The guide on how to extract pages from PDF and save only what you need

Efficiently extract PDF specific pages: Detailed explanation of various methods in Mac system

Is the super long PDF document a headache? If only a few of these pages are needed, a specific page can be extracted without downloading the entire file, saving a lot of time and storage. Whether it is work, study or entertainment, it is very practical to master PDF page extraction techniques.

Fortunately, the macOS system provides a variety of ways to extract PDF specific pages without complex operations, just understand some practical tips and tools. This article will introduce several different methods to help you choose the most suitable method!

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Methods for extracting PDF pages on Mac system

Large documents are especially tricky to handle because they need to browse a lot of pages. Therefore, it is crucial to master how to extract PDF pages. The specific method depends on your preferences and the tools you use. Let's explore some of the best PDF page extraction methods:

Method for extracting PDF pages	Operation steps
Using Nitro PDF Pro	Install and open Nitro PDF Pro > Open PDF > Select the page to extract > Click File > Create New > Create from Selected > Save a new PDF.
Use preview	Open PDF in preview > Click on the menu bar View > Thumbnail > Select the PDF page to extract > Click on File > Print > Click on the PDF button > Save.
Using a web browser (free method)	Open PDF with Google Chrome or Safari > Press Command P to open Print Settings > Click “Custom” and enter the specific page you want to extract (for example: 3, 7, 12, or ranges such as 1-5) > Click Save and select a new PDF save location.
Using Automator	Open Automator > Click Applications > Select PDF > Extract odd and even pages > Configure actions as needed > Save automation and drag and drop the PDF file onto the application icon.
Using Adobe Acrobat	Open PDF in Adobe Acrobat > Click View > Show/Hide > Navigation Pane > Page Thumbnail > Select the page to extract > Click the Organize Page Tool > Extract > Click OK > Save the extracted page via File > Save As.

Tips: Before extracting PDF pages, it is recommended to back up your Mac files in case of accidental deletion. Unexpected deletion can happen at any time, so I recommend using Get Backup Pro. It will be very useful if you need to recover important documents.

Easily extract PDF pages

If you are a frequent user of Mac, you can easily extract PDF pages with specialized tools. Nitro PDF Pro is the perfect solution. It has intuitive features that make extracting specific pages fast and simple.

Here is how to extract PDF pages using Nitro PDF Pro:

1. Install and open Nitro PDF Pro on your Mac.
2. Open the PDF file, hold down the Command key, and click on each page you want to extract (if there are multiple pages).
3. Click File > New > Create from selected content.
4. Save a new PDF.

Personal recommendation

If you have a lot of documents to find content quickly, PDF Search is perfect for you. It not only searches for single words, it also searches for phrases and terms that contain what you search for. So if you are managing a research paper or contract, you can quickly find those complex terms or phrases without having to search everything manually.

Extract PDF pages using preview

If you own a Mac, you may have come across preview, a built-in tool that functions much more than just opening PDFs. It contains many features that people don't even realize. It's great for previewing images and PDFs, but did you know that you can also use previews to isolate and save specific pages of PDFs?

Here is how to extract pages from PDF files using preview:

1. Right-click on PDF file > "Open With" > "Preview".
2. Click View in the menu bar and select Thumbnail.
3. Select the PDF page to extract. Press and hold the Command key to click on the page.
4. Click File > Print.
5. In the Print dialog box, click the PDF button below.
6. Name the new PDF and click Save.

Also, check out a comprehensive guide on how to extract images from PDFs on your Mac.

Free PDF page extraction

Using browsers like Google Chrome is an easy-to-use free way to extract PDF pages. The browser has built-in features that allow you to save a portion of a PDF file, not the entire file. You also don't need any third-party applications.

Here is how to extract PDF pages for free using Google Chrome (or Safari, which has similar instructions):

1. Right-click on your PDF > select "Open With" > "Google Chrome". After the document is opened, press Command P to open the print settings.
2. Under Pages, select Custom and enter the specific page you want to extract (for example: 3, 7, 12, or ranges such as 1-5).
3. Make sure Save As PDF is selected in the Destination line.
4. Click Save and select a new PDF save location.

This method is very convenient for fast one-time extraction, but it also has some disadvantages to pay attention to. First, the browser treats PDFs as static documents, meaning content like hyperlinks and embedded media may not work properly in the extracted page. Also, text formatting can sometimes have some confusion, and since you have to manually select everything, it is not the best choice for batch processing.

Extract PDF pages using Automator

For those who often process PDF files, the process of extracting PDF pages can save a lot of time. The built-in Automator application of macOS system allows you to create workflows and extract pages from multiple files. You don't have to manually select them either.

