Split a PDF on a Mac

To split a PDF on a Mac, drop it on this page, choose a mode (extract the pages you click, split by ranges such as 1-3, 8-, split every N pages, or one file per page) and click the button to download. Several files come as one ZIP. Preview can pull pages out by dragging thumbnails to the desktop; this tool adds ranges and batch splitting, and the PDF never leaves your Mac.

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Want to check that your file isn't uploaded? Split without uploading: how to verify it yourself

How to split a PDF on a Mac

  1. Drag the PDF from Finder onto the tool, or click Choose PDF.
  2. Pick a mode: Extract selected, Split each page, Every N pages, By ranges or Delete selected.
  3. Click page thumbnails (Shift-click selects a run, ⌘A selects all), or type ranges like 1-3, 5, 8-.
  4. Click the main button, for example "Extract 2 pages" or "Split into 3 files".
  5. Click Download, or Download ZIP when there are several files.
Split PDF in Extract selected mode with two page thumbnails highlighted
Two pages selected in Extract selected mode, October 22, 2026.

What we found when we tested it

We ran the live tool on October 22, 2026 (PT) in headless Google Chrome 155 on Linux, with sample files we made for the test. On a 10-page report, we selected two pages in Extract selected; the download was a 2-page PDF with those pages, text still selectable. The same steps worked by touch in iPhone 13 and Pixel 7 emulation. Our earlier test of every mode, on a 12-page file, is in the split PDF guide.

Preview vs this tool

JobPreview (built into macOS)This tool
Pull out a few pagesView > Thumbnails, select pages, drag them to the desktop to make a new PDFExtract selected, click the pages
Split pages 1–3, 4–7 and 8–end into three filesRepeat the drag for each groupBy ranges: 1-3, 4-7, 8-, one ZIP
One file per pageDrag pages one by oneSplit each page
Delete pagesSelect and press Delete, which changes the file itselfDelete selected, which makes a new copy

Limits

Privacy

The work happens in your browser tab, so your files aren't uploaded. The site counts page visits and sends one anonymous event per use (tool name, whether it worked, a file-size range). No event is sent when Global Privacy Control or Do Not Track is on. See the privacy policy.

Related tools

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I split a PDF on a Mac without Preview?

Yes. Drop the PDF on this page in Safari or Chrome, choose a mode and download. Nothing is installed or uploaded.

How do I split a PDF into several files at once?

Use By ranges, for example 1-3, 4-7, 8-, or Every N pages. Several results download together as a ZIP.

Does splitting change my original PDF?

No. You get new files and the original stays as it was, unlike deleting pages in Preview.

Will the quality drop?

No. Pages are copied as they are, so text stays selectable and images aren't recompressed.

Full guide: How to Split a PDF, Extract Pages or Delete Pages →