Sometimes one PDF is too much. You only need to send one chapter, an upload form won’t take a 40-page file, or a scanned bundle needs to be separated into individual documents. Splitting a PDF takes less than a minute, and nothing is lost: every page is copied exactly as it was.
Three ways to split a PDF
| How to split | What you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| By page ranges | One PDF for each range you type | Separating a scanned bundle into documents, or chapters |
| Every page as its own PDF | One PDF per page | Sending pages to different people, or forms that want one page per file |
| Every few pages | Equal parts, for example 5 pages each | Getting under an upload size limit |
How to split a PDF step by step
- Open Split PDF and choose your PDF.
- Under How to split, pick one of the three options above.
- For page ranges, type them in the box, for example 1-3, 4, 5-end. For “every few pages”, type how many pages each file should have.
- Click Split PDF and download. Several files come together in one ZIP file.
Writing page ranges
- Separate each new file with a comma: 1-3, 4, 5-end makes three PDFs (pages 1 to 3, page 4, and page 5 to the last page).
- end means the last page, so you don’t need to count the pages.
- A single number gives a one-page PDF: 2 is just page 2.
Want one file with just some pages?
Splitting makes several files. If you want one new PDF that contains only certain pages, use Extract PDF Pages: click the pages you want to keep and download them as a single PDF. To do the opposite, deleting a few pages and keeping the rest, use Remove PDF Pages.
Opening the ZIP file
- Windows: right-click the ZIP and choose Extract All.
- Mac: double-click the ZIP.
- Android: open the Files app, tap the ZIP, then tap Extract.
- iPhone: open the Files app and tap the ZIP. A folder with your PDFs appears next to it.
Common questions
Does splitting reduce the quality?
No. The pages are copied exactly, so text stays sharp and searchable and pictures keep their quality.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Remove the password first with Unlock PDF (you need to know it), then split the unlocked copy.
Is there a page limit?
No fixed limit. Very large PDFs take a little longer because the work happens on your own device.
Is my PDF uploaded?
No. ToolNest splits the PDF inside your browser, so it never leaves your device.