Key takeaways
- Open Merge PDF in your phone browser, add your PDFs, arrange them and press merge. There is nothing to install.
- Save your files to the phone first, so you can pick them from the file chooser.
- You can choose which pages to take from each file before merging.
- Merging happens on your phone, so the files are not uploaded.
Why use the browser instead of an app
Many people need to merge PDFs on the go: forms for a visa or a job, receipts for an expense claim, class notes before an exam. Installing an app for one small task is slow, and some apps ask you to sign up or show a lot of ads. A browser tool needs only a few taps.
Merge PDFs on your phone in six steps
- Save the PDFs to your phone. If they arrived in a chat or an email, download them so they are stored on the device.
- Open [Merge PDF](/merge-pdf) in your phone browser.
- Tap to add files and choose your PDFs from the file chooser. You can add more than one.
- Check the preview of each file so you know which is which, and arrange them in the order you want.
- If you only need some pages, choose the pages to keep from each file.
- Press merge and download the combined PDF.
After downloading, find the file in your phone's Downloads or Files area and open it to check it.
On an iPhone
Use Safari or another browser. Downloaded files usually go to the Files app. When the tool asks you to pick files, choose from Files, and look in Downloads. If your PDFs are in iCloud Drive, make sure they are downloaded to the device before you pick them.
On an Android phone
Use Chrome or another browser. When the file chooser opens, look in Downloads or in the folder where your chat app saves documents. If you cannot see your files, open the menu in the chooser and switch to the Documents or Downloads view.
Tips for a clean result on a small screen
- Rename files with 01, 02, 03 first so the order is obvious.
- Merge in the final order so you do not have to do it twice.
- If the merged file is too big to send, shrink it with Compress PDF. The size guide is in How to compress a PDF for email and applications.
- If one PDF needs a password to open, remove the password first with Unlock PDF.
If something goes wrong
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| I cannot find my files in the chooser | Check the Downloads folder, or download the file again first |
| A file will not open for merging | It may be password protected. Unlock it first |
| The pages are in the wrong order | Reorder the files and merge again from the originals |
| The merged file is huge | Compress it, or remove pages you do not need |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to install an app to merge PDFs on my phone?
No. Merge PDF works in your phone browser.
Does it work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes. It runs in the browser on both. Use the file chooser to pick PDFs saved on your phone.
Are my PDFs uploaded?
No. The merging happens on your phone and the files are not uploaded.
Can I merge only some pages of a PDF?
Yes. Choose the pages to include from each file before you merge.
How do I find the merged file afterwards?
Look in your phone's Downloads folder or the Files app, depending on your phone.