How to Merge PDFs on a Mac (Preview, Finder or Browser)
Macs can combine PDF files out of the box. Here are three free methods, from quickest to most flexible.
Method 1: Finder Quick Action (fastest)
- In Finder, select all the PDFs you want to combine (hold ⌘ Command and click each one).
- Right-click (or Control-click) on the selection.
- Choose Quick Actions › Create PDF.
A new file appears in the same folder. Finder combines files in the order they are sorted in the window, so sort by name and number your files (01, 02, 03…) if the order matters.
Method 2: Preview (rearrange individual pages)
Preview is the better choice when you want control over individual pages.
- Open the first PDF in Preview.
- Choose View › Thumbnails to show the sidebar.
- Drag the other PDF files from Finder into the sidebar, dropping each one where you want its pages to go.
- Drag individual page thumbnails to reorder them, or select one and press Delete to remove it.
- Choose File › Export as PDF to save the combined document as a new file.
Tip: exporting rather than just saving keeps your original first file unchanged.
Method 3: in your browser
If you're on a work Mac with restrictions, or you just prefer a simple list, open PDF-M in Safari or Chrome, drop in your files, drag them into order and click Merge PDFs. The files are processed on your Mac and never uploaded.
Which method should I use?
| You want to… | Best method |
|---|---|
| Combine whole files quickly | Finder Quick Action |
| Remove or rearrange single pages | Preview |
| Reorder whole files easily, on any computer | PDF-M in the browser |
Troubleshooting
- Quick Actions doesn't show "Create PDF": check that only PDFs or images are selected, then look in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Extensions › Finder to make sure it's enabled.
- Preview won't let you drag pages in: the sidebar must be in Thumbnails view, not Table of Contents.