What extracting pages from a PDF means
A PDF is a fixed document made of numbered pages. Extracting pages means copying only the ones you choose into a brand new PDF, while the original file stays untouched. It is the opposite of deleting: instead of marking what to remove, you mark what to keep.
This tool uses the pdf-lib library to open your document and copy the selected pages into a fresh file. Because the pages are copied as they are, text stays selectable and images keep their quality. Nothing is converted to pictures. The page thumbnails you click on are only previews drawn at a small size to help you recognize each page.
When you would extract pages
Typical cases include sending a client only the relevant chapter of a long report, pulling a single signed page out of a contract, keeping a few receipts from a statement, or sharing the pages of a handout that apply to one person. Sending a smaller file also avoids exposing content that others should not see.
Choosing pages by clicking thumbnails is quicker than remembering page numbers, because you can see what each page contains. If you would rather remove a few unwanted pages from an otherwise complete document, the Delete Pages tool works from the opposite direction.
How to extract pages with this tool
- Drop a PDF onto the upload area, or click to select one. The tool reads each page and shows a thumbnail with its page number.
- Click each page you want to keep. Selected pages get a highlighted border. Click again to deselect.
- Click Extract selected pages to build the new file.
- Click Download to save it as
extract.pdf. - Use Start over to load a different PDF.
The work is done in your browser, and the file is not uploaded. Generating thumbnails takes a moment on long documents, since every page is rendered before you can select anything, and a message shows while it reads the pages.
Limits and common mistakes
Pages in the new file always appear in their original order, regardless of the order in which you clicked them. To change the order afterward, or to reorder pages from several files, try Merge PDF after extracting.
You pick pages by clicking; there is no box for typing a range such as 3-7, so a long range means clicking each page. Select at least one page before you extract, otherwise there is nothing to put in the new file. The tool cannot open encrypted or damaged PDFs; in that case you will see a message saying it could not read the file, so unlock the document first with a method you are entitled to use. Only extract pages from documents you have the right to use, since copying parts of someone else's protected work may not be permitted.
If you change your selection after extracting, click Extract selected pages again to rebuild the file before downloading. All output pages keep the same size and orientation they had in the source.