How to Split a PDF Into Separate Pages or Files
Updated 2026-06-21
To split a PDF, open a browser-based splitter, load your file, choose the pages you want, and download the result. With PDF Split & Extract you can pull out a page range, extract or remove individual pages, or break a long document into fixed-size chunks — and because it runs entirely on your device, the file is never uploaded to a server.
Pick the right split mode
The tool offers four modes, and choosing the right one saves a lot of fiddling:
- Page ranges — type the spans you want, like 1-3, 5, 8-10. The output keeps pages in document order and lands as a single PDF. Best when you know exactly which sections to keep.
- Extract selected — click page thumbnails to choose pages, then build one PDF from just those.
- Every N pages — split a document into equal chunks (for example, one file per 2 pages). The pieces arrive bundled as a single ZIP.
- Remove selected — keep the whole document except the pages you click off. Ideal for deleting a blank scan or a cover sheet.
Split a PDF step by step
- Drag a PDF onto the page, or click browse to load it. Files up to 100 MB are processed locally.
- Choose a mode. For Page ranges, type something like 2-6 to keep pages 2 through 6. For Extract or Remove, click the thumbnails.
- Optionally tick Strip document metadata to clear the title, author, and dates from the output — useful before sharing.
- Click the action button (Extract, Remove, Build, or Download). A single PDF downloads directly; an Every N pages split downloads as one ZIP.
Worked example: You have a 12-page report and need only the executive summary on pages 1-2 plus the appendix on pages 9-12. Choose Page ranges, enter 1-2, 9-12, and download a clean four-page PDF — the pages stay in order and nothing else comes along.
Common pitfalls
- Password-protected PDFs won't open. Remove the password in your PDF viewer first, then load the unlocked file.
- Thumbnails stop at 500 pages, but the Page ranges and Every N pages modes still operate on the entire document — so very long files split fine even when you can't see every thumbnail.
- Page numbers are 1-based. Page 1 is the first page, so a range of 1-3 gives you three pages, not four.
- Quality is preserved. Pages are copied exactly as-is, so text stays selectable and images keep their resolution. Splitting never re-compresses your content.
Why split in the browser
Many free PDF splitters upload your document to a remote server, which is a problem for contracts, tax forms, or anything confidential. This tool parses and rebuilds the PDF locally with pdf-lib and pdf.js — even the page-rendering worker is served from the page itself, not a CDN. Nothing leaves your device, there's no signup, and there's no watermark.
Ready to cut your document down to size? Open PDF Split & Extract and split your PDF in seconds.