How splitting works in your browser
Two open-source libraries do the work, both running inside this tab. pdf.js draws the small page previews so you can see where to cut. pdf-lib builds the output: for each part it creates an empty PDF and copies the chosen pages into it with copyPages(). The result is saved to a local file on your device. No server is involved at any step.
Open PDF
Read on your device
Mark cuts
pdf.js previews
Download
pdf-lib, no upload
Why splitting doesn't lower quality, and why sizes can grow
copyPages() copies a page's content stream and every resource it references, such as fonts and images, as they are. Nothing is rasterised or recompressed, so text stays selectable and images keep their original resolution. The previews are separate low-resolution images used only for choosing pages; they never end up in your files.
Because every part is a complete, standalone PDF, a font used on pages in three different parts is embedded three times. That is why the parts together can be larger than the original file even though no page has changed.
Step by step
- 1
Open your PDF
Drop a PDF onto the upload area or click to choose one. It is read on your device and page previews appear below.
- 2
Choose how to split
In Cut mode, click the gap between two pages to place a cut, or use Every page or Every N pages. In Extract mode, click pages or type ranges such as 1-3, 7.
- 3
Create the files
Press the Split button. Each part is built in your browser by copying the original pages into a new PDF.
- 4
Download
Download each part on its own, or use Download all to save every part in turn.
Cut or extract: which mode to use
| You want to | Mode | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Break a long scan into chapters | Cut, at chosen pages | One file per chapter |
| Turn every page into its own file | Cut, Every page | One file per page |
| Split a batch of two-page forms | Cut, Every 2 pages | One file per form |
| Send only a few pages | Extract, e.g. 1-3, 7 | One file with just those pages |
What this tool can and cannot do
Capable of
- Cut a PDF at any pages you choose
- Split every page, or every N pages, in one click
- Extract pages by clicking or typing ranges like 1-3, 7
- Keep text, fonts and images exactly as they were
- Work without uploading the file anywhere
Not designed for
- Open password-protected (encrypted) PDFs
- Carry bookmarks or the outline into the new files
- Guarantee that fillable form fields keep working
- Split by file size or by bookmark
- Bundle the parts into a single ZIP download
Frequently asked questions
Are my PDFs uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read with your browser's File API, previewed with pdf.js and split with pdf-lib, all inside the tab. No part of the document is sent to a server.
Does splitting reduce the quality of my PDF?
No. Pages are copied as they are, with their text, fonts and images unchanged. Nothing is re-rendered or recompressed. The small previews you see are only for choosing pages.
Why can the parts add up to more than the original file size?
Each part is a complete PDF, so a font or image used on pages in several parts is stored once in each of those parts. The pages themselves are unchanged.
Can I split a password-protected PDF?
No. Encrypted PDFs cannot be opened by pdf-lib without the password, and this tool does not remove passwords. Open the file in a PDF editor you are authorised to use, save an unprotected copy, then split that.
How do I type page ranges?
In Extract mode, list pages and ranges separated by commas, for example 1-3, 7, 10-12. Pages come out in document order, and a page listed twice is included once.
Why does Download all ask for permission?
Browsers treat several downloads started by one click as unusual and may ask you to allow them for this site. You can also download each part individually.