Repair PDF
PDF won't open, or the viewer says the file is damaged? Rebuild the document and recover everything that can still be read.
Drag a damaged PDF here or select a file to repair.
Online PDF Repair Service
Seeing “The file is damaged and could not be repaired”, or does a document open in one app but not another? Upload the PDF — Ghostscript on our server re-reads the file, rebuilds the cross-reference table and internal structure, and writes a new, valid document from everything it can read. This helps after interrupted downloads, failing USB drives, mangled email attachments and sloppy editors. There is no guarantee: if data is physically missing from the file, nothing can bring it back. An encrypted PDF must be unlocked with its password first.
When to Try PDF Repair
- “File is damaged” error — Acrobat or another viewer refuses to open the document or offers to repair it.
- Opens only in some apps — the file works in a browser but fails in Acrobat, on a phone or when printing.
- Interrupted download — the PDF did not download completely because of a network glitch or a full disk.
- After bad editing — a third-party editor or report generator saved the document with structural errors.
Benefits of Our PDF Repair
- Structure rebuilt — the cross-reference table and internal layout of the document are recreated.
- Proven engine — processing is done by Ghostscript, which can read even imperfect PDFs.
- Nothing to install — no paid recovery utilities required.
- Free, no sign-up — no accounts and no watermarks on the result.
- Automatic deletion — the original and repaired files are removed from the server within 48 hours.
How to Repair a Damaged PDF
- Upload the damaged PDF to the upload area.
- Click Repair PDF — processing runs in the background.
- Download the repaired file from the link once the task is done.
- Open the document and check that all pages are there.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I repair a damaged PDF online?
- Upload the file on this page and click Repair PDF. The service rebuilds the document from all readable data, and you can download it from the link after processing.
- What should I do if a PDF says the file is damaged?
- First try opening it in another app, such as a web browser. If that fails, upload it here: rebuilding the structure often fixes errors in the cross-reference table and the end of the file.
- Is recovery guaranteed?
- No. The service recovers whatever is physically still in the file. If it was truncated to zero bytes, overwritten with other data, or only a small fragment remains, the lost content cannot be restored.
- Can I repair a password-protected PDF?
- An encrypted file has to be opened with its password first. Remove the protection with our Unlock PDF tool, then run the repair.
- Why does the repaired file have fewer pages?
- Part of the original data is missing — for example, the download stopped halfway. The service keeps only the pages it could read. Try downloading the original again.
- Will the document change after repair?
- The file is written from scratch, so its internal structure and size may change. If the document had a digital signature, it will no longer be valid after rewriting.
- Are my files deleted?
- Yes. The original and repaired PDFs are never published and are deleted from the server automatically within 48 hours.