How to Insert Files into Existing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac)

This tutorial shows two ways to insert files into existing PDFs in Adobe Acrobat.

The first method uses the Page Thumbnails panel. This method allows you to insert files from within the main document window. The second way uses the Organize Pages toolbar. This method requires you to leave the main document window but provides an easier interface for rearranging pages.

Quick Links:

How to Insert Files Using the Page Thumbnails Panel
How to Insert Files Using the Organize Pages Toolbar

The inserted files can be PDFs, images, or files from another application on your computer such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel.

Important Note: The inserted files will be converted to the PDF format. So, files with interactive properties (such as Excel files) will be “flattened” to a text format. (However, the original file will not be affected.)

If you want to merge files without converting them to PDFs, please see “How to Create a PDF Portfolio in Adobe Acrobat.” In addition, you can attach files without converting them to PDFs, as shown in “How to Attach Files to PDFs in Adobe Acrobat.”

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 200 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. These steps also apply to Adobe Acrobat 2020 and Adobe Acrobat 2017. Plus, the steps are similar for PC and Mac. The slight differences between the two platforms will be explained within the individual steps.

Adobe’s free PDF display software, Acrobat Reader, does not have a tool for inserting files into PDFs.

How to Insert Files Using the Page Thumbnails Panel

Open the PDF into which you want to insert the file.
Select the Page Thumbnails icon.

Page Thumbnails icon in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 1. Page Thumbnails icon

Pro Tip: If you don’t see the Page Thumbnails icon, select the Navigation pane open arrow on the left side of the screen.

Navigation Pane open arrow in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 2. Navigation pane open arrow

Select the Options button in the Page Thumbnails panel.

Options button in the Page Thumbnails panel in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 3. Options button

Select Insert Pages from the drop-down menu.

Insert Pages option in the Options menu in the Page Thumbnails panel in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 4. Insert Pages option

Select From File from the submenu.

From File option in the Options menu in the Page Thumbnails panel in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 5. From File option

Locate and select the file in the Select File To Insert dialog box.

Selected file in the Select File To Insert dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 6. Selected file

Pro Tip for Mac Users: If the file is grayed out, select the Options button and then select All Files in the Show menu.

Options button and Show menu in the Select File To Insert dialog box on Mac — Figure 7. Options button and Show menu (Mac)

Select the Open button (PC) or Select button (Mac).

Open button in the Select File To Insert dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 8. Open button

Choose the location where you want to insert the file in the Insert Pages dialog box.

8.a. Select Before or After from the Location menu.

Location menu in the Insert Pages dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 9. Location menu

8.b. Select First, Last, or enter a specific page number before or after which the file will be inserted.

Page section in the Insert Pages dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 10. First, Last, or specific page option

8.c. Select the OK button.

OK button in the Insert Pages dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 11. OK button

If the inserted file came from another application, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, you will momentarily see a dialog box displaying the conversion progress.

Progress dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 12. Progress dialog box

The inserted file should appear as a new page or pages in the Page Thumbnails panel.

Pages inserted in the Page Thumbnails panel in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 13. Inserted pages

(Optional) Click, hold, and drag a page to a new location. Release the page when you see a blue bar where it should be inserted.

Moving a page in the Page Thumbnails panel in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 14. Moving a page

10. Save your PDF to save your changes.

Open the PDF into which you want to insert the file.
Select the Tools tab.

Tools tab in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 15. Tools tab

Select Organize Pages from the Tools Center.

Organize Pages button in the Tools Center in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 16. Organize Pages button

Select the Insert button in the Organize Pages toolbar.

Insert button in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 17. Insert button

Select From File from the drop-down menu.

From File option in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 18. From File option

Locate and select the file in the Select File To Insert dialog box (see figure 6).
Select the Open button (PC) or Select button (Mac). (see figure 8).
Choose the location where you want to insert the file in the Insert Pages dialog box.

8.a. Select Before or After from the Location menu (see figure 9).

8.b. Select First, Last, or enter a specific page number before or after which the file will be inserted (see figure 10).

8.c. Select the OK button (see figure 11).

If the inserted file came from another application, such as Microsoft Word or Excel, you will momentarily see a dialog box displaying the conversion progress (see figure 12).

The inserted file should appear as a new page or pages in the Organize Pages screen.