You received a 30-page PDF report but only need pages 4–7. Or you want to share a single page from a contract without sending the whole document. Splitting a PDF is one of the most common document tasks — and you can do it for free without uploading to any server.
Method 1: Browser-based (no upload, no install)
The fastest option. The 365tools PDF Split tool uses pdf-lib in your browser — your PDF never leaves your device.
- Go to 365tools.net/pdf-tools/split
- Drop your PDF onto the upload zone
- Choose Split all pages (every page becomes its own file) or enter custom ranges like
1-3, 5, 8-10 - Download the split files individually or as a ZIP
Page range syntax
| Input | What you get |
|---|---|
| 3 | A PDF with only page 3 |
| 1-5 | A PDF with pages 1 through 5 |
| 1-3, 7, 10-12 | Three PDFs: pages 1–3, page 7, and pages 10–12 |
| all | Every page as its own separate PDF |
Method 2: Adobe Acrobat
If you have Adobe Acrobat (not the free Reader): Tools → Organize Pages → Split. Choose to split by number of pages, file size, or top-level bookmarks. The free Adobe Acrobat Online version also supports splitting with a file size limit.
Method 3: Print to PDF (any OS)
Open the PDF in any viewer, press Print, select Save as PDF (or "Microsoft Print to PDF"), and set the page range in the print dialog. This is the most universally available method but loses interactive elements (links, bookmarks, form fields).
Method 4: Preview on Mac
Open the PDF in Preview, show the thumbnail sidebar, select the pages you want to keep (hold Cmd for multiple), then drag them to the desktop or use File → Export as PDF.
Split a PDF for free — no upload required
Custom page ranges, ZIP download, browser-based with pdf-lib.
Open PDF Split tool →Frequently asked questions
Can I split a PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. The 365tools PDF Split tool, browser-based tools, and free desktop applications like PDF-XChange Editor all split PDFs without requiring Adobe Acrobat.
How do I extract just one page from a PDF?
In the 365tools PDF Split tool, enter the single page number in the page ranges field (e.g., '3' to extract only page 3). The tool will create a new PDF containing just that page.
Will splitting a PDF reduce its quality?
No. PDF splitting rearranges pages from the original document into new files without re-rendering any content. Fonts, images, and formatting are preserved exactly.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
No. Password-protected PDFs cannot be split without first removing the password. You will need to unlock the PDF using the original password before splitting.