You can easily extract images from PDF using these manual methods– converting file to Word, renaming .docx to .zip, taking screenshot with the Snipping Tool, export option of Adobe Acrobat Pro, or using a preview on Mac. Screenshot method is suitable for 2 or more images, while Acrobat Pro and ZIP method keep the original quality, especially during bulk extraction of images.

If your PDF is locked, first remove restrictions from the PDF in order to perform most of the methods for image extraction.

This guide covers all possible reasons you are unable to extract images, quick methods to help you extract them from the PDFs, best practices, and some reliable user queries.

Key Takeaways

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro helps you extract all images from the PDF at once, but it is a subscription-based model.
  • Screenshots can help but may compromise the image quality.
  • If the PDF is protected by a password or restricts you to perform actions on it, you need to remove it in order to extract images from PDF successfully.
  • Mac users can use the built-in Preview app to easily extract images.
  • Converting the PDF to Word and renaming the .docx to .zip helps you extract images, Word > media folder.

Table of Contents

Why Am I Unable to Extract Images From PDF?

A PDF is a fixed-layout format and keeps the images embedded rather than storing them as separate files, which is why you are unable to right-click and save it. Possible reasons extraction of images is restricted in PDFs are–

  1. The PDF is restricted or password-protected: The owner of the PDF may have applied restriction on actions like editing, copying, or exporting or your PDF has a lock.
  2. PDF consists of scanned images: A scanned PDF includes a single image per page, so there is no other image separately available for extract.
  3. The PDF is corrupted: A corrupted PDF may not allow you to extract any image from it. It may even fail to open at all.

Also Read: Learn how to convert password-protected PDF into a normal PDF

What Are the Methods To Extract Images From a PDF?

There are 5 manual methods that you can use to get images to extract from PDFs –

  1. Adobe Acrobat Pro’s Export Feature
  2. PDF to Word and Save the Pictures
  3. Rename a Converted Word File to ZIP
  4. Images with the Snipping Tool
  5. Use Preview on Mac Device

Method 1: Use Adobe Acrobat Pro’s Export Feature (Paid)

  1. Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat Pro (if you have subscription).
  2. Go to Tools > Export a PDF > Image > JPEG, PNG, or TIFF.
  3. Click the settings icon and allow Export all images option. You can also select minimum size option to avoid tiny icons in resultant file.
  4. Finally, click Export > choose a folder > Save.
Note– This is a reliable method to extract images from PDF as it keeps the original quality of the image maintained.

Method 2: Convert the PDF to Word and Save the Pictures

  1. Right-click the PDF, now select Open with > Word.
  2. A pop-up message “Word will convert the PDF to an editable document” appears, click OK.
  3. Right-click an image and select Save as Picture.
  4. Select a format and destination folder, and repeat these steps for each image you want to extract.
Note– This method works well with simple PDFs. Complex layouts may get disturbed while extracting images.

Method 3: Rename a Converted Word File to ZIP

  1. Convert the PDF to Word and save it as .docx.
  2. Now, copy the file and change the extension from .docx to .zip (Under View tab, File name extensions)
  3. Right-click the ZIP file and select Extract All option from the drop-down list.
  4. Now, open the resultant folder and go to word > media.
Note– This is the fastest manual option for PDFs with many images as it saves all embedded images in the media folder.

Method 4: Capture Images with the Snipping Tool

  1. Open the PDF and zoom in to fill the screen with the image
  2. Press Windows + Shift + S and drag a rectangle around the image.
  3. Now, the image is copied to the clipboard. Either open the snip pop-up notification or paste it directly into Paint.
  4. Save it in image formats such as PNG or JPEG.
Note– This screenshot will capture the screen resolution rather than original image quality, so use this method only for quick or single image extraction.

Method 5: Use Preview on Mac Device

  1. Open the PDF in Preview mode in Mac.
  2. Select the Rectangular Selection tool > select image > press Command + C.
  3. Now, from File option select New from Clipboard.
  4. Save image through File > Save or Export option.
Note– You can also save a full page as an image using File > Export > JPEG or PNG.

What If the PDF Does Not Open?

PDF locks work in two ways-

  1. Owner password: When you are restricted to copy, edit, or print anything from the PDF, it means has owner-level restrictions /password. It enables you open the PDF and view, but restricts from various options.
  2. User password: The message “This file is password-protected” or “enter the password” tells user that the PDF has user-level password. You cannot view the PDF content without the correct password.
For extracting images from the PDF, disable these restrictions from the PDF. Use a dedicated software such as SysTools PDF Unlocker to remove password and restrictions from the PDF.
Attention- If you have forgotten the password, learn how to unlock PDF without password here.

Conclusion

Extracting images from PDF does not require a new software or a paid platform. Using free manual methods, you can easily extract one or more images from a PDF. Before you select a method, check whether your PDF is unrestricted or not. If the PDF is restricted, the manual methods won’t work unless you unlock it. Manual methods can be time-consuming, so use Adobe Acrobat Pro if you have already paid for it.

FAQs

  1. Can images from scanned PDF be extracted?
    Not really. As scanned PDFs consists of every page as an image, so exporting pages as images is an easy option instead of extracting individual pictures.
  2. Can I extract images from PDF online for free?
    Yes. Several online websites offer extracting images from PDFs for free. The main concern here is they save their data on a third-party server, which can be harmful for sensitive PDFs.
  3. To what limit images can be extracted from a PDF?
    There is no fixed limit for extracting images from PDF. Methods such as Acrobat Pro’s bulk export and ZIP files manage larger counts of extractions better than screenshots or Save as Picture methods.