How to Split a PDF File on Mac With 2 Ways (macOS Tahoe Included)

Enrica Taylor

Home » Mac » How to Split a PDF File on Mac With 2 Ways (macOS Tahoe Included)

Quick Answer:

To split a PDF on macOS, use Preview to select a few page thumbnails and drag them to the desktop as a new PDF. For repeated page-count splits, open the file in UPDF and choose Organize Pages > Split > Split by Number of Pages.

Choose the method by the output you need: extract selected pages into one PDF, save pages individually, or divide the entire document into smaller files. These operations keep whole pages intact; cutting one page into sections is a different task.

Part 1. How to Split a PDF on Mac with UPDF

UPDF for Mac provides two workflows for this task: Split divides a document into multiple PDFs according to a rule; Extract copies selected pages into new output files. Neither cuts through the content of an individual page.

Way 1. Split a PDF into Multiple Files by Page Count

Step 1. Open Organize Pages

Open your PDF in UPDF for Mac and select Organize Pages.

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Step 2. Choose the Split Rule

Choose Split > Split by Number of Pages.

UPDF Mac Split menu with page count, size, bookmark and custom options — Source: UPDF Mac User Guide

Step 3. Set the Page Count and Save

Enter the number of pages each output PDF should contain. Check the displayed output count, click Split, and choose a destination folder.

UPDF Mac Split by Number of Pages dialog showing output count

Example: A 100-page PDF split every five pages produces 20 PDFs. A 23-page PDF split every five pages produces five PDFs: four with five pages and a final file with three.

Reopen the results and check each file’s first and last page.

Video Tutorial: Splitting a PDF on Mac

The original video below demonstrates UPDF’s document-splitting workflow. Interface details may vary by version; use the current Mac screenshots above for the steps.

Need to divide a long PDF into repeated page groups? Download UPDF for free to try the workflow on a copy—installation is free, and Pro removes the trial watermark from saved output.

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Way 2. Extract Selected Pages into a New PDF

In Organize Pages, select the required thumbnails, then click Extract.
Choose PDF as the output type.
Enable separate-file output only if each selected page should become its own PDF.
Leave Delete pages after extraction unchecked to retain the source pages.
Click Extract and save the output.

UPDF Mac Extract dialog with PDF output and separate-file settings

Continuous pages: Extract pages 4–8 into one five-page PDF.

Nonconsecutive pages: Select pages 2, 5, and 9 to create a three-page PDF, or enable separate-file output for three individual PDFs.

Download UPDF for free to try extracting a sample page selection—installation is free, and Pro removes the trial watermark from saved output.

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Split vs. Extract: Choose by the Result You Need

Split divides the document into multiple PDFs using a rule. Extract copies chosen pages into new output files. Use page-count splitting for evenly sized groups and extraction for a selection such as pages 2, 5, and 9.

UPDF also provides splitting by file size, top-level bookmarks, and custom boundaries. Saving selected pages together produces one PDF; saving them separately produces one PDF per selected page.

Need to Split One PDF Page into Two?

If one scanned page contains a two-page book spread, document splitting will not separate its left and right halves. You need Split a Page, which divides the content of one page into new pages.

UPDF for Mac supports horizontal and vertical page divisions. Check the dividing line and reading order before applying the split. Follow the dedicated guide to split a PDF page in half for the complete workflow.

Creating new pages and saving them as separate PDF files are separate operations.

Part 2. How to Split a PDF on Mac with Preview

Use Preview for a small selection of pages without purchasing another app.

1. Open the PDF in Preview.

2. Choose View > Thumbnails.

3. For a continuous range, click the first thumbnail, then Shift-click the last. For nonconsecutive pages, hold Command while clicking each thumbnail.

4. Drag the selected thumbnails from the sidebar to the desktop to create a new PDF.

5. Rename the file and open it to verify the page count and order.

Dragging thumbnails to the desktop creates a new PDF; it does not remove those pages from the original.

Part 3. FAQs about Splitting PDFs on Mac

1. Does splitting a PDF make it the same as compressing it?

No. Splitting distributes pages across multiple files, while compression reduces the storage needed for PDF content. A smaller page count does not guarantee that a file meets an upload limit. Check each output file’s size before submitting it.

2. Which page numbers should I use if the document has a cover and Roman-numeral pages?

Identify the required pages from their thumbnails and content before selecting them. Printed page numbers and page labels can differ from a page’s position in the file. Confirm the first and last page of every output PDF rather than relying only on its filename.

Conclusion

Use Preview for a small selection of pages and UPDF for page-count splitting or configurable extraction. Before sharing, verify each output file’s page count, order, and size.

For broader page-management tasks, explore UPDF’s PDF organization tools. If you are still choosing software, compare PDF splitters for Mac.

Download UPDF for free to try splitting your next document—installation is free, and Pro removes the trial watermark from saved output.

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Enrica Taylor

Chief Editor

Enrica Taylor is a technology expert with a degree in Software Development and experience writing technical tips and solutions about PDF software. He mainly focuses on tips and solutions for PDF editing, converting, protecting, compressing, etc. He is fond of visiting different technology conventions and events.s