I need to merge three invoice PDFs from email on my phone, but I can’t install anything. Is there a way to combine them without an app?
If you’re on iPhone, the built in Shortcuts app can do it, look for the Make PDF action which stacks files together. On Android it’s harder without installing anything, honestly I’d wait until I’m at a computer or ask the sender to resend everything as one file.
I had this exact trouble when I was away from my clinic computer. You do not need an app if you use your phone’s web browser:
- Go to pdfcap.com on your phone.
- Select their merge tool and upload your three invoices.
- Tap merge and download the combined file.
If you have an iPhone, just select them all in the Files app and tap create PDF. Otherwise, open a blank Google Doc, insert screenshots of each invoice, and save it as a new PDF. Avoid sending them as separate attachments hoping the customer will sort it out. I learned the hard way with my bakery orders that people only ever look at the first file.
Had the same thing last month on my phone actually. If you’re on iPhone, the Files app can combine PDFs just by selecting them and using the share or create PDF option, no install needed. On Android it’s trickier since stock tools are limited, Google Drive’s print to PDF trick sometimes works instead.
@Finlay.Wilson the browser route is what I’d try too, nothing to install. On my old laptop I just forward one combined file, not sure if it’s the same on Mac.
@emily.7 On a Mac, Preview can combine them too: open one PDF, show thumbnails, then drag the other two into the sidebar and save a copy. Fwiw, the browser option is handy when you can’t install anything.
If the files are already saved on your phone, I usually open a browser-based PDF merger, upload them in the right order, merge, then download the result. On iPhone, the Files app can sometimes make a PDF from selected pages, but it is less handy for whole invoices. Check the merged copy before sending, especially page order and any tiny invoice text.
On most phone browsers, you can use an online PDF merger without installing anything. Upload the three files, merge them, then download the combined PDF. For anything sensitive, I’d be cautious about uploading invoices to a random site, so check the privacy policy first.