"Combine files" stopped working

[heidi_8131]

I use the "combine files" tool almost daily. About a week ago, it started bringing me to a page in Adobe with a grayed out picture of a cloud and rain and a message that simply said "something went wrong. Try again later." I have tried at least twice a day over the past week or more, doing the same steps I have always used to combine files, but have not had any success. I am still getting the same message. All other tools seem to be working fine. So it seems like just this feature is "broken" in some way. Please help!

[heidi_8131]

I will also mention, I have restarted and also completely shut down the computer multiple times. 

[AnandSri · Accepted solution]

Hello @heidi_8131!

I hope you are doing well. Thanks for reaching out, and we're sorry for the trouble you had.

Are you trying to combine the PDF file using the freeware Acrobat Reader desktop app? Are you on a Windows machine or a Mac, and what is the version? Please try combining the files on Acrobat Online services, and see if you still get the same error message. 

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20474 (Win) | 25.001.20476 (Mac), Apr 28, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and try again.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[heidi_8131]

Thank you for the help. I am using the Acrobat Reader desktop app on a windows machine. I just checked for updates with the instructions you gave, and it is the current version number you listed and offered no updates. Using the online services link you posted seems to work. Is there something else I should try to get the desktop version working or do I need to use the online services now to combine files? 

[julia_0256]

Heidi mine is the same problem as yours, all other tools work except combine files which i need desperatley to invoice customers, have you had any success in a remedy for this problem?

[PravalJain]

Hi @heidi_8131  - 

We are working on this issue - This is only an issue when accessing Combine from Reader desktop and not when directly accessing Acrobat web. While we are working on a fix, please continue to directly access Combine files tools in Acrobat web using the link - https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/acrobat/combine-pdf - as a workaround. 

Thanks,

Praval

[fantastic_elegance0178]

Is there an ETA on the update?  I use Combine daily and Adobe Acrobat still allows this but does not actually combine.  It places "bookmarks" on the left of the document but does not combine as one document.  

[heidi_8131]

I feel your pain! I need that tool daily as well to run my business. Using the online link posted farther up in the conversation by the adobe employee did work for me. Just a pain to have to do that work around. But better than nothing! 

[Jose J_Muniz Padilla0109]

I am also having the same issue. I will use the online service. However this is one of the main reason I use Acrobat Reader PRO. Please provide resolution status!

[julia_0256]

Mine still not working after talking with a tech and he said it would be resolved in 6 to 9 hours and that was last week! It’s still not combining and he marked it as resolved!!!
Sent from my iPhone

[Praval Jain · Accepted solution]

This issue is fixed in the latest release - https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousjune2025qfe.... Please update to the latest version and let us know if you are still facing any issues. 

Thanks,

Praval

[fantastic_elegance0178]

Thank you!

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[katie_4800]

Hello, I have a user with a similar issue. They cannot drag and drop files, nor paste from their clipboard. I am experiencing it on my copy of Adobe also to verify. I have already ran a repair and restarted their machine. We are updated to the latest version of adobe which is 25.001.20756. We are also using the NetDocs ndAdobe integration. Please advise, thank you.

[AnandSri]

Hello @katie_4800

I hope you are doing well, and we are sorry for the delayed response.

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.2084x. Planned update: November 3, 2025. Check for any pending updates by navigating to Menu > Help> Check for Updates. Install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and try again. 

If the issue continues, please provide the following information: the current version of the operating system on your device and the logs from the affected machine. To collect the logs, download and run the Log Collector tool. Ensure that you select all log options and attempt to reproduce the issue. After that, close the Log Collector tool; it will generate the logs along with a log ID. Please share this log ID with us for further investigation.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[katjak70425222]

Hello, is there a solution? I still have the problem, and I am using the current version 2025.001.20844. It still freezes whenever I try to combine any type of data (DOCX and PDF files).

[AnandSri]

Hello @katjak70425222

I hope you are doing well, and thank you for reaching out.

Please install the latest build of Acrobat: 25.001.20982. Planned update: December 2, 2025. And try combining the files. The version you mentioned is an old version, and the issue has been addressed with the latest build.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[susanne_6206]

I installed the following product:

• Product Type: Installer

• Name: Acrobat (Planned Update)

• File: AcrobatDCx64Upd2500120531.msp

• Size: 956.3 MB

• Language: All

• Install over: DC base (64-bit)

However, I am still experiencing the issue.

[susanne_6206]

and sometimes later i get this mabye this can help 

thx 

[S. S]

Hi @susanne_6206,

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for the response.

We are live with a newer version (25.001.20997). 

Would you mind updating the app to the latest version and letting us know if it works for you?

To do so, go to Menu > Help > Check for Updates.

Download link here: https://adobe.ly/3MuvNKj

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,
Souvik.

[susanne_6206]

I'm sorry but i cant start the update and when i downloaded your link and tryed to start it i got a error massage

thx

[susanne_6206]

This is waht i get 

English translation:

“The upgrade patch cannot be installed by the Windows Installer service because the program to be updated may be missing, or because the upgrade patch could update a different version of the program. Make sure that the program you want to update is installed on the computer and that you are installing the correct upgrade patch.”

and here it says that i dont have a upgrade missing but i still have the version 2025.001.20982

[S. S]

Hi @susanne_6206, 

Thanks for the details.

Please run the Acrobat cleaner tool https://adobe.ly/4iSewab, reboot the computer once, and install the application using the direct link https://adobe.ly/3KIG9FS and see if that works for you.

Regards,
Souvik.

[susanne_6206]

It still isn’t working. I’ve now completely uninstalled it twice and deleted everything I could find in the folder structure and used the Acrobat cleaner but it still can’t handle merging files — for example, when I try to combine a DOCX and a PDF into one document.

I also checked the Event Viewer under “Application”, and I’m consistently getting an error with the task category “Application Crash Events”.
I’m honestly getting really frustrated at this point. I don’t understand why it isn’t working — it used to run without any problems in the old version (Adobe XI 11).

Please, I really need help getting this to work. I rely on this for my job.