Preview can’t create a pdf from multiple images anymore?

Tech Support
1

The last time I remember this working was Sonoma. I don’t think it worked in Sequoia and I know it doesn’t work in Tahoe.

Looking for a replacement apps means I would have to use two apps because nobody combines a PDF editor with an image viewer.

2

Can you explain how you expect it to work?

I think it still works for me. The first step is to ensure the sidebar is displaying thumbnails (Preview doesn’t do this by default for single images/single page PDFs). Then you drag the other images onto the sidebar.

3

and that’s exactly how I think it should work. Preview only captures the first image, even when I’ve selected all of the images in the thumbnail sidebar.

4

I’m having the same issue on 26.2. I can drag images into the sidebar and they look like they’re going to export correctly, but after Export as PDF… the exported PDF only has one page with the first image.

5

at least I’m not alone in seeing this problem.

6

If you put all of the images in same folder and select them, do you have the Quick Action > Create PDF option. Works for me for turning images into PDF

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7

Here’s another way it works for me on macOS 26.2:

  1. Open the first image in Preview. Duplicate the file (Shift + Command + S), then save it as a PDF.
  2. Drag all the other images into the thumbnails sidebar.
  3. Save it. (I have not tried Export as PDF)
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