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Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Combine PDFs into One in Adobe Acrobat Pro (2023 Interface Update)

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This tutorial shows two ways to combine PDFs into one in Adobe Acrobat Pro using the 2023 interface update on both PC and Mac.

Both methods can be used to insert other types of files, such as images, Microsoft Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets into PDFs. Please note that non-PDF files will be converted to the PDF format once combined in Acrobat.

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If you are using an older version of Adobe Acrobat, please see my previous tutorials “How to Combine Files into One PDF in Adobe Acrobat” and “How to Insert Files into Existing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat.”

These steps don’t apply to Adobe’s free PDF display software, Acrobat Reader. However, PDFs combined with Adobe Acrobat will be viewable with Acrobat Reader.

Method One

This method doesn’t require you to open a PDF before starting the combination process.

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  2. Hover your cursor over the Create button at the top of the screen.
Create button in the Welcome screen in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 1. Create button
  1. Select Combine files from the menu.
Combine files option in the Create menu in the Welcome screen in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 2. Combine files option
  1. Select the Add Files button in the Combine Files screen.
Add Files button in the Combine Files screen in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 3. Add Files button
  1. Locate and select the files you want to combine in the Add Files dialog box and then select the Open button (PC) or Add Files button (Mac).

Pro Tip: Press and hold the Ctrl key (PC) or Command key (Mac) to select multiple files.

Open button in the Add Files Dialog Box in Adobe Acrobat Pro (PC)
Figure 4. Open button (PC) (The Mac version will say Add Files, instead.)
  1. Select the Combine button.
Combine button in the Combine Files screen in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 5. Combine button

The combined files will open as one PDF called “Binder#.”

Combined PDF "Binder" File name in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 6. Binder file
  1. (Optional) Select the Pages button to open the Pages pane, where you can drag the thumbnails up or down to reorganize the pages as necessary.
Pages pane in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 7. Pages pane
  1. Select Menu (PC) or File (Mac) and Save to save the new combined PDF under a more specific name than Binder.
Save option in the main Menu in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 8. Save option (In the Mac version, Save is under the File menu, instead.)

Method Two

This method is best if you have a primary PDF to which you are adding additional PDFs or other files.

  1. Open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro.
  2. Right-click or Control-click the open PDF and then select Combine files from the shortcut menu.
Combine files option in the shortcut menu in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Figure 9. Combine files option

The open PDF should appear in the Combine files screen.

  1. Select Add Files in the Combine Files toolbar.
  2. Select Add Files from the drop-down menu.
Add Files menu in the Combine Files toolbar in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 10. Add Files option
  1. Locate and select the files you want to combine in the Add Files dialog box and then select the Open button (PC) or Add Files button (Mac) (see figure 4).
  2. Select the Combine button (see figure 5).

The combined files will open as one PDF called “Binder#” (see figure 6).

  1. (Optional) Select the Pages button to open the Pages pane, where you can drag the thumbnails up or down to reorganize the pages as necessary (see figure 7).
  2. Select Menu (PC) or File (Mac) and Save to save the new combined PDF under a more specific name than Binder (see figure 8).

What about Combine Files in the All Tools Menu?

You may be wondering about the Combine files option in the All tools menu. Currently, this option opens the Combine Files screen, but it does not automatically include open PDFs.

However, you can choose to include them by selecting the Add Open Files button, which will appear in the center of the Combine Files screen.

Combine files option in the All Tools menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 11. Combine files option in the All tools menu

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Updated August 21, 2023