Splitting a PDF means separating a document into several smaller files, or extracting only certain pages from it. This comes in handy when a scan lumps several distinct documents together, or when an online form only accepts one page at a time.
When is splitting a PDF useful?
A few common cases: a scanner combined several supporting documents into a single file when one per document was needed; a contract running dozens of pages needs to be shared section by section; or a report contains an appendix you want to send separately without handing over the entire document.
How to split a PDF step by step
- Open the Split PDF tool.
- Import the file you want to split.
- Choose the pages or page ranges to extract.
- Download the resulting files, individually or bundled into an archive.
Split PDF vs. removing pages: what's the difference?
Split PDF creates several new files from a single original document. If your need is different — removing one or more unwanted pages while keeping a single final document — the Remove PDF Pages tool is a better fit and skips an extra merge step.
What to do next with the resulting files
Once your files are split, you can compress them individually with Compress PDF before sending them, or recombine them differently later with the Merge PDF tool if you change your mind about how the document should be organized.
A good habit before splitting
Note down the page numbers or sections you want to separate ahead of time by opening the PDF in a regular viewer. This avoids splitting mistakes, especially on long documents where the viewer's page count doesn't always match the page numbers printed on the page itself.
Understanding the page range syntax
In range mode, you describe the pages you want with a simple notation. A single number extracts one page, a dash extracts an interval, and commas combine several parts. For example, 3 gives you page 3 only, 2-5 gives you pages 2 to 5, and 1-3,5,8-9 gives you pages 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 in a new file. In the other mode, every page becomes its own PDF, which is convenient when a scan combined several single-page documents.
Splitting a multi-document scan
When a scanner produces one long file from several papers, find the boundaries before you start: note the first and last page of each document. Blank separator pages can be removed beforehand with Remove PDF Pages so that they do not end up inside your results. Then extract each document with its own range, and rename the files right away, for instance contract-pages-1-4.pdf and invoice-pages-5-6.pdf.
Splitting to meet an email or upload limit
If a document is too heavy to send, try shrinking it first with Compress PDF, because one file is easier for the recipient than several. If it is still too large and the form or the inbox accepts multiple attachments, split the document into logical parts and label them clearly, such as part-1-of-3.pdf. Tell the recipient in your message how many files to expect. Our guide on meeting file size limits on online forms describes the whole process.
Check each resulting file
After splitting, open every new file. Confirm the page count, check that the first page is the one you intended, and make sure nothing has been cut in the middle of a section. The original is never modified, so you can always repeat the operation with a different range if something is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Can I extract a single page from a PDF?+
Yes, you can select a single page or a range of pages to extract into a new file.
Is the original file modified?+
No, the tool creates new files from the imported document; the original is never changed on your device.
Can I split a PDF into several files at once?+
Yes, you can define several page ranges and get multiple separate files directly.
Do I need to create an account?+
No, the tool is usable right away, with no sign-up and no installation.