Remove Pages from Scanned PDF
(Without Re-scan) – 2026 Guide
Scanned a 20-page document but ended up with 25 pages – blank sheets, duplicates, and extra pages from the scanner.
Don't re-scan. You can remove those unwanted pages in seconds without Adobe Acrobat. Free online tools and desktop software let you delete pages from scanned PDFs while keeping original quality. Here's exactly how to clean up your scanned documents [citation:1][citation:3].
Why Scanned PDFs Have Extra Pages
Blank pages from scanner misfeed
Scanners sometimes add blank pages when sheets feed unevenly or multiple sheets are pulled at once [citation:1].
Fix: Delete blank pages using thumbnail view – they're easy to spot
Duplicate pages
Scanner may capture the same page twice if paper sticks or during batch scanning [citation:7].
Fix: Compare thumbnails, select duplicates, and delete
Extra pages from double-sided scanning
When scanning double-sided documents, you might get extra blank reverse pages [citation:1].
Fix: Remove the unwanted reverse pages
Cover pages or dividers
Scanned documents often include unnecessary title pages or section dividers [citation:3].
Fix: Delete them individually or by range
Faint marks that look like content
Some pages look blank but contain faint scans, shadows, or specks that scanners detect as content [citation:1].
Fix: Preview at larger size – if only light texture, safe to delete
Step-by-Step: Remove Pages from Scanned PDF
Choose a page removal tool
Use Smallpdf Delete Pages, PDF24, PDFSwift, or Adobe Acrobat online. All work in browser – no install [citation:1][citation:3].
Upload your scanned PDF
Drag and drop or click to select your file. Wait for thumbnails to load [citation:1].
Spot unwanted pages
Thumbnail view shows all pages. Blank pages appear empty. Click any thumbnail for larger preview to confirm [citation:1][citation:7].
Delete pages
Click trash icon on pages to remove. For multiple pages, hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while selecting [citation:1][citation:7].
Apply changes
Click "Apply Changes" or "Delete" to process. Takes a few seconds [citation:1].
Download cleaned PDF
Save your new file. Original is untouched – tools add "pages-deleted" to filename as backup [citation:1].
Total time: About 60 seconds for a 20-page scanned PDF.
Method 2: Using Preview on Mac (Built-in, Free, Offline)
If you have a Mac, Preview can delete pages from scanned PDFs without any online tools. Works completely offline – best for sensitive documents [citation:6].
Note: Preview saves changes to the original file. Use "Save As" if you want to keep the original scan.
Method 3: Print to PDF (Windows & Mac)
No special tools? Use "Print to PDF" to keep only the pages you want [citation:1].
Works for: Quick fixes when you don't need to see thumbnails. Just specify which pages to keep.
Method 4: Free Desktop Software (Windows)
For offline editing on Windows, free tools like PDF24 Creator and PDFgear work great [citation:3].
PDF24 Creator
Free desktop tool. Open PDF, select pages in thumbnail view, delete, save. Works offline [citation:3].
PDFgear
Modern PDF editor for Windows and Mac. Delete pages, edit, merge – all free [citation:3].
🔍 How to Identify Blank Pages in Scanned PDFs
Check thumbnails first
Most tools show thumbnails – blank pages appear as empty white squares. Easy to spot [citation:1].
Preview suspicious pages
Click any thumbnail for larger view. Some pages have faint shadows or specks – if no visible text/images, safe to delete [citation:1].
Zoom in to confirm
Use zoom feature to check for faint marks. Scanners sometimes detect light shadows as content – but page is effectively blank [citation:7].
Look for duplicates
Identical thumbnails = duplicate pages. Compare side by side before deleting [citation:7].
🔒 Privacy & Security for Scanned Documents
Scanned PDFs often contain sensitive info – IDs, contracts, personal documents.
Online tools (safe options):
- TLS encryption during upload [citation:1]
- Automatic file deletion after 1-2 hours [citation:1][citation:2]
- GDPR-compliant, ISO/IEC 27001 certified (Smallpdf) [citation:1]
For maximum privacy:
- Use browser-based tools that process locally (files never leave your device)
- Use offline desktop software – Preview (Mac), PDF24 Creator (Windows) [citation:3][citation:6]
- For highly sensitive docs, avoid upload entirely [citation:3]
🛠️ Best Free Tools to Remove Scanned PDF Pages
Smallpdf Delete Pages
Online • Free (limited) • Secure
Thumbnail view, multi-select, trash icons. Files deleted after 1 hour. ISO certified [citation:1][citation:6].
