Split a PDF into separate files — pull out just the pages you need, or turn every page into its own file. Choose a PDF, pick your pages, and download each new file. It runs entirely in your browser: free, no sign-in, and your file never leaves your device.
How the split PDF tool works
The tool reads your PDF in your own browser and copies the pages you ask for into new PDF files. In ranges mode, each range you type becomes one file: “1-3, 5, 7-9” on a 10-page PDF makes three files — pages 1 to 3, page 5 on its own, and pages 7 to 9. In every-page mode, each page becomes its own one-page file. The pages you do not select stay exactly where they are — your original file is never changed, and the tool only reads it.
Nothing is uploaded to a server. Your PDF is processed on your own device, so it works on any connection and your documents stay private. Each new file downloads separately with a clear name, for example “report-pages-1-3.pdf” — click each link once it appears. Browsers block automatic multiple downloads, so there is no single download-all button.
A long PDF is often more than you need — one chapter from a manual, the signed page from a contract, or a single form from a 40-page pack. The Split PDF tool pulls just the pages you want out of a PDF and saves them as separate files, or turns every page into its own one-page file. You choose the PDF, type the pages, and download each new file. It runs entirely in your browser: free, no sign-in, and your file never leaves your device.
Splitting is the opposite of merging. Where a merger joins several PDFs into one, a splitter takes one PDF apart — and the original file is never changed. The pages you do not select stay in the original exactly as they were, so you can split the same file again a different way whenever you like.
How to use the tool, step by step
There are two modes. The first splits out the exact pages you type; the second turns every page into its own file.
- Step 1 — Choose a PDF. Drop a PDF file onto the box, or click it to choose one from your device. PDF files only, up to 50 MB. As soon as it loads, the tool shows the file name and how many pages it has — check that number before you type any ranges.
- Step 2 — Pick a mode. “Split by page ranges” is for pulling out particular pages. “Every page separately” turns each page into its own one-page file, with nothing to type.
- Step 3 — Enter your ranges (ranges mode). Type the pages you want, separated by commas: single pages as numbers, and a dash for a run of pages. “1-3, 5, 7-9” means pages 1, 2 and 3 in one file, page 5 on its own, and pages 7, 8 and 9 in a third file. A live preview under the box tells you exactly how many files you will get, before you split anything.
- Step 4 — Split and download. Press “Split PDF”. Each new file appears below as its own download link, with a clear name like “report-pages-1-3.pdf”. Click each link to download it — browsers block automatic multiple downloads, so there is no single download-all button.
How page ranges work
Pages are counted from 1, and ranges include both ends. “2-4” is pages 2, 3 and 4 — three pages, not two. A single number is one page: “5” is just page 5. Ranges are separated by commas, and spaces do not matter, so “1-3,5,7-9” and “1 – 3, 5, 7 – 9” mean the same thing.
- Single page: 5 — one file with page 5 only.
- A range: 2-4 — one file with pages 2, 3 and 4, in order.
- Several ranges: 1-3, 5, 7-9 — three files: pages 1–3, page 5, and pages 7–9.
- The whole file in two halves: on a 20-page PDF, “1-10, 11-20” gives two 10-page files.
Every page can only go into one file, so the tool refuses overlapping ranges like “1-3, 3-5” — page 3 cannot be in two files at once. If you need the same page in two files, split it once for each file: first “1-3”, then a second split of “3-5” from the original.
Worked examples
Example 1 — a 10-page PDF, ranges “1-3, 5, 7-9”. The tool makes 3 files: pages 1–3 (3 pages), page 5 (1 page), and pages 7–9 (3 pages). That is 7 pages taken out of the original. Pages 4, 6 and 10 are not selected, so they do not appear in any file — but they are still in your original PDF, unchanged.
Example 2 — a 6-page PDF, every page separately. The tool makes 6 files, each exactly one page: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5 and page 6. This is the fastest way to pull a single form or certificate out of a multi-page scan, because you can keep the one page you need and ignore the rest.
Example 3 — extracting pages 2–4 from a 12-page PDF. Type “2-4” and the tool makes one file with 3 pages: pages 2, 3 and 4, in that order. The other 9 pages are not in the new file, and the original 12-page PDF is untouched — you can open it again and split out a different set of pages any time.
Every-page mode
Every-page mode needs no typing: each page becomes its own one-page file, named after the page it holds — “report-page-1.pdf”, “report-page-2.pdf”, and so on. It is the right choice when you want to share, print or file pages one at a time, or when you are not sure which pages you need and want to look at them separately first. On a long document it makes many files — a 100-page PDF makes 100 one-page files — so for a long file, ranges are usually quicker: split out the section you want instead of every page.
Common mistakes
- Page 0 does not exist. Pages start at 1. “0-3” is rejected — the first page is page 1, so type “1-3” instead.
- Ranges beyond the last page. On a 10-page PDF, “8-12” fails because pages 11 and 12 do not exist. Check the page count the tool shows after your file loads, and keep every range inside it.
- Reversed ranges. “5-2” is not a range — the first number must come before the last. Type “2-5” for pages 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- The same page in two ranges. “1-3, 3-5” is rejected because page 3 would land in two files. Split once per file instead.
