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nathand94799064
nathand94799064
Participant
February 6, 2018
Question

"Combine files in Acrobat..." Not Working

  • February 6, 2018
  • 8 replies
  • 132480 views

I recently reinstalled Adobe Acrobat Pro DC when I got a new computer. Now, when I use the "Combine files in Acrobat..." function when selecting multiple PDF files, a new instance of Adobe Acrobat starts as though I clicked on the desktop shortcut, but no documents are combined or even present in the Adobe window. How do I fix this issue?

    8 replies

    IntSol
    IntSol
    Participating Frequently
    June 25, 2025

    Combine Files worked for me until today...
    I managed to get the Combine Files to work via the following steps.

    • Open Acrobat DC.
    • Select <File> menu.
    • Select <Create> from the drop down.
    • Select <Combine Files into a Single PDF...>
    • Combile Files opens, Select <Add Files>
    • Voila...  It works...

    Every response from Adobe above is bullsh*t.
    The Combine Files option when selected outside Acrobat DC don't work.
    Once again Adobe has released their software without full functional testing.
    For which their subscribers (including the people in this forum ar paying money for).
    Fix your products Adobe!  Make sure they work 110% before you release your up (more like down) grades...

    MarOne
    MarOne
    Participant
    May 8, 2023

    I'm having the same exact issue win 11 64, Acrobat is unable to combine nor convert single files to PDF, It's funny when you pay for a software and you have to use a free alternative to get the job done, Very poor assistance when it comes to this issue.

    W
    WinnipegNick
    Participant
    August 8, 2022

    We are having similar issues and have had better results when:

    • Adobe Creative Cloud was updated and
    • Adobe Acrobat is already launched and running.
    • The other thing we noticed is that if One Drive is running, we would have to right click on the file and choose "Always Keep on this Device". If it was a cloud only file, we did not have the option to combine.
    • The support engineer I just spoke to was not even aware that you could right click on several files and choose "Combine files in Acrobat.."
    • He said that the recommended method is to Open Adobe Acrobat, Click Tools, and Combine files.
       
    A
    Anju28774159eat3
    Participant
    March 8, 2023

    Hi, I am combining PDF files and select 2 (or any number of files to combine). The output is the first file repeated. The 2nd (and subsequent files) content is not in the combined PDF. So if file 1 and file 2 have 1 page each, the 1st page is file 1 and the 2nd page is file1! I have rebooted and it does not help

    Meenakshi Negi
    Community Manager
    Meenakshi NegiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    March 29, 2023

    Hi Anju28774159eat3,

     

    Thank you for reaching out, and sorry about the delay in response.

     

    Please let us know if it happens with any file you try to combine?

    Are you combining just the PDFs or other format files?

    Would you mind sharing the screen recording of the workflow?

    Share the Acrobat and OS version numbers on the device.

     

    Thanks,

    Meenakshi

    P
    PolicyChick
    Participant
    February 9, 2022

    Late notice response, but I figured out a fix and wanted to share in case I forget next time it happens 🙂

    I tried all of the repair, reinstall etc. suggestions, and in the end found a check box that fixed it for me.

    In Adobe Acrobat DC (64 bit) > Edit > Preferences > General tab > Application startup>> TICK the 'Use only certified plugins' box. 

    At some point I remember having to untick that to view encrypted ISO standards. As soon as I ticked that and restarted Adobe, voila. It worked! (I bet next time I try to open ISO standards, it won't let me! sigh).

      T
      travb4739968
      Participating Frequently
      February 9, 2022

      Tried this, did not work for me.

      Right clicking on files in Explorer and clicking "Combining Files in Acrobat" does not work, unless Acrobat is already open. 

      bush rossp52606986
      bush rossp52606986
      Participant
      April 28, 2022

      Did this issue get resolved.  We are having the same issue with random computers not all of them in our company,

      P
      PatJWalsh76
      Participant
      August 1, 2020

      Hi

      ive tried all the above and the combine pdf command just creates lots of individual pdfs and I get this;

       

       

      O
      Olufemi5ED1
      Participant
      October 17, 2020

      I get exactly the same thing. It worked fine for two weeks and my documents were combined properly, and then this weird page just comes up asking me to download Acrodat Reader for the best experience! Please help.

