To put the contents of two Word documents into one file, open the document that should come first, place the cursor where the second should begin, and choose Insert > Object ▼ > Text from File. Select the second document, then save the combined result under a new name.
Combine the contents of two documents
- Open the first document in desktop Word. Save a copy if you want to preserve it untouched.
- Click where the second document should start. Insert a page break first if it should begin on a new page.
- On the Insert tab, open the arrow next to Object and choose Text from File.
- Choose the second Word file and insert it. Repeat for any additional files.
- Review headings, styles, images, page numbers, and layout, then save the combined document with a clear new name.
These are Microsoft’s documented Text from File steps. The command inserts content at the cursor; it does not simply attach a clickable copy of the other file.
If you want to keep the other file separate rather than merging its text, you can embed the second document as an object instead.
Combine several documents at once
You don’t have to insert files one at a time. The Text from File dialog lets you select more than one document in a single pass.
- Rename the source files so they sort in the order you want, such as 01 Intro, 02 Methods, and 03 Results.
- Open a new blank document, or the document that should come first, and click where the combined content should start.
- Choose Insert > Object ▼ > Text from File.
- Hold Ctrl and click each file, or click the first file and Shift-click the last one.
- Choose Insert. Word adds the files one after another at the cursor.
- Scroll through the result and confirm the files appear in the right order.
Each file starts right where the previous one ends. If every file should begin on a new page, add a page break or section break at the end of each source file before you combine them.
If the finished file needs to be a single PDF, see how to combine Word documents into one PDF, including how to merge PDFs you already have.
Keep the original formatting
Text from File keeps direct formatting such as bold text, tables, and images. Styles work differently. When both documents use a style with the same name, such as Normal or Heading 1, the inserted text takes on the destination document’s version of that style. That is why fonts or heading sizes can change after a merge.
If the second document must look exactly as it did, copy and paste it instead:
- Open the source document and press Ctrl+A to select everything.
- Press Ctrl+C to copy it.
- In the destination document, click where the content should go and press Ctrl+V.
- Select the Paste Options button that appears and choose Keep Source Formatting.
On a Mac, use Command instead of Ctrl.
If the second document needs its own header or footer, insert its text in a new section. Microsoft specifically recommends a section for this case. Our section break guide explains where to put the break and how headers are linked between sections. Check the merged document before sending or printing it because layout and styles can need adjustment.
If you mean merge reviewers’ edits
Use a different Word command when two files are versions of the same document with edits from different people. Choose Review > Compare > Combine, identify the original and revised files, and review the combined changes in the new document. This preserves a review workflow instead of placing one document’s text after the other. See Microsoft’s Combine revisions guide.
Keep the two commands separate in your mind. Text from File stacks different documents into one longer file. Combine works only with copies of the same document and produces a single file with each reviewer’s changes shown as tracked changes that you accept or reject. If you only want to see what changed between two versions, choose Review > Compare > Compare instead.
Combining documents on a Mac or in Word for the web
Word for Mac has the same commands. Choose Insert > Object, then Text from File, to insert another document. The Combine command is under Review > Compare.
Word for the web doesn’t offer Text from File. Open both documents in your browser and copy and paste the content, or select Editing > Open in Desktop App to use the full command.
When you’re done, choose File > Save As and give the combined file a new name so the originals stay intact.
Frequently asked questions
Will Text from File preserve every detail automatically?
Check the result. Styles, headers, footers, and page numbers may need attention, especially when the two source documents use different layouts.
Can I add more than two documents?
Yes. Repeat Text from File at each insertion point. Save the assembled file separately so the originals remain available.
How do I attach a document without copying its text?
Insert it as an object instead. Our guide to attaching or inserting a document in Word shows how to embed a file as a clickable icon or link to it.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com