How to Copy an Image from a PDF

Explore this Article

methods

1Using a Computer

2Using an iPhone or iPad

3Using an Android

Other Sections

Related Articles

Article Summary

This How.com.vn teaches you how to select and copy an image you find in a PDF document on a computer, phone, or tablet. If you're using a computer, you can use any PDF reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or Preview for macOS. iPhone and iPad users can use the native Files app, while Android users will need to download a third-party Files app to directly copy images from PDFs. On Android, you'll need a third-party PDF utility to get the job done.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Computer

1. 
   1
   Open the folder containing your PDF file. Use your file navigator (Windows File Explorer or Finder) to locate your PDF file.
2. 
   2
   Right-click on the PDF file. This will open your right-click options on a drop-down menu.
   Advertisement
3. 
   3
   Hover over Open with with your mouse. This will open a list of the compatible apps that can open the PDF.
4. 
   4
   Select Adobe Acrobat Reader on the "Open with" menu. This will open your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader.

   • Alternatively, you can use the stock Preview app on Mac, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or a different PDF reader. As long as you're using a PDF reader instead of an image viewer, you'll be able to copy images from your PDF.
   • If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, you can download it from the official Adobe page at https://get.adobe.com/reader.
5. 
   5
   Click the Select tool on the menu bar (Adobe Reader only). This button looks like a blue or black arrow icon on the menu bar at the top of Adobe Acrobat Reader. It will allow you to select any image in your PDF document.

   • If you're using Preview on Mac, you don't need to select the image. You can skip this step, and just right-click on any image without selecting it first.
6. 
   6
   Find and click the image you want to copy. This will select the image, and highlight it with blue.

   • In Preview, you can skip this step. Preview doesn't require you to click or select the image in the PDF.
   • If the images in your PDF document are not selectable, you will have to take a screenshot of the picture. See How to Take a Screenshot to learn how.
7. 
   7
   Right-click on the selected image. This will open your options on a drop-down menu.

   • If you're using Preview, just right-click on any image to see your options. You'll be able to select Copy here.
8. 
   8
   Select Copy Image on the right-click menu. This will copy the selected image to your clipboard. You can now paste it to any document or image editing software.

   • If the image is not selected first, you won't see the Copy Image option in Adobe Acrobat.
   • In Preview, this button is labeled Copy on the right-click menu.
   • To paste the copied image, right-click where you want to paste it, and select Paste on the right-click menu.
   Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using an iPhone or iPad

1. 
   1
   Open the

   

   Files app on your iPhone or iPad. You'll find it on the home screen. You may have to open a folder to find it.
2. 
   2
   Find and tap your PDF file.
3. 
   3
   Tap and hold the image you want to copy. This will select the image, highlight it with blue, and show your options on a black pop-up toolbar.
4. 
   4
   Tap Copy on the pop-up toolbar. This will copy the selected image to your iPhone or iPad's clipboard. You can now go ahead and paste the image anywhere you want.
   Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using an Android

1. 
   1
   Download and install "PDF Utility - Lite" from the Play Store

   

   . Search the Play Store for this app, and tap the green INSTALL button to install it on your Android.

   • This is a third-party app that allows extracting images from PDF documents.
   • You can find this app at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.telbyte.lite.pdf
2. 
   2
   Open the "PDF Utility - Lite" app on your Android. The app icon looks like a red sheet with a gray gear icon on it. You can find it on your Apps menu.
3. 
   3
   Tap EXTRACT IMAGES on the app's welcome screen. This option is in the lower-left corner of your screen.
4. 
   4
   Tap SELECT FILE. This is a red button at the top of the "Extract Images" page.
5. 
   5
   Tap ALLOW in the permission pop-up. This will allow the PDF Utility app to access the files on your Android.

   • You will only have to do this once when you open the app for the first time.
6. 
   6
   Find and tap the PDF you want to copy images from. This will select the PDF file and go back to the "Extract Images" page.
7. 
   7
   Tap the red EXTRACT IMAGES button. This will prompt you to select an output location to save the extracted image files.
8. 
   8
   Select where to insert the images. Find and tap the folder where you want to save the extracted images.
9. 
   9
   Type a name for the images into the "Output File" field.
10. 10
    Tap the red-and-white floppy disk icon on the bottom-right. This will copy all the images in your PDF document and save them to the selected output folder.
    Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertisement