A lot of everyday file jobs are the same: pull a chapter out of a PDF, shrink a scan for email, make a video small enough to upload, or resize a photo for a form. The tools were already there. What’s new is the settings on the page, so you can pick the result you want before you hit convert.
Here’s a practical tour of the options, and when to use which tool.
Split PDF vs Extract Pages
These two look similar. They are not.
- Split PDF gives you a ZIP of separate files. Each page or range becomes its own PDF.
- Extract Pages keeps one PDF. The pages you choose stay together in a single download.
Use Split PDF when a portal wants one file per page, when you need odd and even pages as individual documents, or when you want a ZIP of chapters. Use Extract Pages when you want pages 3–7 as one handout, or all the odd pages as a single duplex-style PDF.
Split modes
On Split PDF, choose how the ZIP is built:
- Custom ranges — each comma-separated group becomes its own file.
2-5,7means two PDFs: pages 2–5, and page 7. - Every page — one PDF per page.
- Odd pages — pages 1, 3, 5, … each as its own file.
- Even pages — pages 2, 4, 6, … each as its own file.
- Fixed page count — groups of 2, 3, 5, or 10 pages (or your own number). The last file may have fewer pages.
Your original upload is unchanged. You download new files.
Extract modes
On Extract Pages, choose:
- Custom pages — a list or range, still one PDF.
- Odd pages — every odd page, combined.
- Even pages — every even page, combined.
That’s the duplex trick: scan a stack, extract odds or evens, and you get one file instead of dozens.
Compress a PDF without guessing
Compress PDF now has a compression level and a colour option:
- High — smallest file. Fine for email and on-screen reading.
- Medium — the default. A sensible balance for most documents.
- Low — sharper images, larger file.
- Max quality — keep as much detail as possible.
Turn on Grayscale when colour doesn’t matter (forms, contracts, photocopies). That often shrinks the file further.
If you merged several PDFs and the result is still huge, compress the merged file as a second step. Merge itself keeps the pages as they are; it does not re-encode them.
Compress video: codec, speed, and size
Compress Video now lets you choose:
- H.264 — the compatible default. Plays almost everywhere.
- H.265 (HEVC) — usually smaller at the same quality. Some older phones and players struggle with it.
- Encoding speed — Very fast, Medium, or Slow. Slower encoding typically makes a smaller file at the same quality.
- Resolution — keep the original, or drop to 1080p, 720p, or 480p.
- Quality (CRF) — lower numbers look better and cost more bytes. Around 23 is a solid starting point.
For WhatsApp, email, or a course upload, try H.264, 720p, and a slightly higher CRF. For archiving a recording you’ll watch on a modern device, H.265 and a slower preset are worth the extra wait.
Resize images without stretching them
Resize Image now has quick sizes (1920×1080, 1280×720, 800×600, and “640 wide” / “480 tall”) plus a lock aspect ratio switch.
Leave the lock on, type one dimension, and the other follows so faces and logos don’t squash. Unlock it only when you truly want a different shape.
Rotate selected PDF pages
Rotate PDF still turns pages 90°, 180°, or 270°. You can now target:
- All pages
- Odd pages
- Even pages
- A custom range such as
1-3,5,7-9
That’s useful for mixed scans: landscape tables on even pages, portrait text on odd pages.
Flatten, merge, and the rest of the PDF toolbox
Flatten PDF turns forms and annotations into a static document. If the file is password-protected, you can enter the source password on the page. Optional compression is there if you want a smaller flattened file at the same time.
Merge PDF still joins files in list order. After a merge, send the result through Compress PDF if you need a smaller download.
Protect, unlock, crop, organise, remove pages, and extract images are on the same PDF tools list. Each page now spells out what that tool does, so you spend less time guessing between similar names.
A short checklist
- Need separate files in a ZIP? Split PDF.
- Need those pages in one PDF? Extract Pages.
- Need a smaller PDF? Compress PDF (try Medium, then High if it’s still large).
- Need a smaller video? Compress Video (H.264 + 720p is a safe first try).
- Need a photo to fit a box? Resize Image with aspect lock on.
All of these run in the browser. Upload, pick the options, convert, download. No desktop suite required.
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