How to merge PDF files on Windows 11 and 10
Quick answer
Windows has no built-in way to combine PDFs — Edge and Microsoft Print to PDF can open and print them, but not join them. Use a desktop PDF merger such as PDF Merger And Splitter to merge offline, or an online tool for non-sensitive files.
Can Windows merge PDFs by itself?
No. Windows 11 and 10 include Microsoft Edge, which opens PDFs, and the Microsoft Print to PDF printer, which creates them — but neither can combine several PDFs into one file.
There is one workaround if your source files are Word documents rather than PDFs: open the first document in Word, choose Insert › Object › Text from File, add the other documents, then save the result as a single PDF. It only works for Word files, and complex layouts can shift when documents are combined.
Method 1: Merge PDFs offline with PDF Merger And Splitter
A small desktop app is the quickest option when you merge PDFs regularly, or when the files are private.
- Install PDF Merger And Splitter from the Microsoft Store and open Merge PDF.
- Click Add files, or drag PDFs — or whole folders — onto the window. Folders are searched for PDFs for you.
- Drag the rows into the order you want the pages to appear.
- Click Merge. The merged PDF is saved to your output folder and can open automatically.
Nothing is uploaded, so there is no file-size limit and no waiting for uploads and downloads.
Method 2: Merge only some pages, with bookmarks
If you need just a few pages from each file — say pages 1–3 of a contract and the signature page of another — use Office File Manager. Its Merge tool lets you set a page range for each file and adds a bookmark per file, so the combined PDF is easy to navigate.
Method 3: Online merge tools
Websites that merge PDFs work on any computer and need no install, which makes them fine for a one-off merge of non-sensitive files. The trade-offs: every file is uploaded to someone else's server, free plans often limit file size or the number of merges per day, and large files take time to upload and download again. For contracts, bank statements, ID documents or medical records, merging on your own PC avoids the question entirely. See the full comparison.
Tips for a clean merged PDF
- Number your files (01-cover.pdf, 02-invoice.pdf…) so they sort into the right order straight away.
- Check the page count after merging — it should equal the pages of all the files added together.
- Too big to email? Run the merged file through Compress PDF. Scanned pages shrink the most.
- Need the reverse? Split PDF pulls pages back out into separate files.
Questions
Can I merge PDFs in Microsoft Edge?
No. Edge can view, annotate and print PDFs, but it cannot combine several PDFs into one file.
Can I merge PDFs with Microsoft Print to PDF?
No. Print to PDF creates a PDF from one document at a time; it cannot join existing PDFs.
Is there a free way to merge PDFs offline?
PDF Merger And Splitter has a free trial on the Microsoft Store, after which it is a one-time purchase. Online tools are free with limits but require uploading your files.
