How to Split a PDF or Save Just One Page
To save one page or a range of pages of a PDF as a new file, open the PDF in Chrome or Edge, press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac), set the destination to Save as PDF, enter the pages you want under Pages, for example 3 or 2-5, and click Save. On a Mac you can also drag page thumbnails out of Preview to make a new PDF. Repeat with other page ranges to split a PDF into several files.
When you need to split a PDF
A bank statement, a scanned bundle of certificates or a long contract often arrives as one PDF, but an application form asks for just one page, or an upload limit is too small for the whole file. You do not need paid software to fix that. Every computer and phone can already save part of a PDF as a new file through the print menu.
Method 1: Chrome or Edge (Windows, Mac, Chromebook)
This works on any computer and is the quickest way to save one page or a range of pages.
- Open the PDF in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Drag the file into a browser window if it opens in another app.
- Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac).
- Set Destination (or Printer) to Save as PDF.
- Under Pages, choose Custom and type the pages: 3 for one page, 2-5 for a range, or 1, 4, 7 for separate pages.
- Click Save and give the new file a clear name.
To split the PDF into several files, repeat these steps for each range, for example pages 1-3 as one file and 4-10 as another.
Method 2: Preview on a Mac
- Open the PDF in Preview and choose View > Thumbnails.
- Select the pages you want (hold Cmd to select several).
- Drag the selected thumbnails onto the desktop. Preview creates a new PDF containing only those pages.
Unlike the print method, this keeps links and form fields. To remove pages instead, select them in the sidebar, press Delete and choose File > Export as PDF to save a copy.
Method 3: Windows without a browser
From any app that opens PDFs, including the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, choose File > Print, pick Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer, enter the pages you want and click Print. Windows asks where to save the new PDF.
Method 4: iPhone and Android
- iPhone: open the PDF, tap the Share button and choose Print. Under Range, pick the pages, then tap the Share button at the top of the print options and choose Save to Files.
- Android: open the PDF, tap the menu and choose Print. Select Save as PDF as the printer, open the page options to choose the pages, then tap the PDF button to save.
Which method should I use?
| You need | Best method |
|---|---|
| One page for an application form | Chrome or Edge print |
| Several separate files from one PDF | Chrome print, once per range |
| Keep links, bookmarks or form fields | Preview on a Mac |
| Do it on your phone | Print > Save to Files |
After splitting
- The page is still too large to upload: shrink it with Compress PDF, or use the 200 KB page for strict limits.
- The form wants an image, not a PDF: turn the page into a JPG with PDF to JPG.
- You need to put pages back together in a different order or with other files: use Merge PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I split a PDF in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Not directly: Organize Pages and Split are part of the paid Acrobat Pro. In the free Reader on Windows, choose File > Print, pick Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer, enter the pages under Pages to Print and save the new file.
How do I save one page of a PDF?
Open the PDF in Chrome, press Ctrl+P or Cmd+P, choose Save as PDF, set Pages to Custom, type the page number and click Save.
How do I split a PDF into multiple files?
Save each part separately with the print method, for example pages 1-3 as one file and pages 4-10 as another. Name each file clearly as you save it.
Does splitting a PDF reduce its quality?
No. Text and images are kept as they are. The print method does remove clickable links, bookmarks and fillable form fields, so use Preview on a Mac if you need to keep those.
How do I put the pages back together?
Use our Merge PDF tool: add the files in the order you want and download one PDF.
Why is my one-page PDF still large?
A single page can contain a large scanned image. Shrink it with Compress PDF, which has settings for 100 KB, 200 KB and 500 KB limits.