How to Split a PDF into Multiple Files

A split is not the same as pulling one chunk out of a document. When people look for a way to split a PDF (Portable Document Format), they usually want one file cut into several files: every page on its own, every few pages, or a set of ranges they type. Quialo's Split PDF tool does that in the browser. The document is never uploaded.

Three ways to split

Open the tool and drop in a PDF. Page thumbnails appear so you can see the pages before you cut them. Then pick one mode.

Every page makes one PDF per page. A 20 page report becomes 20 files.

Every N pages groups the document into equal chunks. A 50 page scan split every 10 pages becomes 5 files. The last file holds whatever pages are left if the total does not divide evenly. A 5 page file split every 2 pages becomes three files: pages 1 to 2, pages 3 to 4, and page 5.

Custom ranges let you name each file. The text 1-3, 5, 8-10 makes three files: pages 1 to 3, page 5 alone, and pages 8 to 10. A single range, such as 1-6, still produces one file, which is the same result as extracting that range.

How to write a range

Pages start at 1, and a range includes both ends. Separate groups with commas. Spaces are fine, so 1 - 3, 5, 8 - 10 reads the same as 1-3, 5, 8-10. Write the smaller page first. 8-3 is rejected until you swap it. A page number past the end of the document is rejected too, with a message that tells you how many pages the file actually has.

Overlapping groups are allowed. 1-3, 2-4 makes two files, and pages 2 and 3 appear in both. That is useful when a cover page should sit with more than one section.

Download one zip or each file

After you click Split PDF, each group is listed with its own download. You can also download the whole set as one zip. The original file on your device is not changed.

Password protected PDFs cannot be opened here. Remove the password in a PDF viewer, save a copy, and split that copy. Very large files, and splits that would create hundreds of files, can run out of browser memory. If that happens, use every N pages or a shorter range.

Why the file stays on your device

The split uses code that already loaded with the page. Nothing you drop is sent to a server. The same idea is explained in Why browser-based tools protect your data.

If you need a different edit, these tools run the same way:

• Extract PDF Pages keeps the pages you list in a single new PDF.
• Merge PDFs joins several documents into one.
• Delete PDF Pages removes the pages you list.
• Reorder PDF Pages puts pages in a new order.
• Rotate PDF turns every page by a quarter turn.