How to Merge PDF Files on Mac: 3 Easy Ways

Sending one file is easier than sending five. Here are three ways to combine PDFs on a Mac, from the hidden built-in trick to the fastest option.

Method 1: Finder Quick Actions

1. 1Select the PDFs in Finder (hold ⌘ to pick several).
2. 2Right-click and choose Quick Actions → Create PDF.
3. 3A new combined PDF appears in the same folder.

Method 2: Preview

1. 1Open the first PDF in Preview.
2. 2Choose View → Thumbnails to show the sidebar.
3. 3Drag the other PDFs from Finder into the sidebar, where you want them.
4. 4Drag thumbnails to reorder pages, then choose File → Export as PDF.

Method 3: Merge PDF in a couple of clicks

Our free Merge PDF tool lets you add files, drag them into order and download one PDF. It runs in your browser without uploading anything.

ilovepdfmac for Mac does the same offline, with page previews, and lets you reorder pages across files before merging.

Good to know

• Merging doesn't reduce quality — pages are copied exactly.
• Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first.
• Huge result? Compress it afterwards.