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How to split a PDF into separate files

A 60-page scan with one invoice per page, a report where you only need chapter three, an upload form that rejects anything over a size limit: all of them come down to cutting one PDF into smaller ones. There are several ways to split, and choosing the right one saves a lot of clicking.

Updated September 15, 20265 min read

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On this page
  1. 01Split a PDF by choosing pages
  2. 02Other ways to split, and when to use them
  3. 03Getting each page as its own file
  4. 04After splitting

Split a PDF by choosing pages

This is the right choice when you know exactly which pages you want.

  1. Open Split PDF and add the document. Page thumbnails appear so you can see what you are working with.
  2. Pick pages by clicking thumbnails, shift-clicking for a run, or typing ranges such as 1-3, 7, 12- in the box. The thumbnails and the box stay in sync.
  3. Run the tool and download the result. When several files come out, they arrive together as a ZIP.

Other ways to split, and when to use them

Picking pages by hand is tedious for long documents. These split the file by a rule instead.

  • Split every N pages: one file for every fixed number of pages, ideal for a scan of many single-page receipts or two-page forms.
  • Split by size: parts that each stay under a size you choose, for email attachments and upload forms with a limit.
  • Split by bookmarks: one file per chapter or section, using the bookmarks the document already has.
  • Split odd and even pages: separates fronts and backs of a double-sided scan.
  • Extract pages: keeps only the pages you pick in a single new file, without splitting the rest.

Getting each page as its own file

Use Split every N pages with N set to 1. Each page becomes its own PDF and the set arrives as a ZIP, named in page order so the files sort correctly.

After splitting

If the parts need to be reassembled differently, Merge PDF combines them in any order. If a part is still too large, compress it, or use Split by size with a lower limit.

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Frequently asked questions

No. Pages are copied as they are, so text stays text and images are not recompressed.

Unlock it first with the password you already know, then split the unlocked copy.

No. The PDF is split without being transmitted, so there is no copy on a server.

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