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How to split a PDF on a Chromebook

By DeckleUpdated

To split a PDF on a Chromebook, open Split PDF in Chrome, drag the PDF from the Files app onto the page, choose how to split it and choose the Create button, which shows how many PDFs it will make. Each part is a new PDF, and the original is not changed. Nothing needs to be installed, which helps on school and work Chromebooks.

Split PDF
Illustrated document pages containing a chart, photograph and text.
Illustration · a document can contain more than its visible pages.

How to split a PDF on a Chromebook with Deckle

  1. Open Split PDF in Chrome.
  2. Drag the PDF from the Files app onto the page, or choose Select a file.
  3. Under How to split it, choose Choose split points, One file per page, Fixed-size chunks or Page ranges I choose.
  4. Set the split: choose the scissors on a page to split after it, enter Pages per file, or type a From page and To page for each file. Choose Add range for more.
  5. Check the Planned files list, which names any pages that are left out. The eye button previews a planned file's pages.
  6. Choose the button, such as Create 4 PDFs.
  7. Download the files one at a time, or all of them as a ZIP. Chrome opens a save dialogue for each download, so you can choose Downloads or a Google Drive folder.

The result screen tells you how many PDFs were made from how many pages.

Choose a mode

You want Mode
Cut at chapter or section breaks you can see Choose split points
Each page as its own PDF One file per page
Files of equal length, such as every 4 pages Fixed-size chunks
Specific pages, such as 3–7 Page ranges I choose

Ranges include both ends, and pages outside every range are left out. Example: a teacher's 24-page workbook has four units starting on pages 1, 7, 13 and 19. Split points after pages 6, 12 and 18 give four unit files of six pages each, ready to share with a class. Fixed-size chunks with Pages per file set to 6 gives the same result.

See how to split a PDF by page range for more.

What the Gallery app can and can't do

PDFs on a Chromebook open in the Gallery app. Google's page Check, edit & sign PDFs lists its PDF tools: add text, annotate, sign, rotate pages, change their order, print, and save over the same file or as a new one. It does not mention splitting a PDF into several files.

Google's page also warns that bookmarks can stay behind when pages are deleted in Gallery, and that their titles may contain information you meant to remove. Split PDF copies only the pages in each part, and leaves the original untouched.

Files in Google Drive

The Files app shows Google Drive, so you can pick a PDF stored in Drive. Deckle has no direct Drive connection, but the save dialogue lists Google Drive in its left column, so you can save the parts straight into Google Drive > My Drive. Google describes the dialogue in Open, save, or delete files on your Chromebook.

Tips

  • Use page positions, not printed numbers. A cover page shifts the numbering by one.
  • Rename parts after downloading. Each part is named after the source with its position, such as workbook (2).pdf. Inside a ZIP, each name also starts with a running number and a file identifier.
  • Overlap ranges for shared pages. An instructions page can go into every part.
  • Unlock first. A PDF that asks for a password needs an unlocked copy from Unlock PDF.

Frequently asked questions

How do I extract one page from a PDF on a Chromebook?

In Split PDF, choose Page ranges I choose and enter the same number in From page and To page.

Does splitting reduce quality?

No. Each part is a copy of the source pages.

Are my files uploaded?

No. The PDF is split in Chrome on your Chromebook.

Can I put the parts back together?

Yes. Combine them in any order with Merge PDFs. See how to merge PDF files on a Chromebook.

Can I split a password-protected PDF?

Make an unlocked copy with Unlock PDF using the password you have, then split the copy.

Is there a page limit?

There is no fixed page cap. A ZIP holds up to 2,048 files, and plans of 50 files or more show a warning because they take longer.

Where do the parts go?

Wherever you choose in the save dialogue, such as Downloads or Google Drive. If the dialogue can't open, Chrome saves to your default download folder.

Related tools

Sources