Here is how to extract pages from PDF files using Automator:

1. Click Finder > Applications > Automator.
2. Click "Applications" in the pop-up window.
3. In the library on the left, select PDF > Extract odd and even pages.
4. Configure the actions as needed (for example, specify the page range to extract).
5. Save the automation and drag and drop the PDF file onto the application icon.

Tips: Managing storage space can be a challenge for people who use PDFs frequently, especially for large files. PDF Squeezer can help reduce file size. It allows you to compress documents while maintaining quality. For example, if you need to share a PDF containing high-resolution images, but the file size is too large for email, PDF Squeezer can help you compress your document without affecting your visual quality.

How to detach PDF pages in Adobe Acrobat

If you want to extract PDF pages and have a limited budget, this may not be the ideal method. Adobe Acrobat contains many powerful features for managing PDF files, but it can be quite expensive. That being said, if you have already subscribed to the software, this technique is a great way to extract PDF pages.

Use Adobe Acrobat to save specific pages of PDF files:

1. Open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Click View > Show/Hide > Navigation Pane > Page Thumbnails to display the page thumbnail on the left.
3. Select the page to extract:
   • For continuous page ranges, hold down the Shift key and click the first and last pages of the range.
   • For discontinuous ranges, hold down the Command key and click on each page you want to select.
4. After selecting a page, click Organize Page Tools in the right pane, or click Tools > Organize Pages in the menu bar.
5. In the toolbar that appears, click Extract .
6. In the Extract Page dialog box, you can choose:
   • Keep the pages in the original file.
   • Remove the page after extraction.
7. Click OK . The extracted pages will open in a new window and you can save them by clicking File > Save As.

If you are not only interested in extracting pages, check out these three easy ways to rearrange pages in PDFs.

PDF security: No page extraction is allowed

If the PDF contains sensitive information or the owner restricts access to it, there is a high probability that you will not be able to extract the page. If this is the case, you will see the message "Extracting PDF pages is not allowed". You need to know the PDF's password to access and extract the page.

How to enable PDF page extraction

As long as you know the password for the restricted PDF file, you should be able to enable page extraction. A good way is through Adobe Acrobat.

Use Adobe Acrobat to enable the feature that does not allow extraction of PDF pages:

1. Open PDF in Adobe Acrobat.
2. Click Tools in the menu bar and select Protection .
3. Click Encryption in the Protection menu and select Delete Security Settings .
4. When you are prompted to delete the security settings of the PDF, enter your password.
5. After deleting the protection, click Tools > Organize Page .
6. Now you can select and extract the page you want:
   • Select the page to extract ( Shift key to select a continuous range, or Command key to select a non-continuous selection).
   • Click Extract in the toolbar.
   • Choose whether to keep the extracted page in the original document or create a new file.
7. After extraction, save the new file by clicking File > Save As .

Extract PDF page now

Extracting only the content you want, while ignoring the rest of the PDF pages is essential to keeping your Mac system tidy. It also saves a lot of storage space, especially when using PDFs containing hundreds of pages.

There are multiple ways to save specific pages in PDF files, from built-in solutions like previews to powerful tools like Nitro PDF Pro. Use PDF Search and PDF Squeezer to better manage your PDFs. Don't forget that you can use Get Backup Pro to keep a copy of the full PDF before extracting the page. You never know when you might need to access the full document again.

You can access the apps mentioned in this article, as well as over 250 other apps through Setapp's free 7-day trial. Setapp is a platform with over 250 macOS and iOS apps that you can use with a single subscription. So, why not give it a try?

Frequently Asked Questions

How to separate PDF pages on Mac?

To detach a PDF page on your Mac, use Nitro PDF Pro:

1. Install and open Nitro PDF Pro on your Mac.
2. Open the PDF file, hold down the Command key, and click on each page you want to extract (if there are multiple pages).
3. Click File > New > Create from selected content.
4. Save a new PDF.

How to cut a page from a PDF on Mac?

You can use preview to cut pages from PDFs on your Mac:

1. Open PDF.
2. Click View > Thumbnails.
3. Press and hold the Command key to select multiple pages.
4. Once the pages are selected, drag them to the desktop or other folder to create a new PDF that contains only those pages.
5. Save a new PDF containing the remaining pages by clicking File > Save or File > Save As.

How to download a specific page of a PDF on your Mac?

To download a specific page for a PDF on your Mac, open the PDF in Google Chrome or Safari and press Command P. Select Save as PDF that contains only the required pages. Remember that clickable links may not work properly.

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