PDF24 Tools
Online • Free • No limits
Delete pages, preview thumbnails. No daily limits. Also has desktop version [citation:2][citation:3].
PDF Candy
Online • Free • 2-hour storage
Delete selected pages, extract ranges. Files removed after 2 hours [citation:2].
Adobe Acrobat online
Online • Free with account
Adobe's official tool. Needs free account. Reliable for scanned docs.
Preview (Mac)
Built-in • Free • Offline
Completely offline. Best for privacy. Delete pages in Thumbnails view [citation:6].
PDF24 Creator (Windows)
Desktop • Free • Offline
Free desktop app. Works offline. No file size limits [citation:3].
Common Problems and Fixes
Can't select multiple pages
Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking thumbnails. If shortcuts fail, click inside thumbnail area first, then try again [citation:1][citation:7].
Page won't delete
Wait for PDF to fully load – blurry thumbnails mean still processing. If problem persists, PDF may be password protected [citation:7].
PDF is password protected
Enter password when prompted. Most tools will ask. If you don't have password, you can't edit [citation:1][citation:3].
Blank page has faint marks – delete or keep?
If preview shows only light shadows/specks with no readable content, it's safe to delete. Scanners sometimes detect faint marks as content [citation:1].
File too large to upload
Compress PDF first using compression tool. Or use desktop software that works offline with no file limits [citation:1][citation:3].
Accidentally deleted wrong page
Most tools create new file – original remains untouched. Look for "pages-deleted" filename or re-upload original [citation:1].
Questions People Actually Ask
Can I remove pages from a scanned PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes, absolutely. You don't need Adobe Acrobat to delete pages from scanned PDFs. Free online tools like Smallpdf, PDF24, and PDFSwift let you remove pages directly in your browser. Desktop alternatives like Preview (Mac) or PDF24 Creator (Windows) work offline. No subscription needed [citation:1][citation:3][citation:6].
How do I identify blank pages in a scanned PDF?
Upload your scanned PDF to any page removal tool – they show thumbnails of all pages. Blank pages appear as empty white squares. Click any thumbnail to see a larger preview – if nothing appears or only faint shadows/specks show, it's safe to delete. Some scanners leave faint marks that look like content, but if no visible text or images, delete it [citation:1][citation:7].
Will removing pages affect the quality of remaining pages?
No. Deleting pages doesn't compress or re-encode the remaining pages. The pages you keep stay at their original scan resolution and quality. Your cleaned PDF will be smaller (fewer pages) but each kept page remains identical to the original [citation:1][citation:6].
Can I delete multiple pages at once from a scanned PDF?
Yes. Most tools let you select multiple pages before deleting. Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking thumbnails to select several pages, then delete them all at once. Some tools also let you specify page ranges like '1-3,5,7-9' to keep or remove in bulk [citation:1][citation:7].
Is it safe to upload scanned PDFs to online tools?
Most reputable tools are safe – they use TLS encryption and automatically delete files after processing (usually 1-2 hours). Smallpdf, for example, is GDPR-compliant and ISO/IEC 27001 certified [citation:1]. For sensitive documents, use browser-based tools that process locally (files never leave your device) or desktop software like Preview (Mac) or PDF24 Creator (Windows) that work completely offline [citation:3][citation:6].
Can I remove pages from a password-protected scanned PDF?
Yes, but you need the password first. Most online tools will prompt for password when you upload a protected file. Once unlocked, you can delete pages normally. Alternatively, use a PDF unlocker tool first (requires password), then delete pages from the unprotected version [citation:1][citation:3].
How do I remove pages on my phone?
Works on iPhone and Android. Open any online PDF tool in your mobile browser. Upload from phone storage, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Select pages to delete using thumbnails. Download cleaned PDF back to your phone. Takes about a minute – no app needed [citation:1][citation:6].
What Actually Matters
- Don't re-scan – delete pages digitally in seconds
- Thumbnail view makes blank pages and duplicates easy to spot [citation:1]
- Hold Ctrl/Cmd to select and delete multiple pages at once [citation:7]
- Quality stays the same – no compression when deleting pages [citation:6]
- For sensitive docs use offline tools (Preview, PDF24 Creator) [citation:3]
- Takes 60 seconds – faster than finding the scanner
Clean Up Your Scanned PDF Now
Upload your scanned PDF. Remove blank pages, duplicates, and unwanted sheets. Free, no signup, works on any device. Files stay private.
Files stay in your browser • No uploads • Free forever