- Expecting one combined download. The tool gives you one download link per file, and you click each one. Browsers block a page from starting several downloads on its own, so a single download-all button is not possible — this is a browser rule, not a missing feature.
- Expecting the original to change. Splitting never edits your original PDF. If you want a shorter version of the file, download the new files and use those — the original stays whole.
Related tools
The split PDF tool sits in the File & Image group, and three companion tools cover the rest of a PDF workflow.
- PDF Merger — the opposite job: combine several PDFs into one file, in the order you choose.
- PDF to Word — turn a PDF into an editable Word document after you have split out the pages you need.
- Sign PDF — add your signature to a PDF, for example the single page you just split out of a contract.
For all of ToolZana’s free tools, start at the ToolZana home page.
Tips for clean splits
- Check the page count first. The tool shows it as soon as your file loads. A quick look stops the most common error — ranges that run past the last page.
- Split wide, then split again. If you need pages 2–4 and pages 8–9, one split with “2-4, 8-9” gives both files at once. If you are unsure, split a wide range first and then split the result again.
- Keep the original. The new files are copies. Keep the original PDF until you have checked every new file opens correctly — then file or delete it as you like.
- Name files before you download. The tool names each file after the pages inside it, for example “report-pages-1-3.pdf”. If you split the same file several ways, the names keep the sets apart.
- Password-protected files need unlocking first. The tool cannot open a PDF that asks for a password. Open it with the password and save an unprotected copy, then split that copy.
The short version
The Split PDF tool takes one PDF apart: type page ranges like “1-3, 5, 7-9” and each range becomes its own file, or use every-page mode and get one file per page. A 10-page PDF split as “1-3, 5, 7-9” gives 3 files (3 pages, 1 page, 3 pages); a 6-page PDF split every page gives 6 one-page files; extracting pages 2–4 from a 12-page PDF gives one 3-page file, and the original is left untouched. Pages start at 1, ranges include both ends, and each page can only go into one file. Your file never leaves your device, the tool is free, and there is no sign-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a split PDF tool?
A split PDF tool takes one PDF file apart into several smaller PDF files. You choose which pages go into each new file — either by typing page ranges, or by splitting every page into its own one-page file. The original PDF is never changed: the new files are copies of the pages you selected.
How do I split PDF pages into separate files?
Choose your PDF in the tool, then type the pages you want as ranges separated by commas — for example “1-3, 5, 7-9”. Each range becomes one file: pages 1–3 in the first, page 5 on its own, and pages 7–9 in the third. Press “Split PDF” and download each file from its own link.
How do I extract pages from a PDF?
Extracting pages is the same as splitting by ranges: type just the pages you want, for example “2-4” to take pages 2, 3 and 4 out of a longer PDF. The tool makes one new file holding only those pages, in order, and your original PDF stays whole.
Can I split a PDF online for free?
Yes — this tool is completely free, with no sign-in and no limits on how often you use it. It runs entirely in your browser, so your file is never uploaded to a server, and there is no account or payment step at any point.
What is a PDF splitter?
A PDF splitter is a tool that divides one PDF into several smaller PDFs. It is the opposite of a PDF merger, which joins files together. People use a splitter to pull one chapter out of a manual, separate the signed page from a contract, or turn each page of a scanned document into its own file.
Do my files leave my computer when I split a PDF here?
No. The split happens entirely in your browser, on your own device — your PDF is never uploaded to a server, stored, or seen by anyone else. You can use the tool offline once the page has loaded, and closing the page removes the files from the tool.
How do I split a PDF by page ranges?
Type the pages as ranges separated by commas — “1-3, 5, 7-9” — in the ranges box. A dash means every page between the two numbers, including both ends, and each range becomes one file. The live preview below the box shows how many files you will get before you press “Split PDF”.
Can I split every page of a PDF into a separate file?
Yes — choose “Every page separately” instead of ranges. Each page becomes its own one-page PDF, named after the page it holds, so a 6-page PDF gives 6 files. Nothing to type: just choose the file, pick the mode, and press “Split PDF”.
What happens to the pages I do not select?
Nothing — they stay in your original PDF, which is never changed. Only the pages you select appear in the new files. If you later need a page you skipped, open the original again and split it out; you can split the same file as many times as you like.
Why does the tool say my PDF is password-protected?
The tool cannot open a PDF that asks for a password, because it cannot read the pages without unlocking it first. Open the file with its password in a PDF reader and save an unprotected copy, then split that copy. Files that only restrict printing or editing usually work fine — it is the open password that blocks the split.
What is the largest PDF I can split?
Files up to 50 MB work in the tool. The split happens in your browser, so very large files are limited by your device’s memory rather than by any server — on an older device, a file near the limit may be slow. If a file is over 50 MB, the tool tells you and you will need to shrink it first.
Can I split a scanned PDF?
Yes. A scanned PDF is still a PDF — its pages are images instead of text, but the tool copies whole pages without reading their contents, so scanned pages split exactly like typed ones. The new files keep the same page size and quality as the original.