How to Split a PDF Into Separate Files
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Splitting a PDF is what you do when one file is trying to be several documents at once: a scanned bundle that's really a contract plus its appendices, a 200-page report you only need one chapter of, or a merged batch that has to go back out as individual files. Rather than send the whole thing and ask people to find their part, you split it.
This guide uses the free Split PDF tool, which divides a PDF by page range directly in your browser — nothing is uploaded. It's a fast, private way to turn one file into the smaller pieces you actually need to send or store.
We'll also clear up a common point of confusion: the difference between splitting a PDF and extracting pages, because the right tool depends on what you're trying to end up with.
Step by step
- 1
Open the Split PDF tool
Go to the Split PDF tool in your browser. It runs on your device — no upload, no account.
- 2
Add your PDF
Drag the file onto the drop zone or click to choose it. The tool reads the page count so you can split by range.
- 3
Decide where the document breaks
Look at the page numbers and identify the boundaries — for example, pages 1–10 are the contract, 11–24 the appendix. Plan the ranges before you split.
- 4
Enter the page range to split out
Specify the range you want as its own file. Repeat for each section you need to peel off.
- 5
Download each piece
The tool produces a new PDF for the range you chose. Save each with a clear, section-specific name.
- 6
Keep the original intact
Splitting doesn't modify the source — your original PDF stays whole on your device. Hold on to it until you've confirmed every split came out right.
Tips
- Split when you want several separate documents; extract when you want to pull a few pages into one new file. They sound similar but produce different results.
- Note the page boundaries before you start. Splitting a long report is much faster when you already know that the methodology starts on page 31.
- Name each split file for its contents, not its range — "Appendix-B.pdf" is more useful to a recipient than "pages-25-40.pdf".
- Splitting a huge PDF first also makes other operations faster: compressing or converting a 15-page section beats wrestling with the full 300-page file.
- Password-protected PDFs can't be processed in the browser. Remove the password first, or use the PDF Editor app, which supports protected files.
Try it on your phone
On a phone, splitting is often about sending the right slice to the right person from wherever you are. The PDF Editor app splits, extracts and shares in a few taps, and works offline — useful when you're on site and need to send just the signed pages back.
