Merge Word documents into one file

One document instead of a folder of chapters

Reports written by several people, a thesis saved chapter by chapter, a proposal with separate appendices, minutes from a year of meetings: sooner or later they need to be one Word file. Copying and pasting between documents mixes up styles, breaks numbered lists and loses pictures.

Merge Word appends each document to the first one at the file level. Styles the first document does not have are brought over, list numbering is copied with fresh ids so each document's lists keep counting correctly, and pictures and links come along. The result is an ordinary .docx you can keep editing in Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice or the DocsBat Word editor.

Tips for a clean merge

• Password protected files cannot be merged directly. Remove the password first with Unlock Word.
• Accept tracked changes and remove comments in each file first with Accept Changes and Remove Comments, so nothing is left half reviewed.
• Add page numbers after merging so they run across the whole document.
• Old .doc files must be saved as .docx before merging.
• Need a single PDF to send? Merge first, then use Word to PDF.

Common uses

• Combine thesis or book chapters into one manuscript.
• Build a tender or grant application from sections written by different people.
• Collect monthly reports or meeting minutes into a yearly document.
• Put a contract and its schedules into one file before sending it for e signature.