How to Split a PDF into Separate Files or Page Ranges
A single PDF often carries more than one document: a signed contract with an appendix, an invoice stapled to a statement, a report where only one chapter is relevant. Sending the whole file gives away more than the recipient needs and makes them scroll to find their part. Splitting fixes both problems, provided you decide what kind of split you actually want.
The Split PDF tool pulls pages or page ranges out into separate documents, and it does the work in your browser.
Quick answer
Choose separate files when different parts go to different people, and a single extracted range when you just want a shorter document. Work from the page numbers shown in the PDF viewer, not the numbers printed on the page, and check the first page of every output before sending it.
Two different jobs
Splitting into separate files produces one PDF per range: pages 1–4 become contract.pdf, pages 5–7 become appendix.pdf. This is what you want when each part has its own audience or its own filename.
Extracting a range produces one new file containing only those pages. The original stays as it was. This is the better choice for sending a chapter, a single invoice or the relevant pages of a manual, because the recipient gets one file to open rather than a folder of fragments.
Find the real page numbers
Printed page numbers and PDF page numbers are rarely the same. A document with a cover, a contents page and roman numerals in the front matter might have “page 12” printed on what the viewer calls page 16. Always read the number from the viewer’s page counter, and write down the start and end of each range before you begin.
If a section straddles a boundary — a table that starts at the bottom of one page and continues on the next — include both pages rather than guessing. It is easier to drop a page later than to explain a missing row.
What survives the split
Text and images come through intact. Links can be a problem: a link pointing to page 9 of the original may point nowhere in a three-page extract. Form fields can be duplicated across files, so a filled-in form split into parts may produce several copies of the same answer. Bookmarks and the document outline often break entirely.
Check the first page of each output, then scan for links and forms if the document has them. Keep the original untouched as a master copy, and give the outputs names that say what they contain: invoice-2026-04.pdf is more useful than split-1.pdf.
Putting files back together
Splitting is often a temporary step: extract a chapter, edit it, then rebuild the document. The Merge PDF tool joins the parts again in the order you choose, and the guide to merging a PDF without uploading it covers the details of order and page numbering.
Open the Split PDF tool, enter the ranges you noted, and download each part. Check the page count against your notes before anything goes out.
Common questions
Should I split a PDF into separate files or extract a page range?
Use separate files when each part goes to a different person or needs its own filename. Extract a single range when you just want a shorter document, such as one chapter or one invoice, so the recipient gets one file to open rather than a folder of fragments.
How do I find the right page numbers to split?
Read the page number from the viewer's page counter, not the number printed on the page. A document with a cover, contents page and roman numerals in the front matter can be several pages out. Note the start and end of each range before you begin.
Does splitting a PDF upload my file?
No. The split is carried out in your browser, so the file is not uploaded to a server. The original stays untouched, and you download each new part separately. Check the page count of every output against your notes before sending anything.