How to Merge PDFs on Windows
Windows doesn't have a built-in PDF merger. Here's the fastest free way — no Adobe, no install, works in Chrome and Edge.
Windows doesn't have a built-in PDF merger
Unlike macOS (which has Preview), Windows 10 and 11 don't include any way to merge PDFs out of the box. Microsoft Edge can view PDFs and add basic annotations, but it can't combine multiple PDF files.
Your options are:
- Adobe Acrobat — works great, but $19.99–29.99/month
- Free online tools — most upload your files to a server
- PrivaPDF — free, no upload, runs entirely in your browser
How to merge PDFs on Windows using PrivaPDF
Go to privapdf.net/tools in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. No account or download needed.
Drag the PDF files from File Explorer onto the page, or click to browse. All processing happens locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded to a server.
Drag the file thumbnails to arrange them in the order you want. The first file will be the first pages of the merged PDF.
Click Merge PDFs. The combined file downloads directly to your Downloads folder.
Other free options for merging PDFs on Windows
PDF24 Creator (desktop app)
PDF24 offers a free Windows desktop app that can merge PDFs without an internet connection. It's a larger download (~100MB) but works offline once installed.
Online tools (iLovePDF, Smallpdf)
These work well but upload your files to their servers. For non-sensitive documents this is fine. For anything confidential, use PrivaPDF's browser-based approach instead.
Frequently asked questions
Does Windows 11 have a PDF merger?
No. Windows 11 (like Windows 10) can view PDFs in Edge and print to PDF, but has no built-in merger. You need a third-party tool.
Can I merge PDFs in Microsoft Edge?
Edge cannot merge PDFs. It can only view them and add annotations. For merging, you need a dedicated tool like PrivaPDF.
Does PrivaPDF work offline on Windows?
Yes — once the page has loaded, you can disconnect from the internet and the merge tool will still work. The WebAssembly engine runs entirely in your browser.
Is there a file size limit?
Because processing happens in your browser, the practical limit depends on your device's available RAM. Modern Windows PCs handle large PDFs (100+ pages, 50+ MB) without issues.