Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Combine Files into One PDF in Adobe Acrobat (2026 UPDATE)

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This tutorial shows how to combine PDFs and other files, such as images, Microsoft Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets, into one PDF in Adobe Acrobat on both PC and Mac.

First, we will look at how to combine files without opening specific PDFs. Then, we will look at how to combine files with open PDFs.

Important Note: Non-PDF files will be converted to the PDF format once combined in Acrobat.

Table of Contents

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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.

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.”

How to Combine Files Without Opening PDFs

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

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Hover your cursor over the Create button at the top of the screen.
  3. Select Combine files in the drop-down menu.
  4. Select the Add Files button in the Combine Files screen.
  5. Locate and select the files you want to combine in the Add Files dialog box
Pro Tip: Press and hold the Ctrl key (PC) or Command key (Mac) to select multiple files.
  1. Select the Open button (PC) or Add Files button (Mac).
  2. The files will appear in the Combine files screen.
  3. (Optional) Select Add files to add additional files.
  4. Select Options.
  5. Ensure that Save as PDF Portfolio and Always delete source files after combining are not checked.
  6. Select the OK button.

Pro Tip: How to Combine Specific Pages

  1. Hover your cursor over the thumbnail and then select Expand Document in the shortcut menu.
  2. Hover your cursor over pages you don’t want to include and then press Delete in the shortcut menu.

Alternatively, click, hold, and drag your cursor to select multiple pages at once and then select Delete in the global toolbar.

  1. Select the Collapse Document button next to the first thumbnail to close the file.

Important Note: Deleting pages here will not delete them in the original file.

  1. Select the Combine as button.
  2. Select Combine files into a PDF in the drop-down menu.

The combined files should open as one PDF called “Binder1.”

  1. Select Menu (PC) or File (Mac) and Save to save the new combined PDF under a more specific name than Binder.

Pro Tip: How to Reorganize the Pages

  1. Select All tools in the global toolbar if the All tools pane is not already open.
  2. Select Organize pages in the All tools pane.
  3. Click, hold, and drag pages into a new order.

How to Combine Files With Open PDFs

This method is best if you have opened PDFs that you want to combine together or with other files.

  1. Open one or more PDFs in Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Hover your cursor over the Create button at the top of the screen.
  3. Select Combine files in the drop-down menu.
  4. Select Add Open Files in the Combine files screen.
  5. Select the files in the Open PDF Files dialog box.
Pro Tip: Press and hold Ctrl (PC) or Command (Mac) to select multiple files.
  1. Select the Add Files button.

The selected files should appear in the Combine files screen.

  1. Select Add files in the global toolbar to add additional files.
  2. Select Add files in the drop-down menu.
  3. Locate and select the files you want to combine in the Add Files dialog box.
  4. Select the Open button (PC) or Add Files button (Mac).
  5. Select Options in the global toolbar.
  6. Ensure that Save as PDF Portfolio and Always delete source files after combining are not checked.
  7. Select the OK button.
  8. Select the Combine as button.
  9. Select Combine files into a PDF in the drop-down menu.
  10. Select Menu (PC) or File (Mac) and Save to save the new combined PDF under a more specific name than Binder.

Pro Tip: Other Ways to Access the Combine Files Option

The Combine files option is also available in the All tools pane and in the main menu accessible under Menu (PC) or File (Mac).

Related Resources

How to Extract Pages from PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (Updated Interface)

How to Crop Pages in Adobe Acrobat (Updated Interface)