How to split PDF to separate PDF files in Windows 11?

You can use the Microsoft Copilot tool on Windows 11 for splitting a PDF into multiple PDF files.

Using PowerShell with the PSWritePDF module is a powerful, script-based method to split PDF files, though it's worth knowing it isn't a built-in Windows feature. The module is based on iText 7 Community for NET, a well- known PDF library, and it provides standalone functions. Importantly, the module works on Windows, Linux, and macOS, so it's cross-platform.

Before you can perform a PDF to PDF split using PSWritePDF, you need to install the module. Here's how:

Step 1: Open PowerShell as Administrator

Step 2: Install the Module

Run the following command:

powershell

Install-Module -Name PSWritePDF -Force

You may be prompted to confirm the installation from an untrusted repository— type Y and press Enter.

Step 3: Verify Installation

Step 4: Import the Module into Your Session

How to Perform a PDF to PDF Split Using PSWritePDF

Once the module is installed and imported, you can use the Split-PDF function. Here is the basic syntax:

powershell

Split-PDF -Path "C: \Path\to\your\file, pdf" -OutputFolder "C:\Path\to\output\folder"

For example, if you have a 40-page document located at C:\Reports\combined, pdf and you want to split it into 40 separate one-page PDF files saved to C: \SplitOutput, you would run:

powershell

Split-PDF -Path "C:\Reports\combined, pdf" -OutputFolder "C:\ SplitOutput"

The module will automatically create individual PDF files for each page, typically naming them sequentially. This accomplishes a complete PDF to PDF split in a single command—no manual page selection required.

If you are going to split PDF to PDF on Windows PC. Unlike some other free tools that are based on the command line or require you to blindly guess the page range, the Cube PDF dedicated tool will show you thumbnail previews of each page in the PDF file. This intuitive approach is precisely why it is suitable for the kind of work you described - splitting reports with multiple chapters, combined invoices, and scanned books into separate files for sharing with different people.

If you need to split a document where every single page becomes its own PDF file (for example, a 40- page document where page 1 goes to Person A, page 2 to Person B, and so on), repeatedly selecting and extracting each page one by one would be tedious.

For this specific scenario, consider using Cube PDF Page instead. It is a separate free tool from the same developer, designed specifically for this exact task:

One-click batch split PDF to PDF: You load your PDF, click the "Split" function, and Cube PDF Page automatically creates individual PDF files for every page in the document.

Automatic naming: The output files are named sequentially, so you never lose track of which file is which.

Lightweight and fast: It removes unnecessary features to focus purely on merging and splitting, so it handles large documents without slowing down.

Poppler for Windows

You are absolutely right to focus on the "Print to PDF" method. When you want to perform a PDF to PDF split —meaning you want to take one original PDF document and break it into two or more separate PDF files—the manual extraction via printing is often the most straightforward, completely free method available. It requires no third-party software, no online uploads, and no paid tools. It uses features already built into Windows 11 and any modern web browser.

If you need to split a very large PDF into many smaller files, you can open the original PDF once and keep the print dialog open. After saving one extracted section, press Ctrl + P again to reopen the print dialog—the original PDF is still open in the background, so you can immediately select the next page range and save again without reopening the file.

Manual extraction via printing is a legitimate, completely free method to perform a PDF to PDF split. It gives you full control over exactly which pages go into each new file. While it lacks advanced features like preserving bookmarks or hyperlinks, it is perfectly reliable for most everyday splitting needs—especially for documents that are primarily text or scanned images.

pdftk (PDF Toolkit), a powerful, free command line tool for splitting PDF into separate files. It requires no graphical interface and is ideal for users who prefer working in the terminal or need to automate PDF tasks through scripts. 

Download pdftk from the official site.

Now, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

Next, verify the installation by opening Command Prompt and typing:

pdftk --version

Split every PDF page into a separate file. This splits every page of a PDF into its own individual file.

pdftk input.pdf burst output page_%04d.pdf

Extract a specific range of pages (e.g., pages 1 to 5) into a new PDF.

pdftk input.pdf cat 1-5 output part1.pdf

Pick individual pages in any order (e.g., pages 1, 3, and 7):

pdftk input.pdf cat 1 3 7 output selected_pages.pdf

pdftk is a fast and scriptable PDF to PDF split solution on Windows 11 without needing any graphical software. The burst command splits every page into its own file, while the cat command gives you full control to extract any page range or combination. 

