How to merge PDFs on an iPhone without installing an app

Merging in Safari

1. Open this page in Safari, or any browser on your iPhone.
2. Tap choose PDFs in the tool above. The Files app opens.
3. Select the PDFs. Tap Browse to find them in iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or a folder where you saved attachments.
4. Put them in order with the arrows. The order in the list is the page order in the merged file.
5. Tap Merge PDFs. The merged file downloads to the Files app.

The PDFs are read and combined inside Safari, so once you have used it with a connection it keeps working on a flight with no signal, and none of your documents is sent anywhere.

The Files app can do it too

iOS has its own way, and it is worth knowing. In the Files app, tap Select, choose the PDFs and images, tap the menu with three dots, and choose Create PDF. It combines them in the order selected.

It is quick for a couple of files. The merger above is easier when you need to see and change the order before combining, or when you want to compress or split the result straight afterwards.

Photos and scans in the mix

If some of the documents are photos, such as a photographed ID or a receipt, turn them into a PDF first with JPG to PDF. It takes iPhone HEIC photos directly, lets you choose A4 or Letter pages, and keeps the file small. Then merge that PDF with the others here.

If the merged file is too big

Email and upload forms often cap attachments. Run the merged file through the PDF compressor using To a size, type the limit, and it finds the sharpest version that fits. Compress after merging rather than before, so you only check one size.

Taking pages out again

To send only some pages, or split one PDF into several, use the PDF splitter. It also runs in Safari with nothing uploaded.