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Step-by-Step Guide to Merging PDFs | Rune

Step-by-Step Guide to Merging PDFs | Rune

Complete step-by-step guide to merging PDF files online. Learn every feature of Rune's PDF Merge tool with examples.

2 min read

PDF merging is simple, but understanding all the options helps you get the best results. Here's a complete step-by-step guide to using Rune's PDF Merge tool.

Step 1: Open the Tool

Navigate to Rune's PDF Merge in your web browser. No login or account required—the tool loads immediately.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF Files

Option A: Drag and Drop

  1. Locate your PDF files on your computer.
  2. Select all files you want to merge.
  3. Drag them onto the upload area.
  4. Files appear in a list.

Option B: Click to Browse

  1. Click the upload area.
  2. Navigate to your files.
  3. Select multiple files (hold Ctrl/Cmd to select several).
  4. Click Open.

Step 3: Arrange Files in Order

Once uploaded, your files appear in a list. The merged PDF will follow this exact order (top to bottom).

How to Reorder

  • Drag and drop: Click and drag any file up or down.
  • Visual feedback: The order in the list = the order in your merged PDF.

Example Order

  1. Cover_Page.pdf
  2. Table_of_Contents.pdf
  3. Chapter_1.pdf
  4. Chapter_2.pdf
  5. Appendix.pdf

Step 4: Configure Options

Compression

  • Enable: Reduces file size, good for email attachments.
  • Disable: Maintains original quality, larger file.

Preserve Metadata

  • Enable: Keeps author, title, date from original files.
  • Disable: Clean metadata in merged file.

Step 5: Merge

Click the "Merge PDFs" button. Processing happens instantly in your browser.

Step 6: Download

Once merged, a download button appears. Click to save your combined PDF.

Step 7: Verify

Open the downloaded PDF and check:

  • All pages are present.
  • Order is correct.
  • Quality is acceptable.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue Solution
File won't upload Ensure it's a valid PDF
Wrong order Drag to rearrange before merging
File too large Enable compression
Missing pages Check source files

Pro Tips

  • Name files with numbers (01_Introduction.pdf) for easier ordering.
  • Test with small files first to understand the workflow.
  • Enable compression for email attachments or limited storage.
  • Preserve metadata for professional or legal documents.

Conclusion

PDF merging with Rune is straightforward: upload, arrange, merge, download. Try Rune's PDF Merge to combine your documents in seconds.