How to Recover Original PDF Files After Combining Them
Question details
The user needs to locate and recover original individual PDF files that appear to have been merged or saved as a single scanned document.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user utilized a file combining function and now cannot find the original source documents on their network or Document Cloud.
- Observed behavior
- Multiple PDF files seem to have been replaced by one combined document, causing concern that the separate original files were overwritten or lost.
Keep in mind that combining PDFs typically creates a brand-new file rather than modifying or deleting your originals. Take a moment to recall the exact folder, network drive, or cloud directory where your files were initially stored before the merge.
Locate Original Files in the Source Directories
Since PDF merge tools create a new file, your originals are likely still in the exact folders where they were first saved.
When using the Combine Files feature in most PDF editors (like Acrobat or WPS), the combined PDF is normally generated as a separate file. This means the original documents remain safely untouched in their original locations.
Open your File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). Navigate to the network drive or local folder where the individual PDFs were originally saved.
Log into your Document Cloud, OneDrive, or Google Drive account. Browse your recent files list to see if the original unmerged documents appear there.
If you cannot manually locate the folder, use the search bar in your file manager. Type in the names of the original files or simply type '.pdf' to filter recent PDF documents on your system.
Split the Combined PDF Document
If the original files were genuinely deleted or cannot be found, you can extract the pages from the combined file to recreate the originals.
Easily Combine and Split PDFs with WPS Office
WPS Office provides professional and user-friendly PDF tools that allow you to safely merge files without losing your originals, or accurately split a combined document back into individual files.
- 1. Open WPS Office PDF Tools: Launch WPS Office and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the home screen interface.
- 2. Choose Merge or Split: Click on 'Merge PDF' if you want to combine files safely, or 'Split PDF' if you need to extract pages from a combined document.
- 3. Process and Save: Upload your files, configure your page ranges, and click the execution button to instantly generate your new PDF files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does combining PDF files automatically delete the original documents?
No. When you use standard PDF tools to combine files, the software generates a brand-new combined PDF file. The original documents remain untouched in their original save locations unless you manually delete them.
How can I find my original PDFs if I forgot where I saved them?
You can use the built-in search function in Windows (File Explorer) or Mac (Spotlight). Search for the known file names or simply search for '.pdf' and sort the results by date. Additionally, check the 'Recent Files' section in your PDF reader.
Is there a way to 'undo' a PDF merge if I cannot find the originals?
While there is no direct 'undo' button once a combined file is saved and closed, you can easily use a 'Split PDF' tool to separate the combined document back into individual files based on page ranges.
