2 Best Ways to Merge Microsoft Word Documents

The easiest way to merge two Microsoft Word documents is by copy-pasting the content from one to the other. However, it isn’t efficient if the documents have several pages and different formatting. Luckily, Microsoft Word now offers two features that make it easy to merge Word documents.

The features include Object and Combine are readily available on the Microsoft Word Ribbon. Both methods work for documents created in Word 2010, Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, and Word for Mac. They are also compatible with Microsoft 365. Here’s how to use each feature to merge your Word documents.

Using the Object Feature on Microsoft Word

For this method, you will use the Object feature on Microsoft Word. The Object feature is commonly used to embed files such as pictures, PDFs, or table into a Word document. However, the contents of these files can also be transferred to Word. Check the steps below to find out how:

Step 1: Launch the Microsoft Word file you want to be the main document.

Step 2: Move the cursor to the part of the document that you want to insert the contents of the other document.

Step 3: Click on the Insert tab beside the Home tab at the top of the window.

Step 4: Go to the Text section and click on the drop-down beside the Object icon.

Step 5: From the drop-down, click on Object to launch a dialog box.

Step 6: From the Object dialog box, click on Create from File.

Step 7: Choose Browse if you are working with a Windows computer. On the other hand, select From File if you are making use of a Mac.

Step 8: Navigate to the document’s location or documents that contain the contents that you need to insert into the existing document.

Step 9: Select the document or documents and click on OK if you use a Windows computer. For a Mac, click on Insert.

Once you do this, the document’s contents or documents you selected will appear in the present document. You can do this as many times as you like if you don’t want to merge the documents simultaneously.

Using the Combine Feature on Microsoft Word

The second option is to make use of the Combine feature. This method comes in handy when several people work on the same document, and you now have different versions of the document. You can use the Combine feature to merge these different versions of your document.

The process is a little different from using the Object feature described above. Check the steps below to understand how to use the Combine feature:

Step 1: Launch Microsoft Word.

Step 2: On the Microsoft Ribbon, click on the Review tab.

Step 3: Select Compare from the list of options available.

Step 4: From the drop-down options, click on Combine to launch a dialog box.

Step 5: On the dialog box, beneath the section for Original document, click on the drop-down.

Step 6: Click on Browse to launch File Explorer and select the original version of the document to be merged.

Step 7: On the dialog box, beneath the section for Revised document, click on the drop-down.

Step 8: Click on Browse to launch File Explorer and select the revised version of the document to be merged.

Step 9: If you are using a Windows computer, click on More. For a Mac, click on the Down arrow. This action presents an array of optional settings that help you decide how you want to combine both the files. It also determines how the changes will appear in the new document.

Step 10: After completing the process, click on OK and the documents will merge. You should see the files side-by-side and a record of all the revisions and all the corresponding details.

Merging Changes

There you have it for how to merge documents in Microsoft Word. Of course, if you have to merge just text, it’s easier. You just have to be careful when there are multiple elements in both the documents.

Both methods shown are quite straightforward and let you create a single document. You can also make use of the Combine feature to compare and merge PowerPoint Presentations.