How to Crop a PDF on Mac Without Adobe

Part 1: How to Crop a PDF on Preview

Preview is the built-in PDF viewer on Mac and a simple way to crop PDFs without Adobe. It works on all macOS versions, including macOS 11. You can use Preview to crop a single page manually, but it does not support cropping multiple pages at once. Also, it doesn’t allow precise parameter settings, so cropping is more visual and approximate. Despite this, it’s a quick option for simple tasks and small PDFs.

• Select the Area to Crop

Open your PDF in Preview. Go to Tools > Rectangular Selection. Use the cursor to draw a box around the part of the PDF you want to keep. This lets you choose the exact section you want to focus on.



• Crop PDF on Mac

After selecting the area, click Tools > Crop to remove the unwanted margins. Finally, save the PDF using File > Save. You’ve now cropped a PDF on Mac using Preview. This method is ideal for those learning how to crop a PDF on Mac, how to crop a PDF on (Mac) Preview, or how to crop in Preview on Mac for a single page.




Tip:

Preview works best for cropping single pages. For multiple pages, you may need to crop each page individually.

Note: Why Can’t I Crop a PDF in Preview?

Sometimes, you may not see the Crop Option in Preview. This usually happens because:

• The PDF is locked or restricted.
• The file is scanned as an image PDF.
• Preview’s selection tool was not activated properly.

To solve this, unlock the PDF if possible, or use a PDF editor like Tenorshare PDNob that handles scanned PDFs easily.

Part 2: How to Crop PDF File with Google Chrome

Google Chrome is more than just a web browser it can also help you crop PDFs on Mac without Adobe. While it doesn’t provide advanced cropping tools like Preview or Tenorshare PDNob, Chrome allows you to remove unwanted margins and adjust page layouts easily. This how to crop a PDF with chrome method works well for single-page PDFs or simple multi-page files. If you want a quick way to crop PDFs, using Google Chrome is free, fast, and convenient.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crop a PDF with Chrome

• Launch Google Chrome and open the PDF file you want to crop. Make sure the file displays correctly before cropping.

• Press Cmd+P on your Mac to open Chrome’s print window, where you can access all the cropping and margin options.

• In the print window, choose Save as PDF for “Destination,” then adjust the margins to remove unwanted areas of your document.



• Click Save, choose a location, and download your new cropped PDF. Your edited file will appear in the Downloads folder.

Part 3: Pros and Cons of Preview and Chrome

Here’s a detailed comparison to help you choose the right method:

Please swipe to view

Part 4: Best Alternative to Crop a PDF on Mac

If you need more control, speed, or the ability to crop multiple pages at once, Tenorshare PDNob is the best solution. This Mac-friendly PDF tool makes cropping simple and precise, even for scanned PDFs that Preview and Chrome cannot handle. Beyond cropping, PDNob allows you to edit, merge, split, and convert PDFs easily. Its intuitive interface ensures that both beginners and advanced users can work efficiently. With Tenorshare PDNob, you can manage all your PDF tasks in one place without the need for Adobe.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Open your PDF file in Tenorshare PDNob PDF Editor and click the Pages tab on the top menu. Then select the Crop Page option to start cropping your PDF.



• A cropping frame will appear on the selected page. Drag the corners or sides of the box to mark the area you want to keep. You can also fine-tune margins using the panel on the right for more precision.



• Use the available controls to crop precisely:

• Enter specific margin values for top, bottom, left, and right.
• Set exact page dimensions if required.
• Lock proportions to keep the layout scale consistent across pages.


• After setting the crop area, choose whether to apply it to a single page, a custom range, or all pages. You can also select Odd Pages or Even Pages for batch cropping.



• Click Apply to crop the PDF, then save the changes to export your new document. Your PDF is now cropped precisely and ready to use.

Part 5: How to Crop Multiple Page PDF

Cropping multiple pages manually in Preview or Google Chrome can be time-consuming and inefficient. Tenorshare PDNob makes this task simple and fast, allowing you to crop all pages at once with precise control. This method works even for scanned PDFs that Preview or Chrome cannot handle. Using PDNob ensures uniform cropping and saves time, especially for large documents.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crop Multiple Page PDFs

• Launch Tenorshare PDNob and open the PDF you want to crop.



• Click Crop PDF from the top menu to activate the cropping frame.



• Adjust the crop area with the rectangle selector, then choose Apply to All Pages to crop every page uniformly.



• Click Save to export your PDF. All pages will now be cropped consistently, ready for use.

This method is ideal for learning how to crop a PDF multipal page PDF, how to crop a PDF on Mac without Adobe, or using Tenorshare PDNob for batch cropping.

Conclusion

Cropping PDFs on Mac is easier than many users think. You can use Preview for quick single-page edits, or Google Chrome for basic margin adjustments. For more precise control, multiple-page cropping, or scanned PDFs, Tenorshare PDNob is the best option. It also offers extra features like PDF merging, splitting, and editing. By choosing the right tool for how to crop a PDF on Mac, you can save time and get professional results without Adobe. Using PDNob ensures you can crop PDFs efficiently, even for multiple-page documents, all while keeping your workflow simple.

FAQs

1. Is there a way to edit a PDF on Mac?

Yes. You can edit PDFs using Tenorshare PDNob, which allows cropping, text editing, merging, and more. Preview provides basic edits, but PDNob handles complex tasks and multiple-page PDFs easily.

2. How do I crop part of a PDF?

You can use Preview for single-page crops, Google Chrome for margin adjustments, or Tenorshare PDNob for precise and multiple-page cropping. PDNob is the most efficient tool for full control.

3. Can I crop a scanned PDF on Mac?

Preview and Chrome cannot crop scanned PDFs. Use Tenorshare PDNob, which supports scanned files and allows cropping, merging, or editing easily.

4. How do I crop a PDF multipal page PDF?

Use Tenorshare PDNob to select a crop area and apply it to all pages at once. This saves time compared to manual cropping in Preview or Chrome.

5. Is it free to crop PDFs on Mac?

Preview and Chrome are free but limited. Tenorshare PDNob is paid but offers full features, including batch cropping and scanned PDF support.

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