Quick answer: open Remove PDF Pages, choose your file, and enter even to delete pages 2, 4, 6 and so on, or odd to delete pages 1, 3, 5 and so on. Select Remove pages, then Download PDF. The original file stays unchanged.
A two-sided scan of one-sided documents can leave an empty back after every useful page. If you have checked that the pattern holds throughout the file, an odd or even selection saves typing a long list of page numbers. It also works when you need to extract alternating pages into a separate document.
- Check which pages should go
- Remove odd or even pages
- Example: a ten-page scan
- Keep or split alternating pages
- Troubleshooting and limitations
Check which pages should go
Open the source PDF in your usual reader and inspect its thumbnails or page counter. Use the page's position in the file, starting at 1. Printed labels such as “i”, “ii” or “Page 1” may not match that position, especially when a cover or contents page comes first.
Review every page you plan to remove. A faint note, stamp, signature or second side of a form can be easy to miss in a small thumbnail. If only some even pages are blank, enter those specific positions, such as 2,6,10, rather than deleting all even pages.
Odd and even are position selectors, not blank-page detection. The tool does not inspect whether a page contains text or images.
Remove odd or even pages
- Open Remove PDF Pages and select Choose a PDF.
- Check the page count shown after the file is read.
- In Pages to remove, type
evenoroddon its own. Do not combine the keyword with commas or ranges. - Select Remove pages and wait for the ready message.
- Select Download PDF. Open the new file and check its page count, page order and retained content before sharing it.
The selected file is processed in your browser without a document upload. Remaining pages keep their original order. Save the download under a different name if your browser asks whether to replace an existing file.
Example: a ten-page scan with blank backs
Suppose the useful pages are at positions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, and you have confirmed that positions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 are empty backs.
- Enter
evenin Remove PDF Pages. - The downloaded PDF has five pages: original positions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, in that order.
- If the source instead has eleven pages, the same selection keeps six pages, including the last page at position 11.
If an extra cover was inserted before the scan, the pattern may shift. Recheck the positions rather than assuming that every even page is still an empty back.
Keep or split alternating pages
In Extract PDF Pages, the selection means pages to keep. Enter odd to keep pages 1, 3, 5 and so on, or even to keep pages 2, 4, 6 and so on. This is the opposite of entering the same keyword in Remove PDF Pages.
To save both groups, open Split PDF and enter odd; even in Page groups. The semicolon separates the two output PDFs. Download the ZIP and open it to access the odd-page file followed by the even-page file.
Troubleshooting and limitations
- “This PDF has no even-numbered pages.” A one-page PDF has only an odd-positioned page. There is no even page to select.
- “Keep at least one page in the PDF.” The selected deletion would remove every page, for example choosing odd for a one-page file. Choose a different source or selection.
- Blank pages are not alternating. Use a list such as
2,5,8-10after checking those positions. The tool will remove exactly those pages. - The file is password-protected. Use an unprotected copy that you are authorized to edit. This tool does not unlock protected files.
Keep the source PDF. Copying pages into a new document does not guarantee that document-level bookmarks, attachments or interactive forms survive. Editing a digitally signed document can invalidate its signature.
For future scans, check whether your scanner has a blank-page removal option and review its results before relying on it.
Ready to remove the alternating pages you have checked?
Remove PDF pagesFrequently asked questions
How do I delete all even pages from a PDF?
Open Remove PDF Pages, choose your PDF and enter even in Pages to remove. Select Remove pages, then Download PDF. Pages 2, 4, 6 and so on are removed; pages 1, 3, 5 and so on remain in their original order.
Does odd or even use the page numbers printed on the document?
No. It uses the position of each page in the PDF, starting at 1. A cover counts as page 1 even if it has no printed number. Check the original PDF before choosing which pages to delete.
Will this automatically find blank pages?
No. Odd and even select alternating page positions without inspecting their content. Review the pages in a PDF reader first. If blank pages are scattered, enter their individual positions or ranges instead.
Can I keep odd and even pages in separate PDF files?
Yes. Open Split PDF and enter odd; even in Page groups. Download and open the ZIP archive. The first PDF contains the odd-positioned pages, and the second contains the even-positioned pages. Both keep their original order.