Drop PDF files here
or choose them from your device. Add as many as you need, then put them in order.
Files to join, in this order
Use the arrows to change the order. The first file in the list comes first in the joined file.
Starting…
Your files stay on this device
The page reads your files into memory in this tab and does the work there. Nothing is uploaded, emailed or copied to a server. The page’s security setting (a Content Security Policy) also stops it from sending anything out, and its libraries load from the same site as the page.
- No waiting queue and no cloud folder.
- Press Reset or close the tab, and the files are gone from memory.
- You can test it: switch the wifi off once the page has loaded, and it still works.
How merging works in your browser
A library called pdf-lib opens each file in this tab and copies its pages, as they are, into a new file. The text stays selectable and nothing is turned into a picture. When the new file is saved, the page opens it again and counts the pages before offering it to you.
What comes along and what does not
The pages, their text, pictures and links to websites come along. The document details of the original files (the title, the author and the program that made them) are left behind. Bookmarks and fillable form fields are not carried over. Comments on the pages do come along.
What this tool cannot do
It cannot open a PDF file that is protected by a password. Very large files can use up the memory of the browser tab, which is a limit of the device, not a quota.
Questions and answers
How do I merge PDF files without uploading them?
Drop the PDF files on this page, use the arrows to put them in order and press Merge PDF files. The joining happens inside your browser tab. To see it for yourself, switch the wifi off after the page has loaded: it still works.
Is there a limit on the number of files or pages?
There is no set limit. The only limit is the memory of your device and browser tab, so hundreds of pages usually work, and very large picture-heavy files can be slow.
Will the text still be selectable?
Yes. Pages are copied as they are, not turned into pictures, so the text stays selectable and searchable.
Does the merged file keep the author and other hidden details?
The document details of the original files, such as the title and author, are not carried over. Comments and notes on the pages do come along. To see and remove those, use Remove metadata from a PDF file.
Who made this?
UtilForge makes it. UtilForge is a website of free cybersecurity tools and small calculators. The About page explains why the tools were made, and the Contact page is the way to reach us.
Is this a scam site?
A person does not have to take UtilForge's word for it, so here are things to check. This page does not ask for payment, an account or card details. The merger is free. UtilForge also sells optional packs of tools separately, on Gumroad, and this tool works without them. The page carries a security setting (a Content Security Policy, a rule the browser enforces) that forbids it from sending anything out, so your files cannot be uploaded from here. To test it, open the page, switch the wifi off and use the tool. It carries on working, because the page and its libraries are already on your device.
What happens when I close the page?
Nothing is kept. While the page is open, your files sit in the memory of the browser tab. The page does not use cookies, local storage, session storage or IndexedDB (the browser's built-in database), and it puts nothing about your files in the page address. Closing the tab, or pressing Reset, drops them from memory. The one thing that stays is a file you save yourself with the Download button. Your original files are never changed.
Does it cost anything, and do I need to sign in?
No. The merger is free, and you can start straight away. UtilForge also sells optional packs separately, such as Redaction Studio ($29 to own) and Family Safety Tools (pay what you want, including nothing). This tool does not need either.
Handling private documents at work?
The Artificial Intelligence Tools for Work pack puts the document checks in one folder on your own computer, so they work with the internet off.