        AkanchhaS8194121
        AkanchhaS8194121
        Legend
        October 30, 2020

        Hi Pat and Olufemi

         

        Sorry to both of you for delay in response.

        Pat, the reason why you see the suggestion to Get the Acrobat Reader DC to open PDF Portfolio is because, upon combining multiple files, you have combined them as Portfolio. So, a suggestion for having Adobe Reader for seamless experience of viewing those PDFs is legit.

        There's a setting, which lets you uncheck this option and let you combine all the files as one combined PDF.

        Combine Files> Options>uncheck Save as PDF Portfolio.

         

         

        Olufemi5ED1 for you, I guess this is the same scenario. You have combined the files as PDF Portfolio and now its suggesting you to have Acrobat Reader to view/open those PDF files.

        Uncheck this option and you are good to go.

         

        Thanks,

        Akanchha

         

          N
          neiderhl
          Participating Frequently
          July 29, 2020

          I am having the same issue, but only if I already have a PDF document open. 

          I have no trouble combining documents if Adobe/a PDF is not open already => If I want to combine, I need to close out other PDF documents I'm using/working on in order to combine then I have to reopen them.

          This was never an issue before, but since one of the updates (I have no idea which one, I feel like this has been an issue for a few weeks/months now).

            D
            derekk87399850
            Known Participant
            October 30, 2020

            This is the complaint I have too, but it's worked this way for as long as I can remember (several years at least). It's really annoying as I often have 10+ PDF's open, but at least the "Files-Create-Combine Files into a Single PDF" works for me. I would like to determine once and for all if this is expected behavior or a fixable bug. 

            N
            neiderhl
            Participating Frequently
            October 30, 2020

            Yes, same here!  It worked with all/any previous version of Adobe until the new Acrobat DC & has STILL NOT BE FIXED.

            Now combining only works if there are NO OTHER PDF documents open.  This is extremely frustrating, as I also usually have mulitple PDFs open for other reasons/multitasking that I now have to stop everything & close all PDFs if I want to combine files.  I can still add pages one at a time (time consuming) to an open PDF file, but it is peferential to be able to highlight & combine files/PDFs while ohter PDFs are open for optimal workflow & multitasking. 

            T
            travb4739968
            Participating Frequently
            June 19, 2020

            How did you fix this Nathand?

              Adorobat
              Community Manager
              AdorobatCommunity Manager
              Community Manager
              February 7, 2018

              Hi Nathand,

              Could you please try following troubleshooting steps:

              1- Reboot the machine and try combining files again, does that work?

              2- If it doesn't, check if Acrobat is updated to the latest patch- click check for updates under help menu. You may also download updates manually using this link: Adobe - Acrobat : For Windows , reboot the machine after installing update and try again.

              3- If step 2 doesn't work, repair Acrobat installation - go to Help > click Repair Installation, reboot the machine after repair and check.

              Could you let us know Acrobat version installed on the machine: Identify the product and its version for Acrobat and Reader DC

              Operating system installed on the machine?

              Have you tried combining multiple pdf files using "Combine files in Acrobat" option in Windows Explorer, does that work?

              Thanks,

              Shivam

              nathand94799064
              nathand94799064Author
              Participant
              February 8, 2018

              I have run through all three steps above and yet the issue persists. I also can no longer drag and drop PDFs into a currently open PDF in organize pages tool, but I can drag pages out of the PDF onto my desktop to extract them...

              I am currently using Windows 10.

              Please see screenshot of my Adobe Version.

              I have tried combining PDFs on my desktop as well as in windows explorer.

              nathand94799064
              nathand94799064Author
              Participant
              March 15, 2018

              Hi Nathand,

              Sorry for the delay in response.

              Could you try removing Acrobat using cleaner tool which you can download from here: Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs , reboot the machine, download Acrobat DC from here: Download Pro or Standard versions of Acrobat DC, 2017, XI, or X . reboot the machine once again and check. You need to enter the serial number for Acrobat to complete the installation.

              Thanks,

              Shivam


              Unfortunately, a fresh install did not help. I am still having the same issue...

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