Does extracting pages change the original PDF?

No. Every method here creates a new file and leaves the original as it is.

Will the text still be selectable?

With the Split PDF tool the pages are copied as they are, so text stays selectable. Printing to PDF usually keeps text too.

Can I do this on my phone?

Yes. The Split PDF tool works in a phone browser, and most phones can also save a page range as PDF from the print menu.

Why can't I split a password protected PDF?

The file has to be unlocked first. If you know the password, use Remove PDF password; files whose password you don't know cannot be opened.

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How to extract pages from a PDF

November 12, 2026 3 min read

Short answer

The quickest way to save one or a few pages of a PDF as a new file is to open it in Chrome or Edge, press Print, choose Save as PDF as the destination and type the page range you want. On a Mac, Preview does the same. If you need several parts at once, a split tool can turn each range into its own file and give you a ZIP.

Sometimes you only need to send the signed page, one invoice or a single chapter of a long document. You do not need to install anything for this.

Split PDF and extract pagesPull the pages you need out of a PDF.

Option 1: print to PDF in Chrome or Edge

This works on Windows, Mac and Linux. Because the pages are printed again, some form fields and links may not survive.

1Drag the PDF into Chrome or Edge to open it.
2Press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac) to open the print dialog.
3Choose Save as PDF as the destination or printer.
4Under Pages, pick Custom and type the range, for example 3 or 1-3, 5.
5Click Save and name the new file.

Option 2: Preview on a Mac

Open the PDF in Preview and show thumbnails from the View menu. Select the thumbnails of the pages you want and drag them to the desktop to get a new PDF with only those pages. You can also go to File, Print, pick a page range and save as PDF.

Option 3: the Split PDF tool

If you want several sections as separate files, or every page as its own PDF, the Split PDF and extract pages tool is quicker. The file is processed in your browser and never uploaded, so it is fine for contracts and invoices. The original stays unchanged and a new file is created.

1Open Split PDF and extract pages and choose your PDF.
2Type the pages you want, separated by commas, with a dash for ranges. For example 1-3, 5, 8-10.
3Choose whether you want everything in one PDF, each range as its own file, or every page as its own file.
4Download. When several files come out, they arrive in a single ZIP.

Good to know about page ranges

Page numbers follow the order your PDF viewer shows, not the numbers printed on the pages. With a cover or table of contents these can differ. A dash at the end means up to the last page: 8- takes page 8 to the end.

To reorder or rotate pages afterwards, use the Reorder, delete, rotate PDF pages tool; to join them with another file, use Merge PDF. A password protected PDF must be unlocked first with Remove PDF password, which only works if you know the password.

Frequently asked questions

Does extracting pages change the original PDF?: No. Every method here creates a new file and leaves the original as it is.
Will the text still be selectable?: With the Split PDF tool the pages are copied as they are, so text stays selectable. Printing to PDF usually keeps text too.
Can I do this on my phone?: Yes. The Split PDF tool works in a phone browser, and most phones can also save a page range as PDF from the print menu.
Why can't I split a password protected PDF?: The file has to be unlocked first. If you know the password, use Remove PDF password; files whose password you don't know cannot be opened.