To scan several paper pages into one PDF on a Mac, use Preview with a document-feeding scanner, or use Image Capture if your scanner has an automatic document feeder (ADF). Preview can scan a batch and show the results together; Image Capture specifically supports saving an ADF multipage document as one file. After scanning, check the page order and save or export the result as a PDF. Apple’s Preview guide and Image Capture guide describe these options.

Before you start: choose the right scanner setup

An ADF is the easiest way to process a stack of loose sheets. Load the pages in the feeder, check that the stack is aligned, and make sure the scanner is powered on and connected to the Mac. If the pages have different scan requirements—for example, some are color and others grayscale—Preview applies the same settings to every page in a feeder batch, so scan those groups separately. Apple notes this setting limitation in Preview’s scan instructions.

A flatbed scanner can also scan several pages, but you must place and scan each page manually. In Preview, a flatbed can scan multiple small images on the bed and save each as its own file; that is different from producing one multipage document automatically. You can combine separate PDF files afterward in Preview, but you will need to check and arrange the pages yourself.

Scan and assemble pages in Preview

  1. Open Preview on your Mac. Choose File > Import from Scanner, then select your scanner. If it is missing, check System Settings > Printers & Scanners to see whether it is set up. Apple’s scan troubleshooting guide also recommends checking that the scanner is on and connected; if the scanner still does not appear, consult its manufacturer’s software and device documentation. Preview scanning instructions · Apple scanning troubleshooting.

  2. Put the stack in the document feeder. In the scanner dialog, choose Document Feeder for Scan Mode if that option appears. Click Show Details if you need to reveal more settings. Choose a Kind such as Text, Black & White, or Color, and select Duplex under Orientation if you need to scan both sides and your scanner supports it. Available options depend on the scanner.

  3. Choose a destination under Scan To if the option is available, then click Scan. Preview scans pages one at a time, and Apple says the scanned items open in one window. If you are adding a page to a document already open in Preview, choose Edit > Insert > Page from Scanner instead.

  4. Review the result before saving. Choose View > Thumbnails to see the pages in the sidebar. Check that every sheet is present and in the right order. If separate scanned PDFs need to become one file, open them in Preview, show thumbnails in each, then drag the needed thumbnails into the destination PDF’s sidebar. Drag thumbnails to change their order. Preview saves changes automatically, so duplicate the original PDFs first if you need to preserve them unchanged. Apple’s instructions for combining PDFs.

  5. Save the completed document as a PDF. In Preview, choose File > Export, select PDF from the Format menu, and choose a name and location. Then open the saved file and check its page count and order. Apple documents exporting a Preview document to a selected file format here: Export PDFs and images in Preview.

Use Image Capture for an ADF multipage file

If you prefer Image Capture, open it, select the scanner under Devices or Shared, and use its scan controls. Apple explicitly states that a scanner with an ADF can scan a multipage document to a single file. A flatbed can scan multiple items, but Image Capture saves each item as its own file. The controls shown depend on the scanner, so follow the options displayed for your model. Image Capture User Guide.

If the scanner or pages are missing

If the scanner does not appear, make sure it is on and connected, then check System Settings > Printers & Scanners. Apple also suggests removing and adding the scanner again if a previously available scan option has disappeared. If a feeder misses a sheet or scans double-sided pages incorrectly, check the feeder’s loading guidance and scanner settings, then rescan the affected batch. Review the complete PDF before sharing it so omitted, duplicated, rotated, or out-of-order pages do not go unnoticed.

For a straightforward stack of same-size pages, use Preview’s document feeder scan and review the thumbnails before exporting. Choose Image Capture when you want its documented ADF-to-single-file workflow, and use the flatbed for documents that cannot safely go through a feeder or when scanning separate small images.

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