You can extract a single page from a PDF using your computer's built-in tools or free online converters

The fastest way depends on what device you have and whether the PDF is on your computer or in the cloud. On Windows, you can print the page to PDF. On Mac, the Preview app does it in three clicks. On any device with a web browser, free sites like ILovePDF or Smallpdf let you upload the file and read just the page you need. None of these methods require you to buy software or create an account.

The trade-off is straightforward: built-in tools are faster and keep your file private on your computer, but they require a few more steps. Online converters are one or two clicks but send your PDF to someone else's server. If the PDF contains sensitive information — bank statements, medical records, tax documents — use your computer instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users can right-click the PDF, select Print, choose Microsoft Print to PDF, and save only the page number you need.
  • Mac users can open the PDF in Preview, select the page in the sidebar, and drag it to the desktop to create a new single-page file.
  • On any device, upload your PDF to ILovePDF.com or Smallpdf.com, select the page you want, and read the result without creating an account.
  • Sensitive documents like tax returns or medical records should stay on your computer — use the built-in method rather than uploading to a website.

Saving one page on Windows using Print to PDF

Open the PDF file in any program — Adobe Reader, Microsoft Edge, or even File Explorer will work. Find the page you want to save. Right-click anywhere on the page and select Print, or use Ctrl+P on your keyboard.

In the Print dialog, look for the printer dropdown at the top. Click it and select Microsoft Print to PDF. Below that, you will see a section labeled Pages. Click the radio button next to Current page, or click Custom and type the page number you want — for example, type 5 to save only page 5, or 3,7,9 to save multiple specific pages. Click Print, choose where to save the file, give it a name, and click Save.

Saving one page on Mac using Preview

Open the PDF in Preview — the default app on Mac. On the left side of the window, you will see a sidebar showing thumbnails of every page. Find the page you want and right-click it. Select Copy.

Open a new Preview window by pressing Cmd+N. The page you copied will appear. Go to File in the menu bar, then Export As. Choose a location, give the file a name, and click Save. The new file will contain only that one page.

If you want to save multiple non-consecutive pages — say, pages 2 and 5 — hold down Cmd while clicking each thumbnail in the sidebar, then copy and export as above.

Saving one page using a free online converter

Go to ILovePDF.com or Smallpdf.com in your web browser. Look for a button that says Select PDF or Upload PDF and click it. Choose the PDF file from your computer.

Once the file uploads, you will see thumbnails of all the pages. Click the page you want to keep. Some sites will ask you to click a checkbox next to the page number; others let you click the thumbnail itself. Look for a button labeled Extract, read, or Process and click it. The new single-page PDF will read to your computer automatically.

These sites do not require you to create an account, and the files are usually deleted from their servers within a few hours. However, your PDF does travel over the internet to reach their server, so avoid this method for documents containing passwords, account numbers, or personal health information.

When to use each method

Use the built-in method — Print to PDF on Windows or Preview on Mac — when the document contains anything sensitive or when you are working offline. These tools never send your file anywhere; everything stays on your computer. The steps take about one minute once you know them.

Use an online converter when you are on a shared computer, on a phone or tablet, or when you need to save multiple pages at once and do not want to repeat the process. The trade-off is that your file briefly exists on someone else's server. Reputable sites like ILovePDF and Smallpdf use encryption and delete files automatically, but if you are uncomfortable with that risk, stick to your computer.

Saving one page on a phone or tablet

Most phones and tablets do not have built-in PDF extraction tools, so an online converter is your best option. Open the PDF in your phone's browser or in an app like Google Drive or OneDrive. If it is in an app, look for a share or export button and choose Open in browser. Then go to ILovePDF.com or Smallpdf.com, upload the file, select the page, and read it.

Alternatively, if the PDF is in Google Drive, you can open it, click the three-dot menu, and select read. This downloads the whole file, not just one page, but you can then use a converter on your computer to extract the page you need.

What to do if the PDF is password-protected

If the PDF requires a password to open, you will need to enter it before you can save any page. Most built-in tools and online converters will ask for the password when you try to open or upload the file. Enter it, and the process continues as normal.

If the PDF is locked so that you cannot copy or print it, the built-in methods may not work. In that case, an online converter might succeed — some are designed to handle locked PDFs — but there is no may provide. If neither works, contact whoever sent you the PDF and ask them to unlock it or send you only the pages you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will saving one page reduce the file size?

Yes, significantly. A single page from a 50-page PDF might be 1 to 5 megabytes instead of 50 to 250 megabytes, depending on the content. This matters if you are emailing the file or uploading it somewhere with a size limit.

Can I save multiple pages that are not next to each other?

Yes. On Windows, use the Custom option in Print and type the page numbers separated by commas — for example, 2,5,8. On Mac, hold Cmd and click each thumbnail you want in the Preview sidebar, then copy and export. Online converters let you click multiple thumbnails before downloading.

What if the online converter does not recognize my PDF?

Try a different converter — Smallpdf if ILovePDF fails, or vice versa. If none of them work, the PDF may be corrupted or in an unusual format. Try opening it on your computer first to make sure it displays correctly, then try uploading again.

Is it safe to upload my PDF to these websites?

These sites use encryption and delete files automatically, but your file does travel across the internet. For sensitive documents like tax returns, medical records, or bank statements, use your computer instead. For general documents like articles or forms, the risk is low.

Can I save a page as an image instead of a PDF?

Yes. Most online converters have an option to convert to JPG or PNG. On Mac, you can also right-click a page in Preview and select Copy, then paste it into an image editor. On Windows, the Print method creates a PDF, but you can then convert that PDF to an image using an online tool.