# Merge, split, compress, convert or protect a PDF

In the Drime PDF editor, split a PDF, merge PDFs, make a PDF smaller, convert it to Word, Excel or images, flatten it, or add a password.

Updated: 2026-10-19  
Source: https://drime.cloud/support/pdf-editor/merge-split-compress-convert

The Drime PDF editor can split a PDF, merge several PDFs, make a PDF smaller, convert it, flatten it into images or protect it with a password. Everything runs in your browser.

## Before you start

1. Above the file list, click **Edit PDF**, select the PDF in **Choose a PDF to edit**, then click **Choose**.

   ![A PDF open in the Drime PDF editor, with its toolbar](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5A9TEEAJWGWE6Q70DBQY530/40298e90458e-web-pdf-editor-toolbar.png)

2. If you have changed the PDF, click **Save** first.

**Split** and **Merge** are in the **Pages** menu of the toolbar. **Convert**, **Compress**, **Raster PDF** and **Protect (password)** are in the **Export** menu. On a narrow window, the tools that do not fit move under **More tools**.

## Split a PDF into several files

1. Click **Pages** \> **Split**.

   **Split PDF** opens: **Click between pages to add a split point**.

   ![The Split PDF dialog with the pages of the PDF and the split points between them](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B81CABE6HDWEJMXH0VKKZA/cc644b2e57a6-web-pdf-editor-split-dialog.png)

2. Click between two pages to split the PDF there.

   Add as many split points as you need.

   - **Select all** adds a split point between every page: you get one file per page.
   - **Reset** removes the split points.
   - To keep a single page as its own PDF, use **Extract** on that page. For a file named report.pdf, page 2 is saved as `report - page 2.pdf`.
   - Each page also has **Left**, **Right**, **Rotate**, **Duplicate** and **Delete**, inside the dialog.

3. Click **Split**.

   For report.pdf, the parts are named `report - part 01.pdf`, `report - part 02.pdf`, and so on. In **Save split files**, save them to Drime or download them.

The original PDF does not change.

## Merge PDFs

1. Click **Pages** \> **Merge**.

   **Merge files** opens: **Drag and drop files or click "Add file" to merge**. The PDF open in the editor is marked **Current**.

   ![The Merge files dialog with the current PDF and the Add file button](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B814R7EPECM4B4AKVQ2H52/f9b49f3fa236-web-pdf-editor-merge-dialog.png)

2. Click **Add file** and choose a PDF on your computer, or drag PDFs into the dialog.

3. Drag the files into the order you want, then click **Merge files**.

4. Click **Save** to keep the merged PDF.

   The editor opens the merged PDF. Nothing reaches your Drive until you save.

You can only add PDFs from your computer, not from your Drive.

## Make a PDF smaller

1. Click **Export** \> **Compress**.

   **Choose compression level** opens.

   ![The Choose compression level dialog with Smallest file size, Balanced and Better quality](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B811DEZ0XSYBHZMFFBRN8H/0417d4251b33-web-pdf-editor-compress-dialog.png)

2. Choose a level: **Smallest file size**, **Balanced** (**Recommended**, chosen by default) or **Better quality**.

   The size shown under each level is an estimate. **Advanced options** (**Resolution, image quality and grayscale**) lets you set the resolution from 72 to 300 DPI, the image quality, and turn on grayscale.

3. Click **Compress and save**, then save the file (see [Save the result](#save-output)).

   For report.pdf, the file is named `report (compressed).pdf`. Your original PDF stays as it is.

> **Warning**
>
> Compression turns every page into an image. In the compressed PDF, you can no longer select, copy or search the text. Keep the original if you need the text.

## Convert a PDF

1. Click **Export** \> **Convert**.

   **Convert PDF to…** opens.

   ![The Convert PDF to… dialog with the Documents and Images formats](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B8132P86XG7HJ6PAY07HM8/fa22a5e1d276-web-pdf-editor-convert-dialog.png)

2. Choose a format.

   | Group | Formats |
   | --- | --- |
   | **Documents** | **DOCX** (Word), **XLSX** (Excel), **TXT**, **CSV** |
   | **Images** | **JPG**, **PNG** |

   DOCX, XLSX and CSV keep the text only, one line per paragraph or row: the layout, images and tables are not kept. For a PDF with several pages, JPG and PNG give **One image per page, in a ZIP**.

3. Click the button, for example **Convert to DOCX**, then save the file (see [Save the result](#save-output)).

## Flatten a PDF into images

1. Click **Export** \> **Raster PDF**.

   **Every page is flattened into a single image: the layout is frozen exactly as displayed and text is no longer selectable or editable.**

2. Choose the **Resolution** (96, 150, 200 or 300 DPI), the format (**JPEG** or **PNG**), and **Grayscale** if you want.

3. Click **Rasterize and save**, then save the file.

   For report.pdf, the file is named `report (raster).pdf`.

## Protect a PDF with a password

1. Click **Export** \> **Protect (password)**.

   **Protect PDF** opens: **The document is encrypted with AES-256. The password will be required to open it and cannot be recovered if lost.**

   ![The Protect PDF dialog with the Password and Confirm password fields and the permissions](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B8182FX3N0F661J5AZ5FQD/00425d4f22b8-web-pdf-editor-protect-dialog.png)

2. Type the password twice, in **Password** and **Confirm password**.

3. Under **Permissions**, choose what people who open the PDF can do.

   **Allow printing** and **Allow copying text and images** are on by default, **Allow editing and annotations** is off.

   In **Advanced options**, you can add an **Owner password (optional)**.

4. Click **Protect and save**, then save the file.

   For report.pdf, the file is named `report (protected).pdf`. The original PDF is not protected.

> **Important**
>
> Drime cannot recover a PDF password. Keep it somewhere safe.

## Save the result

After Convert, Compress, Raster PDF or Protect, **Save output** shows that the file is ready.

![The Save output dialog with Save to Drime and Download to PC](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5BAYPA7RTMF0N9FMR9PKFTT/039a95b79b25-web-pdf-editor-save-output.png)

- **Save to Drime**: **Pick a folder in your drive to keep the file.** In **Save file to Drime**, choose the folder, then click **Upload file**. The file keeps the name Drime gave it.
- **Download to PC**: **Save the file to your computer without touching Drime.**

## If it doesn't work

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Add at least one split point first.** | Click between two pages to add a split point, or click **Select all**. |
| **Add at least one more PDF to merge.** | Click **Add file** and add another PDF. |
| **Only PDF files can be added here.** | You can only merge PDFs. Convert other files to PDF first. |
| **Passwords do not match** | Type the same password in **Password** and **Confirm password**. |
| **Commas are not allowed in PDF passwords.** | Choose a password without commas. |
| The compressed PDF has no selectable text | That is expected: compression turns the pages into images. Use the original PDF. |
| The converted DOCX or XLSX has no layout or images | Conversion keeps the text only. |

## Next steps

- [Rotate, reorder, add or delete PDF pages](https://drime.cloud/support/pdf-editor/manage-pdf-pages)
- [Edit a PDF](https://drime.cloud/support/pdf-editor/edit-a-pdf)