When to Use This Tool
- You need to extract specific pages (e.g., pages 3-5, 10, 15) from a large PDF document
- You want to split a 50-page PDF into individual single-page files for separate sharing
- You're working with a scanned book and need to extract individual chapters as separate PDFs
- You have a multi-page invoice PDF and need to extract just the invoice page (page 1) for email
- You're preparing a presentation and need to extract only the relevant slides (pages 5-12) from a larger deck
- You want to separate a combined document (contract + appendix) into two separate files
- You need to extract pages from a password-protected PDF after unlocking it
- You need to split PDFs larger than 100MB (browser memory limits may cause crashes)
- You want to extract pages from password-protected PDFs (unlock first using PDF Unlock tool)
- You need to split more than 200 pages at once (process in smaller batches for better performance)
- You require batch processing of 20+ PDFs simultaneously (use desktop software)
- You need to preserve complex interactive forms or annotations during split (use specialized PDF software)
What is a PDF Splitter?
A PDF splitter extracts specific pages or page ranges from a PDF document, creating smaller, more focused files. Our browser-based splitter processes your files entirely on your device — nothing is uploaded to external servers.
Splitting PDFs is useful when you need to extract a single chapter from an e-book, separate a specific page from a multi-page form, or break a large document into smaller sections for easier sharing. Rather than sending a 50-page document when someone only needs pages 3–7, you can extract exactly what's needed.
This tool is particularly valuable for teachers extracting exam questions from question banks, lawyers isolating specific clauses from lengthy contracts, accountants separating monthly statements, and HR professionals extracting individual certificates from batch-scanned documents.
Unlike paid desktop software like Adobe Acrobat or Foxit, and unlike online splitters that require you to upload sensitive documents to remote servers, PureXio's PDF splitter runs entirely in your browser. There are no file size restrictions imposed by a server, no account requirements, and no output watermarks.
You can specify exact page numbers, page ranges (e.g., 1–5, 8, 12–15), or split every page into individual files. The original document quality is preserved completely.
Best for: extracting specific pages from PDFs. Supports custom page ranges, single pages, or split-all mode. Zero server uploads, zero data collection.
How to Split PDF
Drop your PDF file (up to 100MB) or click to browse and select your file
Select the pages you want to extract by clicking on page thumbnails (or use Select All)
Download individual pages or click 'Download All' to get all selected pages as separate PDF files
Common Use Cases
Extract pages 1-3 from a 20-page contract PDF to share only the main agreement
Split a 100-page scanned book into individual chapter PDFs (10 pages each)
Extract page 2 (invoice) from a 5-page document that includes cover, invoice, and terms
Separate a 30-page presentation into individual slide PDFs for email sharing
Extract pages 15-20 from a 50-page report to create a focused summary document
Split a multi-page form PDF into separate single-page forms for individual completion
Extract the signature page (page 5) from a signed contract PDF for archiving
Features
Limitations & Constraints
Maximum file size: 100MB (browser memory limit). For larger files, split into smaller chunks first or use desktop software.
Password-protected PDFs must be unlocked first. Use our PDF Unlock tool before splitting.
Very large PDFs (200+ pages) may process slowly. Consider splitting in smaller batches for better performance.
Complex PDFs with embedded media or 3D content may not split correctly. Test with a simple PDF first.
Batch processing: Process one PDF at a time. For multiple PDFs, use desktop software for efficiency.
Troubleshooting
PDF fails to split or shows 'File too large' error
Solution: Reduce file size first by compressing the PDF or removing unnecessary pages. If the PDF is over 100MB, use desktop software. Check your browser's available memory—close other tabs and applications. Try a different browser (Chrome typically handles larger files better). Prevention: Keep files under 50MB for best results. For very large PDFs, compress first or use desktop software.
Page thumbnails don't load or appear blank
Solution: This can happen with corrupted PDFs or very complex files. Try refreshing the page and uploading again. If the original PDF opens fine in a PDF reader, the issue may be browser-specific—try a different browser. As a workaround, you can still download pages even if thumbnails don't show. Prevention: Ensure the original PDF opens correctly before splitting. Use modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge).
Browser crashes when splitting large PDF
Solution: Close other browser tabs and applications to free up memory. Try a different browser (Chrome handles large files better than Firefox). Split the PDF into smaller chunks (20-30 pages at a time) if it's very large. If crashes persist, use desktop software for files over 50MB. Prevention: Keep files under 50MB. Check available system memory before processing large files.
Downloaded pages are blank or corrupted
Solution: This is rare but can happen with complex PDFs. Try re-splitting the original PDF. If the original PDF opens fine, the issue may be browser-specific—try a different browser. Ensure you have enough disk space for downloads. As a last resort, use desktop software to split the original PDF. Prevention: Ensure the original PDF opens correctly before splitting. Test with a simple PDF first to verify the tool works.
Splitting takes too long or seems stuck
Solution: Large PDFs (over 30MB or 100+ pages) can take 30-60 seconds to process. Check your browser's task manager to see if it's still processing. If it's been more than 2 minutes, refresh the page and try a smaller file or split the PDF into chunks. Ensure you have a stable internet connection (for initial page load). Prevention: Keep files under 30MB for faster processing. Close other applications to free up system resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
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All processing happens in your browser. Your data never leaves your device.