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Split PDF

Copy the pages you name, like 1-3,5, out of a PDF into a new file, in your browser.

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Quick answer

Split PDF copies the pages you specify out of a PDF and saves them as a new file, using pdf-lib in your browser. Type a range such as 1-3,5 and it puts exactly those pages into a fresh PDF and downloads it. The original stays as it was and nothing is uploaded. Note that the output is one new PDF of the pages you chose, not a separate file for each page.

  • 1-3,5range syntax
  • Losslesspages are copied
  • 1new file: split-pdf.pdf
  • 0files uploaded

What the Split PDF does

A PDF often holds more than you need to send: a 40-page manual when someone only wants the install steps, a statement where one page has the figure, a scanned packet with three relevant sheets. Name the pages you want and Split PDF gives you just those as a new document.

It reads your page numbers as single pages, spans or a mix like 1-3,5. Those pages are copied whole into a new PDF, so text stays selectable and nothing is re-rendered. Despite the name, the tool extracts a set of pages into one file. It doesn't break a PDF into many one-page files.

How it works

When you add a file, pdf-lib opens it and reports the page count so you can see the valid range. pdf-lib is an open-source JavaScript library that reads and writes PDFs in the browser, with no server or Acrobat involved.

You type the pages you want. The tool parses the range, drops anything out of bounds, copies the matching pages into a new document and saves it as a single PDF for download.

Processing pipeline

  1. Step 1. Add a PDF. pdf-lib reads it on your device and shows how many pages it has.
  2. Step 2. Enter the pages to keep: single numbers, spans or a mix like 1-3,5.
  3. Step 3. The range is parsed and limited to real pages; duplicates and out-of-range numbers are dropped.
  4. Step 4. pdf-lib copies those pages into a new PDF in the order you listed them.
  5. Step 5. The new file downloads as split-pdf.pdf and your original is left alone.

What 1-3,5 takes from a 6-page file

original.pdf123456stays behindstays behind1235split-pdf.pdf
Your original isn't touched. You get a second PDF with only the pages you named.

Privacy

The PDF stays on your device. It is read, the chosen pages are copied and the new file is built locally. Nothing is uploaded and no copy is kept anywhere.

You don't need an account. Refresh or close the tab and both the source and the extract are cleared from memory, so you can use it on statements, contracts and other private documents.

Technical details

Enginepdf-lib (open-source, JavaScript)
InputOne PDF + a page range
Range syntaxSingles and spans, e.g. 1-3,5
OutputOne new PDF of the chosen pages
QualityLossless; pages are copied, not re-rendered
UploadNone; the file stays in your browser

Standards and references

  • ISO 32000 (PDF): the PDF specification. Each page is an object in the document's page tree, so a page can be copied into a new file intact.
  • pdf-lib: the open-source JavaScript library that reads the page count, copies the selected pages and writes the new document.

Accuracy and limits

Extraction is lossless. The pages are copied, not reprinted, so they keep their text, fonts and image resolution. The new file's size depends on the pages you kept.

Page numbers start at 1 and are limited to the document's length. Ask for page 50 of a 12-page file and that number is ignored instead of causing an error, so a small typo won't break the export.

Pages come out in the order you list them across commas, with duplicates removed. Entering 5,1-3 puts page 5 first; within a span like 1-3 the pages stay in ascending order.

The tool makes one combined PDF of the pages you picked. To split a document into separate one-page files, run it once per page or per range. The work happens in memory, so very large PDFs depend on your device, but pulling a few pages from a big file is light work.

The order follows what you type

You type5,1-35123You type 50 in a 12-page file12345678910111250skipped
List a page first and it comes out first. Numbers past the last page are skipped without an error.

Real-world uses

Send just the relevant pages

Share pages 4-6 of a long manual or report instead of forwarding the whole thing.

One page off a statement

Take out the single page with the number or transaction someone asked for.

Trim a scan

Leave out the blank or cover pages of a scanned packet by extracting only the pages you need.

Reorder on the way out

List pages as 3,1,2 to copy them in a new order, which helps when a scan came out shuffled.

When it fits, and when it doesn't

Good for

  • Taking specific pages or a range from a PDF
  • Producing one trimmed PDF to send
  • Reordering a handful of pages by listing them
  • Keeping text and quality intact

Not the best choice for

  • Splitting a file into one PDF per page
  • Joining several PDFs together
  • Keeping most of a file and dropping a few pages
  • Editing the content of a page

To combine files, use Merge PDF. To remove a few pages and keep the rest, use Delete PDF Pages. To turn pages into images, use PDF to JPG.

Frequently asked questions

How do I enter the pages I want?
Type page numbers separated by commas and use a hyphen for a span. For example, 1-3,5 gives you pages 1, 2, 3 and 5. The tool shows the file's page count so you know the valid range.
Does it split a PDF into separate one-page files?
No. Despite the name, it copies the pages you name into one new PDF. For individual files, run it once per page (enter 1, then 2, and so on) or once per range.
Is the extracted PDF lower quality?
No. The pages are copied whole, not re-rendered, so text stays selectable and images keep their resolution.
What happens if I enter a page that doesn't exist?
It is skipped. Ask for page 20 of a 10-page document and that number is ignored instead of causing an error, so a small typo won't break the export.
Can I change the page order?
Yes, across comma-separated parts. Listing 3,1,2 copies the pages in that order. Within a span like 1-3 the pages stay in ascending order.
Are my files uploaded?
No. pdf-lib opens and trims the PDF inside your browser. Nothing is sent anywhere, and closing the tab clears it from memory.
Does it change my original PDF?
No. It writes a new file (split-pdf.pdf) with the pages you chose and leaves the source document as it was.
Can it extract from a password-protected PDF?
Not while it is locked, because the page data has to be readable. Remove the password first, then extract from the unlocked copy.
Is there a limit on file size or page count?
There is no fixed limit. The work happens in your browser's memory, so very large files depend on your device, but pulling a few pages from a big PDF is light work.
Why extract pages instead of deleting them?
Extract when you want a few pages out of many. Use Delete PDF Pages when you want to keep most of the document and drop only a few.

References

This page follows how the extractor reads your page range, including reordering, duplicates and out-of-range typos.

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