How to Convert PDF to JPG Images (Free Methods That Actually Work)

Need to turn PDF pages into images? Whether you want to share a single page or extract all images, here's how to do it for free.

Converting PDF to JPG is one of those tasks that seems like it should be simple but often isn't. Maybe you need to embed a PDF page in a presentation, share a document with someone who can't open PDFs, or just extract an image from a document. Whatever your reason, I've got you covered.

Method 1: Browser-Based (Easiest)

The quickest way without installing anything:

  1. Open peacefulpdf.com/pdf-to-jpg
  2. Upload your PDF
  3. Choose image quality (standard or high)
  4. Download your JPG files

Everything happens in your browser — your files never go to our servers. That's the kind of privacy you should expect from these tools.

Method 2: Screenshot (Quickest for Single Pages)

Need just one page? Don't overcomplicate it:

  • Windows: Open PDF → Press Windows key + Shift + S → Select the area → Paste into Paint → Save as JPG
  • Mac: Open PDF in Preview → Press Cmd + Shift + 4 → Select area → Save

Yes, this gives you a screenshot, not a true conversion. But for quick sharing, it's often good enough.

Method 3: Google Drive (Good for Batches)

Google Drive can convert PDFs to images automatically:

  1. Upload PDF to Google Drive
  2. Right-click the file
  3. Select "Open with" → "Google Docs"
  4. Google will convert each page to an image
  5. Right-click images → "Download"

Understanding Image Quality

When converting PDF to JPG, quality matters:

  • 72 DPI — Screen only, small file size
  • 150 DPI — Good for sharing, prints poorly
  • 300 DPI — Print quality, larger files

For most sharing purposes, 150 DPI is the sweet spot between quality and file size.

Extracting Embedded Images

Want to pull images that are already inside the PDF (not convert pages to images)? Check out our guide on extracting images from PDFs.

Privacy Tips

A quick reminder about privacy with online converters:

  • Check if the tool processes locally (in browser)
  • Look for "local processing" or "client-side" descriptions
  • Delete your files from the service after download
  • Avoid uploading sensitive documents to unknown sites

Which Method Should You Use?

  • Single page, need it now: Screenshot method
  • Multiple pages, good quality: Browser-based tool
  • Batch processing: Google Drive method
  • Privacy-sensitive: Use a local tool or browser-based one

The Bottom Line

Converting PDF to JPG doesn't need to be complicated. For most people, the browser-based tools are the best balance of quality, convenience, and privacy. The screenshot method is perfect when you're in a hurry. Pick the approach that fits your situation.

Ready to try PDF to JPG?

No uploads, no sign-ups. Everything happens in your browser.

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