How to Split a PDF into Separate Files (Free)
Split a PDF by page ranges, pull out one chapter, or save every page as its own PDF. Free, in your browser, with no upload and no watermark.
3 min read ·
"Splitting" a PDF can mean two different jobs: saving part of a document as a new file (pages 3–7, say), or breaking it into one file per page. Both are free in the browser. Use Split PDF to keep a range of pages, and the PDF Converter when you want every page as its own PDF.
Save a range of pages as a new PDF
This is what most people need: one chapter from a book, the signed pages of a contract, or a single month from a year of statements.
- Open Split PDF and choose your PDF.
- In Pages to Extract, type the pages to keep — single pages and ranges separated by commas, such as 1-3, 5, 8-10.
- Click Split PDF, check the preview, and download the new file.
The new PDF contains only those pages, in that order; your original file is left as it was. To make several separate files — chapter one, chapter two, chapter three — simply repeat the split with a different range each time.
Split every page into its own PDF
Sometimes you need individual pages: each invoice from a batch scan, each certificate from a combined file, each slide as a separate handout.
- Open the PDF Converter and switch to Extract from PDF.
- Choose Split PDF Pages (.zip) and add your PDF.
- Click Execute Conversion. You get a ZIP file containing one PDF per page, numbered in order.
On a computer, double-click the ZIP to open it. On an iPhone, tap it in the Files app to unpack it; on Android, open it with your Files app and choose Extract.
Writing page ranges
The range box understands the usual print-dialog style:
| You type | You get |
|---|---|
| 5 | page 5 only |
| 1-3 | pages 1, 2 and 3 |
| 1-3, 7 | pages 1, 2, 3 and 7 |
| 10-12, 2 | pages 10, 11, 12, then 2 |
Page numbers are the PDF's own page positions — the first page is 1 — which isn't always the number printed on the page. A report whose page "1" comes after a cover and a contents page starts at PDF page 3. If you're unsure, open the PDF and look at the page counter in your viewer.
Picking pages by clicking instead
If you'd rather see the pages than type numbers, Extract PDF Pages shows thumbnails: click the pages you want and save them as a new document. It's the easier choice for scanned documents where you have to look at each page to know which ones you need.
And if it's easier to say which pages you don't want — a blank page, a cover sheet, an advert — use Remove PDF Pages instead.
Putting pieces back together
Split files can be recombined in a different order with the PDF Merger. That's a handy trick for moving a whole section: split the document into parts, then merge the parts in the order you want.
Frequently asked questions
Does splitting reduce quality?
No. The pages are copied, not re-rendered, so text stays sharp and searchable and images aren't re-compressed.
Is my document uploaded?
No. Splitting happens in your browser on your own device, which is why it works for confidential files such as contracts, medical letters and bank statements.
Why is a small extract almost as big as the original?
Fonts and images are often shared by all pages, and the new file needs its own copy of them. A three-page extract from a 200-page report can still be a few hundred kilobytes. Run it through Compress PDF if size matters.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Unlock it first with Unlock PDF if you know the password, then split the unlocked copy.