Split a PDF into multiple files
Large PDFs end up in one file for many reasons: a court filing package, a scanned document set, a compiled exhibit binder. Splitting them back into their component parts is a job that Acrobat handles only with a paid subscription, and most free alternatives require uploading your document.
PrepFile splits PDFs locally in two modes. Bookmark mode reads the document's built-in outline and uses the section structure the author already defined. Page range mode takes a spec like "1–5, 6–10, 15" and produces exactly the slices you want, independently of any bookmarks.
Both modes output a ZIP of the individual PDFs. Each output PDF is a standalone document — valid, self-contained, not dependent on the original.
Open the tools — free, no upload
Choosing the right split mode
- If the PDF has bookmarks (check: open in a PDF viewer and look for a table-of-contents sidebar), use bookmark mode.
- If the PDF is a scanned set with no bookmarks, use page ranges. Count the pages that start each section and enter ranges like 1-12,13-28,29-45.
- For a mixed case — bookmarks present but not at the right granularity — use page ranges to override.
Questions
Is there a page count limit?
Only your device's available memory. The PDF libraries run in-process in your browser tab.
Do the output PDFs lose any content?
No. The splitter copies complete pages from the source document. Fonts, images, annotations and form fields are preserved as-is within each copied range.
Can I split the same PDF multiple ways?
Yes — drop it in again and define different ranges. Each run is independent; the tool doesn't remember previous runs.