The PDF Merging Tax
You are applying for a mortgage, and the bank asks you to upload your ID and your bank statements. The web portal only allows you to upload a single file, but you have your ID as one PDF and your statements as a second PDF.
You need to merge the two files together. If you Google “How to merge PDFs,” the results are terrible. Half the links point to Adobe Acrobat, which demands a monthly subscription fee just to perform this basic task. The other half point to sketchy, ad-filled websites that ask you to upload your sensitive financial documents to their random server to process the merge.
If you own a Mac, you do not need to pay Adobe, and you do not need to upload your data to the internet. Apple built a powerful PDF editor directly into the operating system. It is called Preview, and it can merge PDFs flawlessly in about ten seconds.
How to Combine PDFs Using Preview
Preview is the default app that opens whenever you double-click an image or a PDF on your Mac.
- Locate your two PDF files on your desktop (e.g.,
ID.pdfandStatements.pdf). - Double-click the first file (
ID.pdf). It will open in the Preview app.
Step 1: Reveal the Sidebar
To merge files, you need to see the “pages” view.
- Look at the very top-left corner of the Preview window, right next to the red/yellow/green window buttons. You will see a small square icon with a sidebar.
- Click that icon and select Thumbnails from the dropdown menu.
A sidebar will slide out on the left, showing a tiny preview of the page (your ID).
Step 2: Drag and Drop to Merge
This is where the magic happens.
- Leave the Preview window open, but move it slightly so you can see your desktop.
- Click and hold the second file on your desktop (
Statements.pdf). - Drag that file directly into the left sidebar of the Preview window.
- Make sure you drop it exactly below the thumbnail of your first page. (You will see a green plus sign appear on your cursor, indicating it is adding the file).
Let go of the mouse. Instantly, all the pages from your bank statements will appear in the sidebar directly beneath your ID. The two files are now merged into one continuous document.
Step 3: Reorder and Delete Pages
Because you are now working with one master document in the sidebar, you have total control.
- To reorder pages: Click and drag a thumbnail up or down in the sidebar to change the page order. (e.g., move the bank statement to page 1, and the ID to page 2).
- To delete a page: Click a thumbnail in the sidebar to highlight it, and press the Delete key on your keyboard to instantly remove it from the document.
Step 4: Save the Merged File
Once the document looks exactly how you want it, simply close the window (click the red X in the top left). Preview automatically saves the changes to the original file.
Note: If you want to keep your original ID.pdf intact and create a brand new file for the merged version, go to the menu bar at the top of the screen and click File > Export as PDF… before closing the window.
Conclusion
Never pay a monthly subscription fee for basic PDF manipulation. By utilizing the hidden power of the macOS Preview sidebar, you can merge, reorder, and edit sensitive PDF documents locally on your hard drive, keeping your data secure and your wallet full.