How To Join PDFs In Windows 10?

I've had to merge PDFs a bunch of times for work, and the simplest way I found is using the built-in tools in Windows 10. If you have Microsoft Word, you can open it, go to 'Insert', then 'Object', and choose 'Text from File'. Select the PDFs you want to merge, and Word will convert them into editable text. After that, you can save the whole document as a new PDF. Another option is to use free online tools like Smallpdf or PDF24, which let you drag and drop files to combine them. Just make sure you trust the site before uploading sensitive documents.

For a more permanent solution, I installed 'PDFill Free PDF Tools'. It’s lightweight and doesn’t require installation. You just run the executable, select 'Merge PDFs', add your files, and hit 'Save'. It’s straightforward and doesn’t clutter your system with bloatware. If you’re tech-savvy, you could even use command-line tools like Ghostscript, but that’s overkill for most people.

I’m all about free and easy solutions, so when I needed to merge PDFs for a school project, I discovered some neat tricks. Windows 10 has a hidden gem called 'Microsoft Print to PDF'. Open your PDFs one by one, hit Ctrl+P, and select this option. Instead of saving each as a separate file, rename the output to the same filename each time. Windows will ask if you want to replace the file—say no, and it’ll append the new pages to the existing PDF. It’s a bit manual but works without extra software.

For a more polished approach, I use 'Sejda PDF'. It’s an online tool, but you can use the desktop version if privacy is a concern. It lets you drag files into a grid, rearrange pages visually, and even delete unwanted ones before merging. The free version has a daily limit, but it’s perfect for occasional use. I also tried 'PDF Merge Tool' from the Microsoft Store—it’s barebones but does the job if you just need to smash files together quickly.

If you’re merging scanned documents, 'OCR' features can be handy. Tools like 'PDF-XChange Editor' offer this alongside merging. It recognizes text in images, making the final PDF searchable. This saved me hours when compiling research notes. Just remember to check the output for errors, especially with handwritten pages.

Merging PDFs in Windows 10 can be done in several ways, depending on how often you need to do it and your comfort level with software. My go-to method is using Adobe Acrobat DC because it’s reliable and feature-rich, but it’s not free. If you’re looking for free alternatives, 'PDFsam Basic' is a fantastic option. It’s open-source and lets you split, merge, and rotate PDFs with ease. You just install it, select the 'Merge' function, add your files, and arrange them in the order you want. It’s super user-friendly and doesn’t require any technical knowledge.

Another trick I use is printing to PDF. Open the first PDF in a reader like Edge or Adobe, then click 'Print' and choose 'Microsoft Print to PDF'. Repeat for the other files, but instead of creating new ones, select 'Append' in the print dialog if your reader supports it. This method is a bit clunky, but it works in a pinch. For bulk merging, I recommend 'Foxit PhantomPDF'. It’s faster for large batches and offers more control over the output quality.

If you’re dealing with sensitive documents and prefer offline tools, 'PDF Creator' is a solid choice. It installs as a virtual printer, so you can 'print' multiple files to it and combine them into one PDF. The interface is minimal, but it gets the job done without fuss. I’ve also heard good things about 'Nitro PDF', but haven’t tried it myself. Ultimately, the best tool depends on your needs—whether it’s speed, security, or simplicity.