Other PDF Issues

How to Combine PDF Files in a Folder and Send Them by Email

Maira Mehtab Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to package multiple PDF documents stored in a single folder and send them via email without attaching each file individually.

How to Combine PDF Files in a Folder and Send Them by Email

Product: PDF / Email Client
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Sending multiple PDF documents over email to a recipient.
Observed behavior: The user needs a method to combine or package a folder containing multiple PDFs into an email attachment and is questioning if specific Adobe tools are required.

Before you start

Ensure all the PDF files you want to send are saved in a single folder on your computer. Check the total file size of your PDFs, as most email providers have a maximum attachment limit of 20MB to 25MB.

Solution 1Recommended

Compress the Folder into a ZIP File

Since email clients do not support attaching uncompressed folders directly, compressing the folder into a ZIP file is the most universal and straightforward method to send multiple files at once.

This method preserves your original folder structure and requires no third-party PDF software. Both Windows and Mac operating systems have built-in tools for zipping folders.

Locate your folder

Find the folder on your computer that contains all the PDF files you want to send.

Compress the folder

Right-click the folder. On Windows, select 'Compress to ZIP file' or 'Send to' > 'Compressed (zipped) folder'. On Mac, select 'Compress [Folder Name]'.

Create a new email

Open your preferred email client (such as Outlook, Gmail, or Apple Mail) and compose a new message.

Attach the ZIP file

Click the attachment icon (usually shaped like a paperclip), browse to the location of your newly created ZIP file, and attach it to your email.

Email Attachment Limits: If your ZIP file exceeds the standard 25MB email limit, you may need to compress the PDFs further before zipping or share the file via a cloud storage link.

Solution 2

Merge Multiple PDFs into a Single Document

If you want the recipient to read the files seamlessly without extracting a folder, merging all PDFs into one single file is an excellent alternative.

Effortless PDF Management

Easily Merge and Compress PDFs with WPS Office

Instead of just zipping folders, WPS Office allows you to cleanly merge multiple PDFs into a single document or reduce the file size with its built-in PDF compressor, making email sharing incredibly simple.

1. Download and open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your computer and switch to the 'PDF' tab.
2. Select Merge PDF: Click on 'Merge PDF' in the top toolbar and select all the files from your folder.
3. Combine the files: Arrange the pages in your desired order and click 'Merge' to combine them into one file.
4. Compress if necessary: If the merged file is too large for an email attachment, use the 'Compress PDF' tool to optimize its size.

Merge multiple PDFs into one cohesive document for easy reading.Reduce PDF file size to easily bypass standard email attachment limits.Fully compatible with all standard PDF formats and Adobe Acrobat files.Edit, annotate, and convert PDFs directly within a single, lightweight app.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I attach a folder directly to my email?

Email protocols only support attaching individual files. A folder is a directory structure, not a file itself. To send a folder over email, you must package it into an archive format like a ZIP file first.

Do I need Adobe Acrobat to combine these files for an email?

No, you do not need Adobe Acrobat. Compressing a folder is a built-in feature of both Windows and macOS. If you prefer merging them into one PDF, free alternatives like WPS Office offer excellent and easy-to-use merging tools.

What if the ZIP file is still too large to email?

Most email providers restrict attachments to 25MB. If your ZIP file exceeds this, you can try reducing the size of individual PDFs using a PDF compressor before zipping them, or upload the ZIP to a cloud service (like Google Drive or OneDrive) and share the download link in your email.

PDF Troubleshooting