Repair PDF
Fix a PDF that will not open, opens blank or says it is damaged, and get back every page that can still be read.
or drop them here · up to 50 MB per file, free
Bigger files? Pro converts files up to 500 MBOver the free limits: you can unlock the download from €1.99.
Working on it…
Your file is ready
Free · No sign-up · No watermark · Your files never leave your device
Repair PDF in 3 steps
- Select the PDF that will not open, or drop it on the box. You can add several at once.
- Click Repair PDF. The file is rebuilt from what is still inside it.
- Download the repaired PDF and see what was fixed and how many pages came back.
Why PDFs break, and what this repair can bring back
A PDF ends with an index (the cross-reference table) that tells the reader where every page, font and picture starts. Most "damaged file" errors come from that index: a download or an email attachment that stopped before the end, a file copied from a failing USB stick, bytes added before or after the PDF by a website, line breaks changed by an old FTP program, or a PDF saved as Base64 text. Adobe Reader and Chrome then refuse the whole file even though almost everything is still there.
This tool does not trust the broken index. It reads the file from start to finish, collects every object that is still intact, packed ones included, and writes a new PDF with a fresh index, correct lengths and, when the page list is lost, a new one built from the pages it found. Page content cut off in the middle is kept up to the cut. When even that fails, the pages that can still be drawn are saved as pictures. The result tells you what was wrong and how many pages were recovered. Data that is no longer in the file, like the missing end of an interrupted download, cannot be invented, so in that case the last pages may be missing or incomplete.
Frequently asked questions
How do I repair a corrupted PDF for free?
Select the PDF here and click Repair PDF. The tool rebuilds the file from the parts that are still readable and downloads a repaired copy, with a note saying what was fixed and how many pages were recovered. There is no account, no watermark and no limit.
Why does my PDF say it is damaged and cannot be repaired?
Usually the file is incomplete or its index is broken: the download or the email attachment stopped early, it was copied from a faulty drive, or a program changed some bytes. Readers like Adobe Acrobat give up when the index is wrong, even if the pages are still inside. This tool ignores the index and rebuilds it, which fixes most of these files.
Can every PDF be recovered?
Not always completely. Everything that is still in the file can be brought back, but if part of it is missing, for example the end of a download that was interrupted, those pages or images are gone. Try to get another copy too: the original email, a cloud backup or the sender. If the file is not a PDF at all, the tool tells you what it really is.
Will the repaired PDF keep its text and quality?
Yes. Pages are rebuilt from their original contents, so text stays selectable and searchable and images keep their resolution. Only as a last resort, when the page structure is too damaged to rebuild, are pages saved as pictures, and the result says so.
Can I repair a password-protected PDF?
If the PDF only blocks printing or copying, yes: it is repaired and keeps the same restrictions. If it asks for a password to open, remove the password first with Unlock PDF (you need to know it), then repair the unlocked copy.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The repair runs inside your browser on your own device, so your PDF is never sent to us or stored anywhere. That matters for contracts, invoices and other private documents, which are often the ones that get damaged.