How to split a PDF on Android
To split a PDF on Android with PDFriend, open the PDF, tap the More menu, then tap Extract pages. Type the pages to keep, for example 1-3, 5, and tap Extract. The app saves the pages as a new PDF. To split the PDF into more files, repeat with other pages.
How do you split a PDF and keep only some pages?
PDFriend splits a PDF with the Extract pages command in the PDF viewer. You type the pages to keep. The app copies them into a new PDF on your phone and does not change the original file.
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Open the PDF
Open PDFriend and tap the PDF in the file list. If the PDF is in another place, add it with the Import PDF tool first.
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Open Extract pages
In the PDF viewer, tap the More menu (three dots), then tap Extract pages.
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Type the pages to keep
In the Pages field, type the page numbers, for example 1-3, 5. Use a hyphen for a range and a comma between the parts.
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Tap Extract
Tap Extract. The app saves the pages as a new PDF with the page numbers in the name, for example "Contract (pages 1-3, 5).pdf".
The new PDF goes to Documents/ImageToPDF and shows in the file list. If a file with the same name exists, the app adds a number, for example "(1)", to the new name.
Note: a PDF with a password opens after you type the password. You can then extract pages from it. The new PDF has no password. To protect it, use the Lock tool. Read how to put a password on a PDF.
How do you type the page range?
The Extract pages dialog tells you the page count, for example "The PDF has 12 pages." Type the pages with numbers, hyphens and commas.
| You type | The new PDF has |
|---|---|
| 3 | Page 3 |
| 1-3 | Pages 1, 2 and 3 |
| 1-3, 5 | Pages 1, 2, 3 and 5 |
| 2, 4, 6 | Pages 2, 4 and 6 |
| 5, 1-3 | Page 5, then pages 1, 2 and 3 |
| 8-12 | Pages 8 to 12 (for a 12 page PDF) |
The new PDF keeps the order that you type. A page that you type two times goes in the PDF one time. Spaces are not important: "1-3,5" and "1-3, 5" give the same result.
If the text has an error, the app shows "The page range is not valid. Use numbers from 1 to 12." (with the page count of your PDF). These texts cause the error:
- A page number larger than the page count, for example 15 in a 12 page PDF.
- The number 0.
- A range that goes backwards, for example 5-3. Type 3-5.
- A letter or a word, for example "page 2" or "all".
How do you split one PDF into several files?
Each Extract pages command makes one new PDF. To split one PDF into several files, do Extract pages one time for each file. For example, a 20 page PDF with 3 chapters:
- Type 1-6 and tap Extract. The app saves the first file.
- Open the original PDF again. Type 7-14 and tap Extract.
- Open the original PDF again. Type 15-20 and tap Extract.
You now have 3 new PDF files and the original. To join files again later, read how to merge PDF files on Android.
Tip: the new file name shows the pages, for example "Report (pages 7-14).pdf". Rename the files in the file list, so you can find each part easily.
Can you save the pages as images instead?
Yes. In the PDF viewer, tap the More menu, then tap Export pages as images. The app saves every page as a separate JPG image in Pictures/ImageToPDF. This command exports all the pages. To learn more, read how to convert a PDF to JPG images.
Questions and answers
How do I extract pages from a PDF on Android?
In PDFriend, open the PDF, tap the More menu, then tap Extract pages. Type the pages to keep, for example 1-3, 5, then tap Extract. The app saves them as a new PDF.
How do I split one PDF into several files?
Do Extract pages one time for each file. For a 10 page PDF, type 1-5 and tap Extract, then open the original again, type 6-10 and tap Extract. You get 2 new PDF files.
Does splitting a PDF change the original file?
No. Extract pages copies the pages into a new PDF. The original PDF keeps all its pages.
Why does the app say that the page range is not valid?
The app shows this message when a number is 0 or larger than the page count, when a range goes backwards such as 5-3, or when the text has a letter. Use only numbers from 1 to the last page, hyphens and commas.
Can I change the page order when I extract pages?
Yes. The new PDF keeps the order that you type. For example, 5, 1-3 gives a PDF that starts with page 5, then pages 1, 2 and 3. A page that you type two times goes in one time.
Can I save each page as a separate image instead?
Yes. In the PDF viewer, tap the More menu, then tap Export pages as images. The app saves each page as a JPG image in Pictures/ImageToPDF.