The situation: the PDF is fine, except for a few pages
This is a common workflow problem: you have a PDF that’s mostly correct, but it contains extra pages you don’t want to send, upload, or archive.
Scenario: you have a 42-page PDF (contract + annexes). You need to send only pages 1–12 and 20–42, because pages 13–19 contain internal notes. Re-exporting from the source doc is slow (or impossible), so you just need a clean PDF with those pages removed.
Delete vs extract: pick the safer operation
There are two similar operations that solve different problems:
- Remove pages means: keep the document, delete specific pages.
- Extract pages means: create a new PDF containing only the pages you want.
If you’re sending a “subset” of a PDF (like pages 1–12 and 20–42), extracting is often safer because you only include what you explicitly selected. If you’re cleaning up a PDF you plan to keep internally, removal is fine.
Step-by-step: remove pages without guessing
- Open the Remove Pages tool.
- Upload your PDF (drag-and-drop works).
- Select the pages to delete. If you’re working from a printed page number (e.g., “page 3”), confirm it matches the PDF’s actual page index. Many PDFs have cover pages or roman numerals that shift counts.
- Generate the updated PDF and download it.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
1) Confusing printed page numbers with PDF page order
A “page 10” label inside the document isn’t always the 10th page in the file. PDFs often include a cover page, a table of contents, or inserts. Always verify the page index you’re deleting.
2) Scanned PDFs can hide a “blank” page that isn’t actually blank
In scanned documents, a page that looks blank might contain faint marks or a stamp that matters. If the PDF is scanned, double-check the thumbnails before deleting.
3) Deleting pages when you meant to redact
If the goal is “remove sensitive information,” deleting pages helps only if the sensitive content is isolated to those pages. If it’s on the same page as content you must keep, use Redact PDF instead.
4) Forgetting to re-check the final PDF
Don’t assume the export is correct. Open the result and confirm the page count and the key sections are still present. This takes 30 seconds and prevents expensive mistakes.
When extraction is the better workflow
If you need to keep pages 1–12 and 20–42, you can create a new clean file with Extract Pages. If you need to split into separate files (e.g., “contract” and “appendix”), use Split PDF.
Conclusion
Removing pages from a PDF should be a precise operation, not a guessing game. Verify the page index, delete only what you intend, and sanity-check the output before sending it.
You can do it quickly with the Remove Pages tool, and extract-only workflows are covered by Extract Pages.
FAQ
Is removing pages from a PDF permanent?
Yes for the output file you generate. Your original PDF stays unchanged unless you overwrite it. Keep a copy of the original if you might need it later.
Will removing pages reduce file size?
Usually, yes. If the removed pages contain large images (common in scanned PDFs), the size reduction can be significant.
What if the page I need to remove contains content I must keep?
Don’t delete it. Use Redact PDF to remove only the sensitive parts while keeping the rest of the page.
How do I share only certain pages without editing the original?
Use Extract Pages to create a new PDF containing only the pages you want to send.
Can I remove pages from a password-protected PDF?
If the PDF is locked, you’ll need to unlock it first (with permission). Use Unlock PDF, then remove pages.