Since you are looking for a way to split PDF to PDF without installing anything extra, this is the best option . It works by using the "Print to PDF" function to save specific pages as a new, separate file.

Here are the steps:

1. Open your PDF: Right-click on the PDF file you want to split, choose Open with, and then select Microsoft Edge .

2. Open the Print dialog: Once the PDF is open in Edge, click the Print icon in the toolbar (or just press Ctrl + P on your keyboard) .

3. Choose the virtual printer: In the print window that appears, click the dropdown menu under "Printer" and select "Microsoft Print to PDF" . Do not select your actual home printer.

4. Select the pages you want: This is the splitting step. In the "Pages" field, type the page numbers you want to extract into a new file.

    For a single page: type 7 (to extract page 7).

    For a range of pages: type 10-15 (to extract pages 10 through 15).

    For several specific pages: type 3, 5, 9 (to extract pages 3, 5, and 9).

5. Save the new file: Click the Print button. A "Save Print Output As" window will pop up. Give your new split PDF a name, choose where to save it on your computer, and click Save.

That's it. You have successfully created a new PDF containing only the pages you selected. To split PDF to PDF, you would simply repeat this process for each group of pages you want to extract.

PDF Arranger is a free, open-source tool that lets you merge, split, rotate, crop, and rearrange PDF pages through a simple, intuitive graphical interface. Unlike online tools, it processes everything locally on your computer, meaning your files never leave your device.

How to Split a PDF to PDF on Windows 11

Step 1: Go to File → Open and select your PDF, or simply drag and drop the file into the application window. Each page will appear as a thumbnail.

Step 2: Select the pages you want to split into a separate file

Step 3: Click a page to select it. To select a range, hold Shift and click another page. You can also hold Ctrl + A to select all pages.

Step 4: Go to File → Export Selection. This saves only your selected pages as a separate PDF file. Enter a filename and choose your destination folder, then click Save.

Step 5: Go back to the main window, select the next group of pages you want to save, and repeat the export step. A number at the end of the filename will be automatically incremented with each export, making it easy to keep your split files organized.

PDF Arranger is a straightforward, completely free PDF to PDF split solution for Windows without any subscriptions or cloud uploads. The key to splitting is the Export Selection feature — simply select the pages you want, export them as a new file, and repeat for each section.

Adobe Acrobat is one of the most reliable and feature-rich tools for managing PDF files. Whether you need to break a large report into chapters, extract specific pages for sharing, or reduce file sizes for easier emailing, Acrobat makes splitting PDFs straightforward. This guide walks you through a simple method to split PDF to PDF on Windows 11.

Method 1: Split PDF into Multiple PDF Files with the Organize Pages Tool

1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat (not just Acrobat Reader).

2. Go to Tools → Organize Pages.

3. Click Split in the top toolbar.

4. Choose how you want to split:

• Number of pages – e.g., every 5 pages becomes a new file
• File size – split when a file reaches a certain MB limit
• Top-level bookmarks – split at each bookmark section

5. Click Output Options to choose the destination folder and file naming.

6. Click Split to confirm, then OK.

Method 2: Split PDF to PDF Pages as Separate Files

1. Open your PDF in Acrobat.

2. Go to Tools → Organize Pages.

3. Select the pages you want to extract (click or Shift+click thumbnails).

4. Click Extract in the toolbar.

5. Check "Extract Pages as Separate Files" if you want one file per page.

6. Click Extract, then save to your chosen folder.

Tips

• You need Adobe Acrobat Standard or Pro — the free Acrobat Reader cannot split PDFs.
• To batch-split multiple PDFs at once, use Tools → Action Wizard to automate the process.
• Acrobat will automatically number the output files (e.g., filename_Part1.pdf, filename_Part2.pdf).