A forty-page contract of which only the last page needs signing, a manual of which you need just chapter 3, a case file that must go out in three emails because it exceeds the attachment limit: splitting a PDF comes down to three distinct gestures (cut, keep, remove), and each has its own tool. This guide explains which to choose and how to avoid numbering mistakes.
Cut, keep or remove: choosing the right gesture
| Your need | Tool | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Get several files from one | Split PDF | Several PDFs (by ranges, per page, every N pages or by size). |
| Remove a few unwanted pages | Delete PDF Pages | A single PDF without those pages. |
In every case the original file is never modified: you download new files, and pages are not recompressed, so text and images stay identical.
Splitting with Split PDF
The tool offers four ways of cutting:
- By ranges: “1-3, 5, 8-” creates three files (pages 1 to 3, page 5, pages 8 to the end). Each range gives one file.
- Every page: one single-page PDF per page. Useful for handing sheets to different people.
- Every N pages: regular blocks; the last may be shorter. Handy for a 120-page collection in chapters of 20.
- Maximum size: pages are grouped in order without exceeding the chosen size. A page already heavier than the limit stays alone in its file.
Files are offered one by one or as a ZIP archive, named after the original followed by the pages (for example report_01-03.pdf), which stops you mixing them up.
Staying within an attachment limit
Many mail services cap an attachment at around 20 to 25 MB. One detail traps almost everybody: an attachment is encoded to travel inside an email, which makes it about a third heavier (4 bytes sent for every 3 original). A 19 MB file therefore becomes about 25 MB when sent, and can be refused although it looks under the limit.
The “maximum size” mode solves this: aim for 15 MB per part, for instance, against a 20 MB limit. If a single page exceeds the limit (a very high-resolution scan), splitting will not help; go through compression instead (see How to compress a PDF without ruining it).
Keeping or deleting specific pages
- Click the thumbnails of the pages concerned; Shift + click ticks a whole series. You can also type “1-3, 5, 8-” (“8-” means to the end): typing and ticks stay in sync.
- To delete, the Odd / Even / Invert buttons help when a double-sided scan produced blank pages in between or when you want to remove everything except a few pages.
- To extract in a particular order, type for example “5, 1-3” and tick “keep the order I typed”: you will get 5, 1, 2, 3.
- Download the new PDF and open it to check it contains the right pages.
Practical tips
- Mind the numbering. The “12” printed on the sheet is not always the twelfth page of the file (cover page, preface in Roman numerals). The tool numbers by position in the file: trust the thumbnails.
- Name the parts clearly before sending: the generated name already contains the pages, but add the recipient or subject if needed.
- To remove a page with sensitive information, delete it rather than hiding it under a rectangle: a black box added on top does not erase the text underneath.
- Keep the complete original until the sending is confirmed.
Common mistakes
- Getting a range wrong (“3-5” instead of “3, 5”): the first gives a three-page file, the second two one-page files.
- Forgetting that bookmarks and internal cross-references are not carried into the produced files (web links are).
- Splitting a password-protected PDF without first unlocking it with Unlock PDF.
- Splitting an electronically signed document: the parts produced no longer carry the original signature.
Honest limits
- 100 MB maximum per PDF, because everything happens in the browser's memory.
- Form fields of the original file are not carried into the extracts.
- A damaged or protected PDF is refused with a clear message rather than producing an incomplete result.
Frequently asked questions
Is the original file modified?
Never. You download new files; the original stays as it is on your device.
Does page quality change after splitting?
No. Pages are copied without recompression: text, images and fonts are identical.
How do I split a PDF into one page per file?
In Split PDF, choose “Every page”: you get as many PDFs as there are pages, to download one by one or in a ZIP archive.
How do I delete all the even pages?
In Delete PDF Pages, use the “Even” button then download the result. It is useful for a double-sided scan whose backs are blank.
Are my documents sent anywhere?
No. Splitting is done by your browser, with no file upload at all.