How to merge PDFs and images into one PDF on Mac

Option 1: combine pages in Preview

1. 1

   Protect the starting PDF

   Open the first PDF in Preview and choose File → Duplicate. Work on that copy: Preview can save changes automatically.

2. 2

   Show page thumbnails

   Choose View → Thumbnails. Open another PDF with thumbnails visible, then drag the required thumbnails into the destination sidebar. To insert a whole PDF, drag its Finder icon into the sidebar.

3. 3

   Add images as PDF pages

   To add an image, open it in Preview and use File → Export with PDF as the format. Insert that PDF into your working document. Repeat for the images you need.

4. 4

   Order and save

   Drag thumbnails into the intended sequence and rotate sideways pages if needed. Save the combined copy with a clear filename, then reopen it to check the result.

Option 2: combine the Finder selection with NeatClick

Use Combine PDFs… for PDF-only input and Combine into PDF… for a compatible mix of PDFs and images.

1. Put the required files in a staging folder. Names such as 01-cover.pdf, 02-application.pdf, and 03-receipt.jpg make the intended sequence easier to review.
2. Select the inputs, right-click → NeatClick, and choose the appropriate combine action. Check the file order in the window that opens. It may differ from the order in which you selected the files.
3. Run the action and open the new PDF. NeatClick keeps the source files, so you can rebuild the package if an input was missing or out of order.

Count the pages to catch missing files

For a one-page cover, a three-page form, and two ordinary single-image receipts, expect six pages. If you see five or seven, inspect the inputs and output thumbnails rather than assuming the merge is correct.

Check the last page of each source at each join. This catches accidental omissions more reliably than reading only the first and final pages of the combined file.

Fix common assembly problems

If an image page appears much larger than the others, distinguish its page dimensions from its stored file size. Resize or prepare the image page before merging if consistent printed page sizes matter. Check that text on photographed receipts remains legible.

An encrypted input may need to be unlocked before processing. Merging signed PDFs can affect digital-signature validation, and forms may not behave the same after assembly; retain the originals and test any required fields in the final package.

Compress only after the order is correct

Merging is not a compression step. If the receiving portal has a size limit, finish the assembly, make a compressed delivery copy, and recheck readability and page count. If searchable text matters, search across pages from different source files.

• Apple: combine PDFs and protect originals in Preview

Frequently asked questions