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Split by Bookmarks
Split by Bookmarks reads the outline (table of contents) inside a PDF and exports one file per chapter or bookmark entry. Documents that already carry a proper outline can be divided into logically named parts in a single pass.
How to use Split by Bookmarks
- Upload a PDF that has a bookmark outline — most books, manuals and reports exported from a word processor do.
- Run the tool; it reads the outline entries and their destination pages.
- Download the chapter files produced from the bookmark list.
Where Split by Bookmarks is useful
- Separating the chapters of an e-book or manual you produced yourself.
- Splitting a standards document along its clause structure.
- Distributing only the sections that a specific team needs.
Formats, algorithms and limits
The outline is read with PDF.js and each entry's destination page is used as a chapter boundary. If the document has no outline, the tool reports that clearly instead of guessing — use Split by Text or fixed-size splitting in that case.
Troubleshooting and honest limits
- Open the document's bookmark panel first to confirm the outline is meaningful.
- Nested entries produce start pages just like top-level ones; check the naming if your outline is deep.
- Chapter files inherit the original page geometry, so nothing is rescaled.
Frequently asked questions
What if my PDF has no bookmarks?
The tool cannot invent an outline. Use Split by Pages for fixed chunks or Split by Text to divide on a recurring heading instead.
Do nested bookmarks create separate files too?
Yes — each outline entry with a destination page becomes a boundary, including nested entries, which is useful for sub-chapters and appendices.
Are the output files named after the chapters?
Files are numbered in outline order so they sort naturally; rename them from the outline titles if you need descriptive names (Batch Rename PDF can help with patterns).
Does this change the content of the pages?
No. Pages are copied into new documents, so text, images and links inside each chapter remain exactly as they were.
Related tools
Page written and reviewed by the FreeConvertio engineering team on 2026-10-14. Split by Bookmarks runs entirely in your browser — no uploads, no account and no daily limits.