, merging PDFs offers a number of benefits that can improve your operations and document management.

Tips on combining PDF files

1. Double-check the order—seriously, nothing worse than realizing page 3 is sitting where page 10 should be.
2. Skim through your PDFs and remove any random pages you don’t need. No one wants to scroll through the same intro three times, trust me.
3. Make sure all your docs are facing the same way. Portrait, landscape—pick one.
4. For scanned PDFs, use OCR to preserve text searchability after combining.

FAQ

Is there a difference between merging and combining?

Not really. Whether you’re "merging" or "combining" PDFs, you’re just smooshing a bunch of files into one big document. Call it whatever makes you happy—same deal at the end of the day.

Are there limitations to the number of PDFs I can combine?

The limitations depend on the service you're using. Some may restrict the number of files or the size of the result.

What formats of files can I combine with PDFs?

Usually, it’s just PDFs with more PDFs. But some tools are a bit fancier and let you throw in images, Word docs, maybe even Excel sheets.

Can I merge password-protected files?

Yeah, but there’s a catch. You’ll have to unlock each password-protected PDF first. Either pop in the combination when asked or use something to strip the code.

Will combining affect the quality or resolution of the documents?

Merging PDFs typically does not affect the quality or resolution of the original unless the tool you're using explicitly compresses the files.

How can I use PowerShell to combine PDF files on Windows 10?

You’ll need to grab a third-party module like PdfSharp. Once you’ve wrangled that into PowerShell, you can write a little script to mash your PDFs together. Heads up: you’ll need to be somewhat comfortable with code.

How to combine PDF files on Windows 10: Summing up

In conclusion, joining PDF documents on Windows is actually quite straightforward, with a variety of available methods to suit different preferences.

In this article, we learned in both online and offline ways. It is important to remember that each program has its own set of features and instructions. So be sure to refer to the app's help guide before you begin.

We talked through how to combine files into one PDF, both with web tools and good desktop options. Just a quick tip: every program’s a little bit different, so maybe peek at the help guide first so you don’t end up yelling at your screen.

Now that you know the ropes, you can tidy up your papers and save yourself a headache by rolling everything into one neat PDF. Easy peasy!

Additional free PDF editing utensils

• If you have extra pages in your file, then you can split PDF in different modes.
• With the "Rearrange PDF pages" utility you can change the sequence of the pages in the merged document.
• Add password to PDF to secure it.