How to split, extract, delete and rotate PDF pages
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“I only want to send this section.” “The file is over the upload limit.” “Half the scanned pages are upside down.” These everyday PDF problems don’t need expensive software — they can be fixed in your browser.
Which tool for which job?
| You want to… | Tool | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Break a big PDF into several files | Split PDF | One file per range |
| Make a new PDF from selected pages | Extract PDF pages | One file |
| Remove blank or unwanted pages | Delete PDF pages | One file |
| Fix sideways or upside-down pages | Rotate PDF | One file |
| Combine several PDFs | Merge PDF | One file |
All of these copy pages without re-rendering them, so selectable text, links and image quality are exactly as in the original — and files are processed in your browser only.
Page-range syntax
The split, extract, delete and rotate tools all accept page ranges the same way:
| Input | Meaning |
|---|---|
5 |
Page 5 |
1-3 |
Pages 1 to 3 |
8- |
Page 8 to the end |
-2 |
The first two pages |
1-3, 5, 8- |
Several ranges, separated by commas |
If you enter a page that doesn’t exist, the tool asks you to check the page numbers instead of producing a wrong file.
Example 1: Get under an upload limit
A 50-page scan is over a portal’s size limit? In Split PDF, choose By page ranges and enter 1-15, 16-30, 31-. You get three files in one ZIP, named like report-1-15.pdf so the order is obvious.
Choose Every page into its own file to turn each page into a separate PDF — handy for splitting a batch of scanned forms.
Example 2: Send only what matters
To send the summary (pages 1–2) and the signature page (page 30) of a contract, enter 30, 1-2 in Extract PDF pages. Pages appear in the order you type them, so the signature page comes first. Your original file is untouched.
Extract vs split: extract builds one PDF from the pages you list; split creates several PDFs, one per range.
Example 3: Remove blank pages
Duplex scanning often leaves blank backs between pages. Enter their numbers, for example 2, 4, 6, in Delete PDF pages and the remaining pages stay in their original order.
Example 4: Fix upside-down pages
In Rotate PDF, choose 90° clockwise, 180° or 90° counter-clockwise and list the pages to turn — or leave the field empty to rotate every page. The rotation is saved in the file, so it opens the right way up in every viewer.
Limitations
- Password-protected PDFs can’t be edited; remove the protection in the program that created them first.
- Bookmarks and interactive form features may not survive editing; page content always does.
Summary
Split to divide, extract to pick, delete to remove, rotate to turn — and write ranges as 1-3, 5, 8-. To build a PDF from photos, see How to combine phone photos into one PDF.