Need to Split a PDF? Here's How to Do It

You've got a 50-page PDF, but you only need each page as a separate file. Or maybe you scanned several documents together and now need each page individually. Whatever your reason, splitting PDFs into individual pages is simple and fast.

The good news? You don't need expensive software or complicated programs. Our Split tool handles this directly in your browser, free of charge. Just open your PDF, click Split, and download your separate files.

In this guide, I'll show you exactly how to split a PDF file into individual pages. I'll also explain how to extract specific pages first using our Export tool if you don't need the entire document split. Let's get started.

Why Would You Want to Split a PDF?

People split PDFs into individual pages for several reasons:

Separate Scanned Documents
You scanned multiple papers together. Splitting creates individual files for easier organization and naming.

Distribute Individual Pages
Send different pages to different people without sharing the entire document.

Create Individual Files
Each page can be stored or filed separately, making management and organization easier.

Prepare for Further Processing
Splitting makes it easier to edit, convert, or process individual pages later.

Organize Multi-Page Scans
Separate forms, invoices, or contracts scanned together into individual files for proper handling.

Archive Individual Pages
Store or catalog pages with unique filenames and metadata for easy retrieval.

How to Split a PDF: Step-by-Step

Here's the straightforward process:

  1. Open Your PDF
    Drag and drop your PDF into the Split tool, or click "Choose PDF File" to browse. The file opens in your browser, and your document stays completely private.
  2. Click "Split PDF"
    The tool separates every page into its own PDF file. For example, a 20-page PDF becomes 20 separate files.
  3. Download Your Files
    All pages are packaged into a ZIP file. Extract it to access all your individual PDF pages, named sequentially (page_1.pdf, page_2.pdf, etc.).

Important: The Split tool splits all pages of a PDF. If you only need specific pages, use our PDF editor to export specific page ranges first. For example, to get pages 5–10 from a 50-page PDF, export them as a 6-page PDF, then run that through Split to create 6 individual files.

How the Split Tool Works

Our Split tool does one thing: it takes your PDF and creates a separate PDF for every page. There’s no page selection or thumbnails—every page is split automatically.

🔹 What the Split Tool Does

Open a 20-page PDF and get 20 separate PDFs. Open a 100-page PDF and get 100 separate PDFs. Each page is its own complete file, ready to save, share, or process individually.

🔹 What If You Only Want Specific Pages?

Since Split cannot choose specific pages, you need to use the Export tool first. Export the exact pages or a range you want. For example, export pages 5–10 from a 50-page PDF to create a 6-page PDF. Then use Split on that PDF to generate 6 individual files.

Common Questions

❓ Can I split password-protected PDFs?

You must open the PDF with the password first. If it has editing restrictions, remove them or use the password to enable splitting.

❓ Can I split only certain pages?

No. Split always separates all pages. To split specific pages, use Export first, then Split the exported PDF.

❓ Will splitting affect PDF quality?

No. Splitting is lossless. Text, images, and formatting remain identical to the original.

Wrapping Up

Splitting PDFs is simple: every page becomes its own file. To handle specific pages, use Export first, then Split. Everything happens in your browser, so files stay private, and the process is fast and free.