How to merge PDFs on a Mac in exactly the order you want
Finder merges PDFs in an order that is not always the one you clicked. How to control the order when combining PDFs on a Mac, and fix it after.
The problem
You select five PDFs in Finder, choose Create PDF, and the result is in a different order from the one you wanted. The cover is page 9.
What order does Finder use when combining PDFs?
The order the files are shown in the Finder window, not the order you clicked them. Sorted by date, they merge by date; sorted by name, by name.
How do I merge PDFs in a set order with Finder?
- Rename the files with a number at the start: 01 Cover, 02 Letter, 03 Statement.
- In Finder, choose View > as List and sort by Name.
- Select them all, Control click, and choose Quick Actions > Create PDF.
Use 01, 02 rather than 1, 2 once you have ten or more files, so 10 does not sort before 2.
How do I merge PDFs in Preview where I can see the order?
Open the first PDF, choose View > Thumbnails, and drag the other files into the sidebar where each belongs. Drag pages until the order is right, then choose File > Export as PDF. The merge guide has every free method.
How do I change the order after merging?
Open the merged PDF in Preview with thumbnails showing, drag the pages into place, and save.
Our take
Number the files even when you plan to merge in Preview. Numbered names are a record of the order you meant, which helps the day someone asks why page 4 is where it is, and they make the next merge of the same set one click.
In Simply PDF
Simply PDF's Merge is free. It shows the files as a list you drag into order, merges them in that order, and adds a bookmark for each file.
Questions
What order does Finder use when combining PDFs?
The order the files are shown in the Finder window. Sort by name and number the files to control it.
How do I change the order after merging?
Open the merged PDF in Preview, show thumbnails, drag the pages into order and save.