To extract pages from a PDF in Acrobat, choose All tools, then Organize pages, enter the page numbers, select Extract pages and Extract, then save the new file. On a Mac, drag the page thumbnails from Preview's sidebar to the desktop. Your original stays intact unless you tick delete.
Extracting pages is the tidy way to answer 'can you just send me that one section?' without emailing the whole report. It pulls the pages you want into a new PDF. The original stays where it is, unless you choose to remove the pages from it as well. Below are the steps in Acrobat and in Preview, and one thing that doesn't come across to the new file.
Extract pages in Adobe Acrobat
- Open the PDF. Before you start, check it's editable under File, Document Properties, Security.
- Select All tools, then Organize pages. The page thumbnails appear.
- Choose the pages. Click a thumbnail, or type page numbers in the Pages Selected field, or pick an option from the dropdown.
- Select Extract pages in the left pane.
- In the pop-up box choose your options (explained below) and select Extract.
- Save the new PDF when prompted.
The three extract options
| Option | What happens | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Both boxes left unticked | One new PDF of the selected pages; the original stays whole | You want to share part of a document |
| Delete pages after extracting | The pages move out of the original into the new PDF | You're splitting a file in two |
| Extract pages as separate files | Each selected page becomes its own PDF | You need individual pages, such as separate certificates |
Most people want the first row. Tick Delete pages after extracting only when you're sure you don't need the pages in the original.
What comes with the extracted pages
Adobe says the extracted pages include all their content, form fields, comments and links, so a page with a working link or a note in the margin still has it in the new file. What doesn't come across are bookmarks and article threads attached to those pages. If the new PDF needs a clickable contents list, you'll have to rebuild it.
Extract pages on a Mac with Preview
- Open the PDF in Preview and choose View, then Thumbnails (or Contact Sheet).
- Select the pages you want. Command-click to choose pages that aren't next to each other.
- Drag the selected thumbnails out of the sidebar and onto your desktop.
Apple notes you can create a new PDF by dragging thumbnails from a PDF's sidebar to the desktop, which is the quickest way to pull pages out on a Mac. You can also drag thumbnails from one PDF into another if you want to build a document from pieces of several files. Because Preview saves changes automatically, do the dragging into a new file and not into your only copy. Apple's own suggestion is File, then Duplicate, to keep a copy of the original.
Extract or delete: which should you use?
They look alike, but they answer different questions. Delete changes the document you're working in. Extract creates a new document and, by default, leaves the old one alone. If the file is a signed contract or a form someone else sent you, extract is the safer choice because you never touch the original. My guide to sharing a finished file so it arrives intact covers the sending part.
Common reasons extraction fails
- The PDF is locked. Check File, Document Properties, Security for restrictions on editing. A file protected against changes may stop you extracting pages.
- Wrong page numbers. The number printed on a page can differ from its position in the PDF. Go by the thumbnail order.
- Pages aren't in a continuous run. Type the page numbers separated by commas rather than assuming a range.
- You're on the mobile app. The page tools there need an Acrobat plan, so use a computer if the option isn't available.
Handy uses for extracting
- Send a client only the section that applies to them.
- Pull one chapter out of a long guide to share as a sample.
- Split a scanned batch into separate documents.
- Make a short version of a report for a meeting.
If you're creating PDFs from your own content for people like that, my guide to converting a blog post into a PDF is a good place to start, and this is an easy way to turn the finished file into a shorter sample.
Keep your extracted files organised
It's easy to end up with five PDFs called document-copy. Give each extracted file a name that says what it contains and who it's for, for example the client name and the section. Keep the full version in one folder and the shorter extracts in another. Six months from now you'll be glad you can tell them apart, and you won't send the wrong version to the wrong person.
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My verdict
In Acrobat, use Organize pages and Extract pages, and leave both boxes unticked so you keep the original. On a Mac, drag the thumbnails to the desktop. Name the new file clearly so it doesn't get mixed up with the full version.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract pages from a PDF?
In Acrobat, choose All tools, Organize pages, select the pages, choose Extract pages, then Extract, and save. In Preview on a Mac, drag the page thumbnails from the sidebar to the desktop.
Does extracting pages change the original PDF?
Not unless you tick Delete pages after extracting. With both boxes unticked the original stays intact and a new PDF is created.
Can I save every page as a separate PDF?
Yes. Tick Extract pages as separate files and Acrobat makes one PDF per page.
What isn't extracted with the pages?
Adobe says bookmarks and article threads associated with the pages aren't extracted. Content, form fields, comments and links are.
Why can't I extract pages?
The PDF may have restrictions. Check File, Document Properties, Security in Acrobat to see whether editing is allowed.
