How to Fix Acrobat Cannot Combine Word and PDF Files After Update
Question details
Adobe Acrobat is unable to convert and combine a DOCX file with other PDF files after a recent software update.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user is trying to merge multiple PDF files along with a Microsoft Word document into a single PDF.
- Observed behavior
- The merging process fails during the Word document conversion phase, preventing the files from being combined, despite having worked normally before the Acrobat 2017 update.
Ensure your Microsoft Word application is closed before attempting to combine files in Acrobat, and verify the DOCX file is not password-protected by opening it directly in Word.
Pre-convert the Word Document to PDF Before Combining
The most reliable workaround is to manually convert the problematic DOCX file into a PDF independently before merging it with your other PDF files.
By converting the Word document to a PDF directly inside Microsoft Word, you bypass Acrobat's background conversion process entirely. This avoids any bugs introduced by the recent Acrobat update.
Launch Microsoft Word and open the DOCX file that is failing to combine.
Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Save As', and choose 'PDF' from the file format dropdown menu, then click 'Save'.
Open Adobe Acrobat, select the 'Combine Files' tool, and add the newly created PDF along with your other PDF files to merge them successfully.
Enable or Reinstall the Acrobat PDFMaker Add-in
Acrobat relies on the PDFMaker COM Add-in to communicate with Word. An update might have disabled this extension.
Repair Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office Installations
If the conversion components are corrupted, repairing both programs can restore the necessary integration.
Use WPS Office to Combine Word and PDF Files Easily
WPS Office features a powerful built-in PDF toolkit that allows you to seamlessly merge Word documents, PDFs, and images into a single file without relying on external plugins or complicated add-ins.
- 1. Launch WPS PDF Tools: Open WPS Office and navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the main dashboard.
- 2. Select Merge PDF: Click on the 'Merge PDF' utility to open the file combination tool.
- 3. Add Your Files: Click 'Add Files' and select both your DOCX documents and your existing PDF files.
- 4. Merge the Documents: Arrange the files in your desired order by dragging them, then click 'Merge' to create your single PDF file instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat suddenly fail to convert Word files after an update?
Software updates can sometimes reset application preferences or disable third-party plugins like the Acrobat PDFMaker COM Add-in, breaking the communication between Microsoft Word and Acrobat during the combining process.
Can I combine files in Acrobat if I don't have Microsoft Word installed?
No. Adobe Acrobat requires the native application (Microsoft Word) to be installed on your system to properly process and convert DOCX files when using the Combine Files tool.
How do I know if my Word document is protected and blocking the merge?
Open the document directly in Microsoft Word. If you are prompted to enter a password or see a 'Protected View' warning ribbon at the top, you must remove the password or click 'Enable Editing' before Acrobat can combine it.
Is there a file size limit when combining Word and PDF files?
While Acrobat doesn't have a strict file size limit for merging, exceptionally large Word documents or files containing complex embedded graphics may cause the background conversion process to time out or freeze.
