How to Merge PDF Files on iPhone and iPad
On an iPhone you can combine PDFs for free in the Files app: select them, tap More and choose Create PDF. File Acture's Merge PDFs does it in an order you set by dragging the files, names the result and leaves the originals untouched, all on the device.
Updated October 31, 20264 min read
By the File Acture team
A cover letter and a CV, a contract and its annexes, three scans of the same form: an upload field usually wants one PDF, and the pieces are on your phone. Here is the built-in way to combine them on an iPhone or iPad, where it falls short, and how to merge them in exactly the order you want.
How to combine PDFs in the Files app
Open the Files app and go to the folder with your PDFs. Tap More (the circle with three dots), choose Select, tap the files, then tap More at the bottom and choose Create PDF. A new PDF appears in the same folder.
It's free and quick, but you don't put the files in order before it combines them, and the files have to be in the same folder. Open the result and check the page order before you send it.
How to merge PDF files with File Acture on iPhone
Open Merge PDFs and tap Add from Files to pick two or more PDFs; you can pick them from different folders, iCloud Drive or another storage app. The files appear in a list in the order you added them.
To change the order, touch and hold a file and drag it up or down. Under Result, type a File name for the combined PDF, then tap Merge.
The pages are copied as they are, so text stays selectable and images aren't re-encoded. The first file is the base: its bookmarks and title are kept, and the pages of the others follow with their links and comments.
Can you merge photos and PDFs together?
Merge PDFs takes PDFs only. Photos of receipts or pages are better scanned with Scan Document on File Acture’s home screen: the camera straightens each page and saves one PDF, which you can then merge with the rest. Here is how scanning works.
What to check before merging
A few things decide whether the merged PDF is ready to send.
- Locked files: a PDF that needs a password to open has to be unlocked first; File Acture says which file is protected.
- Bookmarks: only the first file's bookmarks are kept, so put the file with the table of contents first.
- Size: a merged file is about as large as all the inputs together. If it is too big for an email or a form, shrink it with Compress PDF.
- How many files: the free version merges up to 5 PDFs per run, 5 runs a day. Pro removes the limits.
Where is the merged PDF saved?
In the Files app, in On My iPhone › File Acture › PDF (On My iPad on an iPad). Tap Share next to the result to send it straight away. The PDFs you started with are not changed or moved.
Is it safe to merge PDFs online?
A website that merges PDFs needs every file uploaded first, and these are often the documents you'd least like to share: contracts, statements, ID papers. File Acture merges on the iPhone itself, and the free version sends nothing about your files when it counts a run.
How to merge PDFs on iPhone with File Acture
- 1
Open the tool
Open File Acture and tap Merge PDFs.
- 2
Add the PDFs
Tap Add from Files and choose two or more PDFs.
- 3
Set the order
Touch and hold a file and drag it to where its pages should go.
- 4
Name the result
Under Result, type a File name.
- 5
Merge and share
Tap Merge, then Share to send the combined PDF.
Merge PDFs in the order you want, right on your iPhone.
Free to try · on iPhone and iPad
| Method | Set the order first | Files from different folders | Originals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files app, Create PDF | No | No, one folder | Unchanged, new file |
| File Acture Merge PDFs | Yes, drag the list | Yes | Unchanged, new file |
Questions
How do I combine PDF files on my iPhone for free?
In the Files app, select the PDFs, tap More and choose Create PDF. File Acture also merges for free, up to 5 PDFs per run and 5 runs a day.
How do I merge PDFs in a specific order on iPhone?
In File Acture, touch and hold a file in the list and drag it into place before you tap Merge. The pages follow the order of the list.
Does merging PDFs reduce quality?
No. File Acture copies the pages as they are, without re-encoding images or turning text into pictures.
Can I merge password-protected PDFs?
Unlock them first with the password you know, then merge the unlocked copies.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. File Acture runs on iPhone and iPad, and the merged PDF is saved under On My iPad › File Acture › PDF.