5 Ways to Merge/Combine Word Documents with Ease

The humble Word document has been the backbone of written communication for decades as a versatile tool for creating, editing, and formatting text. But what happens when multiple Word documents must be merged into one cohesive file?

Whether you're a student compiling research papers, a business professional combining reports, or just someone looking to efficiently manage their documents, merging Word documents can seem daunting.

In this blog post, we'll explore 5 different ways to merge Word documents, unlocking the power of consolidation and simplifying your document workflow. If you want to merge several Word documents into one or split pages from it and access these documents from any end (Win, Mac, iOS, Android), choose the method in <a href="#2">Part 2</a> directly. So, let’s teach you how to do that without any further ado!

Part 1: 4 Common Ways to Merge/Combine Word Documents

Whether you want to merge similar documents, append additional content, or create a collaborative document, several methods exist. As promised, let us now mention the 4 methods as a step-by-step guide, providing different options to merge Word documents and help you enhance your productivity.

Method 1: The Copy-Paste Method – The Easiest One

Copy-pasting with two simple keyboard shortcuts, such as "Ctrl + C" and "Ctrl + V", is the easiest thing you can do while bringing things together. It is no different here, either; however, to do it more efficiently, follow the steps below:

Open the first Word document that you want to merge into Microsoft Word.
Go to the location in the document where you want to insert the content from another document.
Open the second Word document that you want to merge into another instance of Microsoft Word.
Select the content from the second document you want to merge, such as text, images, tables, etc.
Copy the selected content with Ctrl+C or right-click and then the 'Copy' option.
Go back to the first Word document and place your cursor at the desired insertion point.
Paste the copied content with Ctrl+V or right-click and then the 'Paste' option into the first document.

Remember: Save the merged document with a new name to avoid overwriting the original documents.

Method 2: Merge Word Documents Using Word’s 'Combine Documents' Feature

Merging Word documents using Word's "Combine Documents" feature is straightforward. To do that, follow the steps below:

Open Microsoft Word and create a new blank document that will serve as your combined document.
Go to the "Review" tab on the Word toolbar.
In the "Review" tab, click on the "Compare" button, which is located in the "Compare" group.
In the "Compare" drop-down menu, select "Combine" and then click on "Combine Documents”.

In the "Combine Documents" dialog box that appears, click on the "Add Files" button to select the Word documents you want to merge.

Once you have selected all the Word documents you want to merge, click on the "Ok" button.

Save the merged document with a new name or overwrite an existing file; you are ready!

Method 3: Merge Word Documents with 'Insert Object' Method

This method allows you to merge Word documents as embedded objects. To use it, follow these steps:

Open the first Word document in Microsoft Word.
Go to the location in the document where you want to insert the content from another document.
Click on the "Insert" tab in the ribbon.
Click on "Object" in the "Text" group to open the "Object" dialog box.
In the "Object" dialog box, select the "Create from file" option.

Click on the "Browse" button to locate and select the second Word document that you want to merge.
Click on the "OK" button to insert the second document as an embedded object in the first document.

If you want to merge more than two documents, repeat this process!

Method 4: Merge Word Documents with Online Word Merger Tools

Online tools can bring relief when you have to perform different tasks and do not know many solutions. When merging Word documents, the online Word merger tools can do the same and provide an even easier solution. To find such tools and then merge Word documents with them, follow the steps below:

Open your web browser and search for these tools with the keyword 'Online Word Merger'.
Upload the Word documents that you want to merge. Most online Word merger tools have a "Upload" or "Choose File" button that allows you to select and upload Word documents from your computer or cloud storage.
Arrange the order of the Word documents if needed. Some online Word merger tools allow you to rearrange the order of the documents by dragging and dropping them into the desired sequence.
Initiate the merge process by clicking the appropriate button labeled "Merge" or "Combine".
Wait for the online Word merger tool to process and merge the documents into one Word document. The time it takes to complete the merge process may vary depending on the size and complexity of the documents.
Once the merge process is complete, download the merged Word document from the online Word merger tool. Usually, a "Download" or "Save" button will allow you to save the merged document to your computer.
Verify the merged Word document to ensure that all the content from the original documents has been successfully combined into a single document.

Remember: The specific steps may vary slightly depending on the online Word merger tool you are using, so be sure to follow the instructions provided by the tool you choose.

Part 2: [Best] Combine Multiple Word Documents into One and Access from Anywhere

While the methods mentioned above to merge Word documents should be more than enough, it is always cool to have one more trick up your sleeve to do a certain thing. For instance, if you like reading and working on a document in PDF format, you would love to know about a tool that can combine your documents, and UPDF is the final surprise we have for you.

Using UPDF for combining Word documents has several benefits, providing a seamless way to merge multiple Word documents into one. UPDF can be accessed from any device with an internet connection and a web browser, making it convenient for users who work on different computers or need to collaborate with others remotely.

UPDF also ensures that the formatting and layout of the merged Word documents are preserved in the final PDF file. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the original documents, as formatting can be lost or distorted when using other methods of merging Word documents. Moreover, UPDF allows you to customize the order in which the Word documents are merged, giving you flexibility and control over the final output.

However, there are some limitations to using UPDF for merging Word documents. One major limitation is saving Word documents in PDF format before merging them, and if you don’t know how to do that, here are a few easy steps:

Open the Word document.
Click File> Save As.
Now from Save as Type > PDF.
Click Save, and you are done!

Repeat this process to save all Word documents in PDF format so you can then combine Word to PDF using UPDF. Now, to merge Word documents that you saved as PDFs with this tool, follow the steps below:

Download and install UPDF (if you haven't already).
Open the software to access its homepage.
On the home interface, click the 'Batch' button.

Now, the 'Combine' button.
Click 'Add Files' and import the files you want to merge.
Click 'Apply', and you are done!

Pros and Cons of Using UPDF for Merging Word Documents

Any good software has its share of advantages and problems when performing different tasks, and UPDF is no exception. Here are some of the pros and cons of using UPDF to merge Word documents:

Compatible with all operating systems.
UPDF preserves the formatting of the original Word documents.
UPDF allows you to delete, rotate, and crop pages in the file.
UPDF provides security features such as encryption and digital signatures.
You can reduce or compress the file size as you want with UPDF.
You can choose to upload to UCloud for convenient access and editing.

Conclusion

Merging Word documents has never been easier with these 5 simple methods. From using built-in features like "Object Insertion" to online merger tools and third-party software like UPDF, plenty of options are available for streamlining your document management process.

By harnessing the power of technology, you can seamlessly merge Word documents and create polished, organized, and unified files. With these handy tips, you can easily merge Word documents and achieve greater productivity in your writing tasks. Cheers!