How to split a PDF and extract pages
Updated October 25, 2026
Pull pages out of a large PDF, split it into parts, or reorder, rotate and delete pages before you share it.
When you need to split a PDF
Large PDFs often contain more than you want to send. You may need only the signature page of a contract, one month from a bank statement, or a single chapter of a manual. Splitting the file keeps the attachment small and avoids sharing pages that are none of the recipient's business.
Extract or delete pages
- Open the PDF in PDF One. Its pages appear as thumbnails in the Pages view on the left.
- Click a thumbnail to select it. A small toolbar appears on the page with actions such as rotate and delete. On a computer you can also right-click a thumbnail for the full menu; on a phone, press and hold.
- To keep only some pages, delete the ones you don't need, or use the menu to extract the selected pages into a new document.
- Choose Save a copy so your original stays untouched, and name the new file after what it contains.
Split by page range
To cut a long document into parts, use the split option in the page menu and enter the ranges you want, for example 1-4 and 5-12. Each range becomes its own document that you can save separately. This is handy for breaking a scanned batch of several letters into one file per letter.
Reorder and rotate
Drag a thumbnail to move a page to a new position. Pages scanned upside down or sideways can be turned with the rotate button (90° per click). Rotation is saved into the PDF, so the page opens the right way on any device. You can also drag a page onto another open file in the Files list to move it into that document.
Good habits
- Always save the result as a copy first, then check it before deleting anything.
- Name split files clearly, such as Lease-2026-signature-page.pdf, so they make sense to the person who receives them.
- Removing a page removes it from the new file completely. Hiding content on a page is different: for that, see how to highlight and mark up a PDF.