How the split works
Your PDF is opened in this browser tab. The thumbnails are drawn with pdf.js, and each tile is labelled with the file it will go into, so you can check the cut points before saving. When you choose Split PDF, the pages for each part are copied into a new document with pdf-lib, an open-source PDF library, inside a background worker so the page stays responsive.
Files made = number of ranges you typed, or pages ÷ N rounded up, or one per top-level bookmark
Three ways to split
- Page ranges. Each comma-separated range becomes one file, in the order you typed. "1-2, 5, 9-" on a 12-page file gives pages 1-2, page 5, and pages 9-12. Pages 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are left out.
- Every N pages. Fixed-size chunks from the start. A 25-page scan split every 10 pages gives files of 10, 10 and 5 pages. Set N to 1 to get one PDF per page.
- At bookmarks. Shown only when the PDF has a bookmarks outline. Each top-level bookmark starts a file named after it, which suits textbooks, manuals and combined statements. Pages before the first bookmark become a file of their own.
Worked example: separating a scanned packet
You scanned a 14-page stack in one go: a 2-page lease addendum, a 9-page insurance policy and 3 pages of receipts. Type 1-2, 3-11, 12-. The thumbnails show "File 1" on pages 1-2, "File 2" on pages 3-11 and "File 3" on pages 12-14. Save, and you get a ZIP with three PDFs named after their page spans, for example "scan pages 03-11.pdf".
Where your file goes
Nowhere. The PDF is read from your disk into this tab and the split files are written straight back to your downloads. There is no upload, no account and no copy kept on a server, which matters for the things people usually split: bank and tax statements, medical records, contracts and scanned IDs. A password you type to open a protected file is used only in this tab.
What is kept and what isn't
| Part of the PDF | In the split files |
|---|---|
| Text, images, page size and rotation | Kept exactly |
| Links on the page | Web links keep working; links that jump to another page may not |
| Bookmarks outline | Not copied |
| Fillable form fields | May stop being fillable |
| Password | Removed; the new files open without one |
Questions people ask
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
Yes, if you know the password. The tool asks for it when you open the file, and the password never leaves your device. The split files are saved without a password, so anyone you send them to can open them. If you need them locked again, protect them after splitting.
How do I save every page as its own PDF?
Choose "Every N pages" and set it to 1. A 12-page file becomes 12 one-page PDFs, delivered together in one ZIP file. The file names carry the page number, for example "report page 07.pdf", so they sort in order.
How do I type page ranges?
Separate the files with commas: "1-3, 4-10, 11-" makes three files. A range with no end, like "11-", runs to the last page, and a single number makes a one-page file. Pages you don't mention are left out, and a page can go into more than one file if you list it twice.
Why did I get a ZIP file instead of separate PDFs?
Browsers often block or ask about a page that starts many downloads at once, so when a split makes two or more files they are packed into one ZIP. Windows, macOS, iPhone (Files app) and Android can all open a ZIP without extra software. A split that makes only one file downloads as a plain PDF.
Does splitting lower the quality or change the pages?
No. Pages are copied into the new files as they are: text stays selectable and images are not recompressed. The bookmarks outline is not copied, and fillable form fields may stop being fillable. Each part can be larger than its share of the original, because fonts and images used across the whole document are copied into every part that uses them.
Is there a page or size limit?
There is no fixed page limit. The file has to fit in your browser's memory, so the tool turns away files over the size your device can safely open and tells you the limit. Splitting a long scan into hundreds of parts can take a minute; the progress bar shows each file as it is made, and Cancel stops it.