How to Split PDF Pages into Separate Files: Free Guide

Big PDF files can be unwieldy. Sometimes you only need one or two pages from a 50-page contract, or you want to break a large report into chapters. This is where a PDF splitter comes in handy.

In this guide, we'll show you how to split PDF files quickly and easily.

Why Split a PDF?

• Extract specific pages: Send only relevant pages to clients/colleagues
• Reduce file size: Remove unnecessary pages to save space
• Organize documents: Break large archives into manageable pieces
• Privacy: Remove sensitive pages before sharing

Method 1: Split PDF Online (Fastest)

Using an online tool is the quickest way to extract pages without installing software.

Steps to Split PDF:

1. Go to the Split PDF tool
2. Upload the PDF you want to split
3. Select mode:
   • Extract pages: Click specific pages to save them
   • Split all pages: Save every page as a separate PDF
4. Click Split
5. Download your new file(s)

Benefits:

• Works on Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android
• Secure processing (files deleted automatically)
• No watermarks

Method 2: Use Google Chrome (Print to PDF)

You can use your browser to "extract" pages:

1. Open the PDF in Google Chrome
2. Click the Print icon (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P)
3. Change Destination to Save as PDF
4. Under Pages, choose Custom
5. Enter page numbers (e.g., "1-5" or "2,4,7")
6. Click Save

Limitation: Hard to split every page into separate files at once.

Method 3: Preview on Mac

Mac users have a built-in splitter:

1. Open PDF in Preview
2. Show Thumbnails (View > Thumbnails)
3. Drag a thumbnail onto your Desktop
4. That single page is now a new PDF file!

Conclusion

Splitting PDFs doesn't need to be complicated. For most users, an online PDF splitter offers the perfect balance of speed and power.

Need to put pages back together? Check out our Merge PDF tool.