# Split PDF — Split a PDF on Mac

Split by pages, chapters (bookmarks), file size or where a word appears, or cut two-page scans in half. Part of OneMacTools, 151 private tools in one native Mac app (macOS 26 or later); category: PDF. Runs on your Mac; nothing is uploaded.

Split a PDF into one file per page or chunks of 2, 5 or 10 pages; one file per chapter using its bookmarks; files under 2, 5, 10 or 25 MB for upload limits; a new file wherever a word like “Invoice” appears; or cut each two-page scan into separate pages.

Page: https://www.onemactools.com/tools/split-pdf · Download: https://www.onemactools.com/download · Pricing: https://www.onemactools.com/pricing

## How to use it
1. **Add the PDF.** Drop one or more PDFs onto Split PDF. Each one is split the same way.
2. **Choose how to split.** In the right-hand panel, pick Every few pages, By bookmarks, By file size, Where text appears or Each page in half.
3. **Fill in the detail.** Depending on the mode, choose the pages per file, the size limit, or type the word that starts each new file.
4. **Click Split.** The parts are saved as new PDFs in a dated folder in Downloads › OneMacTools, named after the original plus the pages or chapter they hold.
5. **Check the parts.** Use the Preview (eye) button to flick through them, or Show in Finder to send them on.

## Options
- **Split:** How the PDF is divided: Every few pages, By bookmarks (chapters), By file size, Where text appears, or Each page in half (two-page scans).
- **Pages per file:** Only shown for Every few pages. Choose 1, 2, 5 or 10. With 1, every page becomes its own PDF.
- **Up to:** Only shown for By file size. Choose 2, 5, 10 or 25 MB (10 MB by default). Pages are kept together in order until the next one would go over the limit.
- **Start a new file at pages containing:** Only shown for Where text appears. Type a word or phrase, such as Invoice, and a new file starts at every page that contains it. Capitals and accents are ignored.

## Tips
- To split a batch of scanned invoices, run Make PDF Searchable first, then split Where text appears using a word printed at the top of each invoice.
- By bookmarks uses the top-level bookmarks only. If the first bookmark isn't on page 1, the pages before it are saved as Front matter.
- For upload limits, pick a size a little under the real limit. A single page bigger than the limit can't be split further, so it's saved on its own.
- Each page in half cuts wide pages into left and right halves, and tall pages into top and bottom, which suits book spreads scanned two pages at a time.
- To keep just a few specific pages instead of splitting the whole file, Extract Pages is quicker.

## Questions
**How do I split a PDF into separate pages on a Mac?**
Choose Every few pages, set Pages per file to 1 and click Split. Each page is saved as its own PDF, named with its page number.

**Can I split a PDF by chapter?**
Yes. Choose By bookmarks (chapters) and you get one file per top-level bookmark, named after it. If the PDF has no bookmarks, OneMacTools tells you and suggests splitting where text appears instead.

**How do I split a PDF to get under an email or upload limit?**
Choose By file size and pick 2, 5, 10 or 25 MB. Pages are grouped in order so each part stays under that size.

**Can I split wherever a word appears, like “Invoice”?**
Yes. Choose Where text appears and type the word. A new file starts at each page that contains it, ignoring capitals and accents.

**Why does it say my word doesn't appear in the PDF?**
The PDF is probably a scan, which is a picture of text. Run it through Make PDF Searchable, then split the searchable copy.

**How do I split a scanned book spread into single pages?**
Choose Each page in half (two-page scans). Every wide page is cut down the middle into a left and a right page, kept in reading order.