How to Scan and Combine Multiple Pages Into One PDF File

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Convert multiple pages into one PDF on desktop or mobile

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: October 22, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using a Scanner

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Merging PDF Files

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Using an iPhone or iPad

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Using Android

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Video

Do you have a multi-page paper document that you want to scan into one simple PDF file? No matter the scanner, it's easy to scan more than one page and save all of the pages as one PDF. If your scanner doesn't give you this option, you can easily combine the PDF files for free using Adobe. This wikiHow guide will walk you through scanning any multiple-page document to a PDF using your PC, Mac, Android, iPhone, or iPad.

Compiling Multiple Pages into One PDF File

To scan multiple pages into one document, use your scanner's built-in settings. If you don't have this option, scan the pages separately, and then open Adobe's Merge PDF Files tool. Upload the single pages, reorder them if necessary, and then select Merge.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using a Scanner

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1
Prepare your document to be scanned. You can place your document in either the tray where it will feed automatically into the scanner, or you can open the lid and place each page on the glass. The scanner you have should tell you in the manual how to best scan documents.^{[1]
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- If you already have multiple PDF files you want to combine, see the next method to merge PDF files into one document.
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Scan your document. In most cases, you can press the Scan button on your physical scanner to begin scanning. Your computer, whether Mac or Windows, should also have a corresponding software that you can open that will also let you initiate the scan. For example, if you have a Brother scanner, you'll find a software called "Control Center 3" in either your Start Menu or Applications folder.^{[2]
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- When the scan is complete, whether you used the scanner glass or the automatic document feeder (ADF), you'll see a window pop up with a preview of the scan.
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If you put your document in the automatic document feeder and the scan finishes satisfactorily, you can click to save the file and skip the rest of the steps.^{[3]
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Change the page on the scanner glass (if you're not using the ADF). If you're lifting the lid and placing a page on the scanner glass, you'll need to scan each page individually. If you're not satisfied with the scanning on the previous page, you can readjust it and re-scan before continuing.^{[4]
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- If you're using an HP scanner, make sure the box next to "Single Page Files" is not checked. If you're scanning with the automatic document feeder, all the pages in the document will automatically save in the same PDF.
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Click to add another page on the scan preview. Some scanners, like the Brother and HP scanners, if you scan by setting your document on the glass, will display a scan preview after each scan. You can click the icon that looks like a plus sign in a piece of paper or Start to scan a page on the glass.^{[5]
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- When the preview window pops up again, you can repeat the previous steps to change the paper and click Start to add as many pages as you need.
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Click Cancel or Save when you're done. If you want to edit your pages, click Edit page, and you can change the settings of the page before saving the final file.^{[6]
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- After clicking Save, you can choose where to save the PDF and what to name it.
- If your pages save separately, you can easily merge them into one file for free using Adobe.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Merging PDF Files

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1
Go to Adobe's Merge PDF files tool. If you have existing PDF files you have already scanned, you can merge these files together using Adobe's free merger tool. You'll just need to select the files you want to merge, reorder them if necessary, and then download the new file.
- While this tool is free to use, you must have an Adobe account to download it. Be sure to create one first. If you aren't signed in, you'll be prompted to do so before the downloading step.^{[7]
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This is at the top of the page.
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Select the files you want to add. To add more than one at a time, hold the Control key (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each file.
- You can also drag and drop the PDF files into the tile.
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Rearrange the PDF files. If needed, you can reorder the PDF files in a different order than how you uploaded them. Click and drag the file to its new position.
- Files will be shown and ordered from top to bottom.
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Click Merge. This is the button at the top-right corner.
- If you aren't already logged into your Adobe account, click Continue with… to do so now. If you don't have one, you can click Create a free account at the bottom.
- It may take a few moments for Adobe to compile your PDF files.
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Click Download. You can find this in the top-right corner of your PDF file's preview.
- Be sure to check the preview before you download the file. If you need to change anything, click Edit in the top toolbar to do so.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using an iPhone or iPad

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1
Open the Notes app. You can easily scan and save documents into one PDF file right from the Notes app on iOS.^{[8]
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- Be sure your iOS is up-to-date.
This is either at the bottom-right or top-right, depending on your device.
This option is in the pop-up menu. The Camera app should open automatically.^{[9]
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Position your camera over the document you want to scan. You'll be able to compile multiple documents in the same PDF file as long as they are scanned in the same session.
- Make sure the document is on a flat surface in a well-lit area.
- The camera will automatically take a picture when the document is detected. You can also manually tap the camera button to take the photo.
- If you need to retake a scan, click the scanned documents in the bottom left corner. Click Retake on the top right of the scan you want to retake.
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Tap Save when you're finished. If you scanned more than one document, there will be a number in parentheses indicating the number of successful scans.^{[10]
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- All documents scanned in this session will be compiled in the same PDF file.
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Send the PDF file. Now that Notes has scanned and created the PDF file, you can save it or send it to another device. Do the following:
- Tap the scanned document in the Notes page.
- Tap the Share icon at the top.
- Tap Save to Files or select another app, such as Email.
- Set the location or destination and tap OK.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Android

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Open the Google Drive app. This app allows you to easily scan documents from your Android device. If you don't already have this app, you can download it from the Google Play Store.^{[11]
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- Make sure you're logged into your Google account.
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Tap + and select Scan. This is how you'll create a new scan.
- If you're using the camera for the first time, you may receive a pop-up window. Select either While using the app or Only this time.
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Point your phone's camera at a document. The document should be centered in the middle of the screen.^{[12]
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- Make sure the document is on a flat surface in a well-lit area.
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Tap the "Capture" button. It's a blue-and-white circle at the bottom of the screen. This will scan your document.
- Tap Retry if you need to take the photo again, or tap OK to keep it.
- Google Drive will automatically convert your picture into a scan. If there is white space, it will automatically locate the borders of your document.
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Tap Save in the bottom-right corner. Your scan will be saved to your Google Drive.^{[13]
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- You can access your PDF file from any device with access to your Google Drive.
- To save the document onto your phone, tap the three-dots icon in the corner of the PDF file and select Download.