How to Split a PDF Into Separate Pages

🌐 All Devices ⏱️ 3 min read ▶️ Video included

Video Tutorial by Gauging Gadgets

Split Your PDF Now

Break apart any PDF into individual pages or custom sections.

Open Split PDF Tool →

Someone sends you a 50-page PDF but you only need pages 12-15. Or you've scanned a stack of documents together but now need to file them separately. Maybe you have a massive report and want to distribute individual chapters. All common scenarios, and all solvable in under a minute without installing anything.

PDFGadget's split tool lets you select exactly which pages you want, then download them as separate files or combined into smaller PDFs. Everything happens in your browser — the original document stays private and unchanged.

💡 When splitting PDFs makes sense

  • Extracting specific pages from a long report to share relevant sections only
  • Breaking apart a batch-scanned document into individual files
  • Isolating a signature page from a contract
  • Dividing a textbook or manual into chapter-sized portions
  • Separating invoices or receipts that were combined into one PDF

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Split Tool

Go to pdfgadget.com/split-pdf in any browser. The tool works identically on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge across all operating systems.

💡 Pro tip: If you need specific pages rather than splitting into individual files, check out our Extract Pages tool, it's designed specifically for pulling out page ranges.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

Click to browse or drag your PDF onto the page. You'll see thumbnail previews of each page, making it easy to identify the content you need. Large documents may take a moment to generate all previews.

Step 3: Select Your Pages

Click on the page thumbnails you want to extract. Selected pages highlight in green. Click again to deselect. You can select individual pages scattered throughout the document or continuous ranges.

Step 4: Choose Output Format

Decide whether you want one PDF containing your selected pages, or each page as a separate PDF file. The "One PDF" option combines your selections; "Separate PDFs" creates individual files.

Step 5: Download Your Files

Hit the Split button to process. If you selected multiple separate PDFs, they'll download as a ZIP file. Single PDF outputs download directly. Your original file remains unchanged.

Split Options Explained

The tool offers flexibility depending on your needs:

Why Use PDFGadget for Splitting?

Breaking apart a PDF should be simple. No software installations, no account signups, no uploading confidential documents to random servers. Here's what sets PDFGadget apart:

Related Tasks

After splitting your PDF, you might want to:

Troubleshooting

Thumbnails won't load

Large PDFs with many pages take time to generate previews. Wait a moment for processing. If thumbnails still don't appear, try refreshing the page and uploading again.

Can't select certain pages

Make sure you're clicking on the page thumbnail itself, not the area around it. On touchscreens, use a firm single tap rather than a long press.

ZIP file downloads instead of PDF

When splitting into separate PDFs, multiple files automatically package as a ZIP. Extract the ZIP to access your individual PDF files.

Original file was modified

This shouldn't happen - PDFGadget never alters your source file. The split creates new files while leaving the original untouched. If your original seems changed, check that you're looking at the right file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I split a password-protected PDF?

Only if it's currently unlocked. If the PDF requires a password to open, you'll need to unlock it first in another PDF reader, save an unprotected copy, then split that copy.

Is there a page limit?

No artificial limit. Your browser's memory sets the practical ceiling. Most devices handle several hundred pages without issues. Extremely large documents might be slow to preview.

Will splitting affect page quality?

No. Pages are extracted exactly as they exist in the original — same resolution, same formatting, same everything. Nothing is compressed or reprocessed.

Can I split by page ranges instead of clicking each page?

The Extract Pages tool lets you specify page ranges like "1-5, 8, 12-15" which may be faster for large selections. The split tool is better for visual selection.

Does my file get uploaded anywhere?

No. All processing happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your PDF never leaves your device. This is why the tool works offline after the initial page load.

What's the difference between Split and Extract Pages?

Split is designed for visual selection with thumbnails and can output separate files. Extract Pages is optimized for entering page ranges and always outputs a single combined PDF.