How to reorder the pages of a PDF

When do you need to reorder?

• A scanned file whose sheets went through the scanner in the wrong order.
• Two files you combined with Merge PDFs where you want the cover first.
• A catalog you want to open with your best sellers.
• A quotation where the terms page should come last.

How to do it

1. Open the Reorder PDF pages tool and choose a PDF. Thumbnails appear gradually with a progress bar.
2. Move any page with its four buttons: to the start, one step earlier, one step later, or to the end. You can also drag it with the mouse and drop it on another page.
3. Check the “New order” line under the thumbnails. The number on each page is its position in the exported file.
4. Press “Download in new order”. Your original file stays as it is.

What stays and what does not change

The tool reorders the pages inside the same file, so bookmarks and form fields stay in place. But page numbers printed in the page content, like “Page 3 of 10”, do not change, because they are part of the content. After reordering, you can stamp correct new numbers with PDF page numbering.

Limits to know

• Tested limits: one file up to 100 MB and 500 pages. Drawing thumbnails for a big file takes time, but you can start reordering before it finishes.
• Drag and drop works with a mouse on a computer. On touch screens, use the buttons, which also work from the keyboard.
• Password-protected or encrypted files are refused, and the tool does not bypass protection.
• Saving the file again invalidates any digital signature in it, and the tool warns you if it finds one.

If there are pages you do not want at all, remove them with Delete PDF pages before or after reordering.