How to merge PDFs on Mac
Six attachments into one document, in the order you choose. Free in Verso, and nothing is uploaded.
Applications, submissions, tenders and claims all end the same way: six separate files that need to arrive as one document, in a specific order.
Merging is free and always will be. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing is watermarked.
Merge, step by step
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Open Merge PDFs
From the document actions panel, under Pages.
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Add the documents
Choose the files, or drag them in. Add as many as you need.
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Put them in order
Drag the entries into the order the finished document should read. This is the step worth being careful about — checking now is much quicker than reordering ninety pages afterwards.
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Merge
The documents are combined into one. The originals are untouched.
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Check and save
Look through the thumbnails to confirm the joins landed where you expected, then ⌘+S.
What merging keeps, and what it does not
| Carried over | Not carried over |
|---|---|
| Every page, exactly as it was | The individual documents' own titles and keywords |
| Annotations on those pages | Links that pointed inside one of the source documents |
| Form fields, though names can collide | Any password on a source document |
| Each document's own outline, usually as a section | A single tidy outline for the whole — that needs building |
If you merge two copies of the same form, both sets of fields may share names, and a value typed into one can appear in the other. If the merged document is going out to be filled in, check the fields afterwards — or fill each copy before merging and flatten them.
Getting the order right
Most merge mistakes are ordering mistakes made before the merge. Two habits prevent almost all of them:
- Name files so they sort. 01-cover.pdf, 02-statement.pdf, 03-accounts.pdf. They then arrive in the merge list already in order.
- Check the first page of each entry, not just the filename. The file called “final” is not always the final one.
Inserting rather than merging
Merging joins whole documents end to end. When you need another document's pages in the middle of this one — two pages of terms dropped into a contract at the right point — insert them instead. It is a different command and a better fit.
Why doing it locally matters
Combining documents is the single most common reason people reach for an online tool, and it means uploading whatever they contain to somebody else's server. A tender, a set of accounts, a medical bundle and a legal exhibit are all documents where that is not acceptable. Merging here happens on your Mac; nothing is uploaded and there is no account.
Frequently asked questions
How do I combine PDFs on a Mac?
Open Merge PDFs in Verso, add the files, drag them into the order you want, and merge. It is free and nothing is uploaded.
Is merging PDFs free?
Yes, permanently, with no account and no watermark. So is splitting, reordering and every other page operation.
Do my annotations survive a merge?
Yes. Marks stay with the pages they were on.
What happens to the outline when I merge?
Each document's own outline usually comes across as a section. A single tidy outline across the whole merged document is something you build afterwards.
Can I merge a password-protected PDF?
You need to open it first, which means having the password. The protection does not carry into the merged document — apply it again afterwards if the result needs it.
How do I put pages in the middle rather than at the end?
Use Add Pages from a PDF, which inserts another document's pages at a point you choose.
Does merging upload my documents anywhere?
No. It happens on your Mac. Turn off your Wi-Fi and it still works.