How to split a PDF on Mac [2023]
Jackson Kustec
jackson@macro.com
Knowing how to split a PDF on Mac is crucial for business professionals in all sectors.
If you're a lawyer, you might need to split PDFs based on the parties needing to sign a contract. If you're a digital marketer, your clients may need you to split a PDF report based on which tracked KPIs they care about.
In this article, I walk you through the PDF splitting process, first with Macro and then with Mac's Preview app.
How to split a PDF on Mac with Macro?
Suppose a paralegal – Rachel (from Suits 😃), receives a 500-page PDF containing a mix of case documents.
The PDF has evidence, affidavits, and confidential client information.
To start the legal process, Rachel must segregate these three information types, make a new PDF for each, and send it to experts for review.
Her best bet is to split PDFs with software or online.
Why?
Extracting information manually isn't just time-consuming, but also risky. It increases the chances of sending sensitive information to the wrong person.
The best software Rachel can use is Macro – an all-in-one PDF and Word editor to split, edit, and rearrange documents ( more on this later ).
Here’s a quick video showing you how to split a PDF with Macro in seconds 👇
Want a step-by-step guide? Keep reading!
Step 1. Opening Macro Organize
After downloading Macro's free-to-use app and creating an account, you will be redirected to the Macro’s app homepage.
This homepage has a menu on the left-hand side with options to:
- Open a PDF or DOCX file from Macro’s Home
- Edit Word document with Macro’s Word Editor
- Automate repeating document-related tasks with workflows
- Compare two or more documents simultaneously
- Organize files ( the feature we will use in this guide )
- Sign PDFs or request signatures from others via Macro’s third-party integrations
To begin the PDF splitting process, click Organize .
Step 2. Upload your PDF in Macro
Click the ‘+’ icon to upload a PDF file.
From your Mac, select the PDF file you want to split and click Open to upload it in Macro.
Step 3. Split the PDF
Here’s how I wanted to split the PDF I uploaded in Macro:
I want to separate this 86-page PDF into three sections:
- PDF A: Pages 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7
- PDF B: Pages 10 to 30
- PDF C: Remaining pages
Let’s first create PDF A:
To select pages that will go into PDF A, press the Command button on your Mac and left-click the pages you want to split.
In this case, I clicked pages – 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7.
Right-click any selected page and click Export pages .
Give your new PDF a name and pick which folder to save it in. Press Return or click Save once you’re done.
Next up is PDF B, containing pages 10 to 30.
To select all pages 10 to 30 – click page 10 > scroll down to page 30 > press shift > click page 30.
👀 Note: You can zoom out Macro’s page layout and increase the number of pages you see in each row with a scroll bar in the top menu.
Click Export pages and save the PDF.
To ease PDF C’s creation, you can delete PDF A and B pages after exporting them.
After deleting, click Save from the top menu, and PDF C is ready.
And that’s how you can split a PDF on Mac with Macro.
How to split a PDF with Mac’s Preview app
Mac's built-in Preview app also lets you split PDFs like Macro.
It’s a 3-step process 👇
Step 1. Select pages to split
After opening the PDF in the Preview app, select the pages you want to split. I am selecting pages 1, 2, and 3 to keep things simple.
Step 2. Export PDF pages
Right-click any of the selected pages and click Export As…
Step 3. Save the split PDF
In the Export As field, give your PDF a name, tag it if needed, and choose the location where you want to save the file.
The Preview app lets you choose the format to save these pages. You can choose from 👇
Next, select any Quartz filter you want to apply to pages 👇
Click Save, and you’re done.
Read and edit documents faster with Macro
Let’s face it; splitting a PDF with Mac’s Preview app is as simple as the process we used for Macro.
So, “why download Macro to do it?” You might ask.
Macro isn't just a PDF-splitting software. It's an all-in-one PDF + Word document editor with AI capabilities. In other words, Macro makes your life easier.
Here are some of Macro’s essential features, apart from splitting PDFs:
Key Feature #1. Compare feature
Are you trying to finalize edits from multiple document versions? Doing it manually can be a nightmare.
Macro solves this issue with the most advanced document comparison tool.
The platform lets you upload multiple PDF versions, compare them, and finalize edits in minutes. You can also color code redlines from each party involved in the editing process.
Once you hit "Compare," Macro will return a consolidated PDF version with all redactions, edits, and text movement. You can then approve or reject edits and prepare the final PDF version.
Key Feature #2. Definition pop-ups
Lawyers and other professionals need to review long documents throughout their day. They must understand the contract's content to provide advice or suggest changes.
Here's one problem they face – reading and understanding PDFs involves scrolling through hundreds of pages and manually bookmarking important information.
But that's when you don't use Macro.
Macro comes with automated defined-terms interlinking and bookmarks. With our software, you can click on a Defined Term, and instead of Googling it, you can read its definition without leaving the app.
Similarly, you can navigate sections with auto-generated bookmarks, saving hours.
Key Feature #3. Macro’s AI
When multiple people work on the same PDF, errors are inevitable.
There's a limit to humans’ ability to spot and then rectify errors. It's a tedious, and time-consuming process.
Macro has AI capabilities to help you spot document errors and suggest the right course of action.
Apart from error detection, here’s what Macro’s AI is capable of:
- Generate document summaries
- Look up internal documents
- Answer PDF-related questions
- Auto-complete paragraphs with AI content
- Rewrite sections
Want to split PDFs the right way? Download the free Macro app and get started today.