How to Merge PDF Files on iPhone

Your accountant needs all your tax documents in one file. Your professor wants the assignment submitted as a single PDF. Your real estate agent is asking for combined bank statements. None of these people care that you only have an iPhone, they just want one PDF file. The App Store has options, but most charge subscription fees, require you to upload your PDF files to a server, or plaster watermarks on your documents.

PDFGadget runs entirely in Safari (or any browser on your iPhone). No app installation eating up your storage, no account creation, no monthly fees. Select your PDFs from the Files app, iCloud Drive, or anywhere else on your device, and combine them in seconds.

💡 When iPhone users need to merge PDFs

Combining photos of receipts scanned with your iPhone camera
Merging email attachments without downloading them to a computer
Putting together documents stored across iCloud Drive and local storage
Creating a single portfolio from PDFs received via AirDrop
Assembling paperwork while traveling with only your phone

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open PDFGadget in Safari

Navigate to pdfgadget.com/merge-pdf in Safari on your iPhone. The page loads quickly and the interface adjusts for mobile screens. Chrome and other iOS browsers work too.

💡 Pro tip: Tap the Share button in Safari and select "Add to Home Screen." This creates an app-like icon that opens PDFGadget instantly whenever you need it. After the first visit, it even works offline.

Step 2: Tap to Select Files

Tap the upload area. iOS opens the file picker, showing your recent files, iCloud Drive, and any connected services like Google Drive or Dropbox. To select multiple PDFs, tap "Browse," navigate to your files, then tap "Select" in the upper right and choose each file.

Step 3: Arrange Your Files

Your selected PDFs appear as cards with preview thumbnails. Touch and hold a card, then drag it to reorder. The file at the top becomes the first pages of your merged document.

Step 4: Tap Merge

Hit the Merge button. Your iPhone processes the files locally, nothing uploads to the internet. Larger files take a moment longer. The screen shows progress so you know it's working.

Step 5: Save or Share

When complete, tap Download. iOS opens the pdf. Select the share button to save to Files, share via AirDrop, send through Messages or Mail, or upload directly to cloud storage. The merged PDF is ready to use immediately.

Finding Your PDFs on iPhone

iPhones store PDFs in various places. Here's where to look:

Files App - The default location for downloads and saved documents. Check "On My iPhone" and "iCloud Drive."
Mail Attachments - Long-press an email attachment, then "Save to Files" before merging.
Safari Downloads - Tap the download icon (arrow in a circle) in Safari to see recent downloads.
Photos App - If you scanned documents with Notes or a scanning app, they might be in Photos. Export as PDF first.
Cloud Storage Apps - Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive appear in the file picker if their apps are installed.

Why Not Use an App?

PDF merging apps exist, but PDFGadget offers advantages for iPhone users:

No Storage Used - Apps take up precious iPhone storage. PDFGadget runs in Safari and takes zero space.
No Subscription - Most PDF apps want $10-50/year. PDFGadget is completely free, no strings attached.
No Account - Skip the sign-up screens. Just open the page and merge.
Privacy First - Your files process on your iPhone, not on someone else's server. Sensitive documents stay private.
Works Offline - After loading once, the tool functions without internet. Merge PDFs on a plane or subway.
Same on Every Device - Switch to iPad, Mac, or any other device and the experience is identical.

After Merging

Your combined PDF downloads to the location you choose. From there:

Email it - Open Mail, compose a message, and attach the merged file
AirDrop it - Share instantly to nearby Apple devices
Compress it - If the file is large, use Compress PDF to shrink it for email
Password protect it - Add security with Password Protect before sending sensitive documents

Troubleshooting

Can't find my PDF in the file picker

Check that you're looking in the right location, tap "Browse" to navigate folders rather than relying on Recents. If a file was emailed to you, save it to Files first by long-pressing the attachment in Mail.

Files won't select in the picker

Make sure you're selecting PDFs, not images or other file types. If selecting multiple files, tap "Select" in the upper right first, then tap each file to add a checkmark.

Merged file is huge

Original file sizes add up. Run the result through our Compress PDF tool to reduce size. This is especially helpful for emailing merged documents.

Safari freezes or crashes

Very large files can strain browser memory. Close other Safari tabs to free resources. If the problem persists, try merging fewer files at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this work on iPad too?

Absolutely. The interface adapts to iPad's larger screen, making file management even easier. Same Safari experience, same privacy.

Can I merge PDFs from my camera roll?

Photos need to be converted to PDF first. Use the Notes app to scan documents, which saves directly as PDF, or use our Image to PDF tool to convert photos.

Do my files upload to your servers?

No. All processing happens locally on your iPhone using Safari's JavaScript engine. Your PDFs never leave your device. Test this by turning on airplane mode after the page loads.

Is there a file size or page limit?

No artificial limits. Your iPhone's available memory sets the practical ceiling. Most users merge dozens of files without issues.

Why can't I select files from Google Drive?

Make sure the Google Drive app is installed on your iPhone. Once installed, it appears as an option in the iOS file picker alongside iCloud Drive.

Can I merge password-protected PDFs?

Only if they're unlocked. Open the protected PDF elsewhere, enter the password, and save an unprotected copy. Then merge that copy.

Merge PDFs Right From Safari