When a PDF refuses to open and your reader says the file is damaged, Repair PDF can try to fix it. The tool rebuilds the internal structure of the file, the part a PDF reader relies on to find each page. It's free, takes one file at a time, and you don't need an account.
How to repair a PDF
- Make a copy of the damaged file and keep it somewhere safe.
- Upload the PDF. Drag it onto the box on a computer, or tap "Select files" on a phone. One PDF, up to 100 MB.
- Start the repair. There are no settings to choose.
- Download the repaired PDF and open it to check the pages.
If the repair works, you get a PDF that opens normally in your reader. If the file is too badly damaged, the tool will not be able to produce a working file, and you'll need to find another copy of the document.
What a broken PDF looks like
A PDF is more than the text and pictures you see. Inside it there's a structure that tells the reader where each page starts, which fonts and images belong to it, and how the parts fit together. When that structure is damaged, a reader can't find its way around the file, so it shows an error or a blank screen even if most of the content is still in there.
Damage like this commonly happens when:
- a download stopped part way, often on a weak mobile connection
- a program crashed or the computer lost power while the file was being saved
- a file was copied from a USB stick or memory card that was pulled out too early
- an email attachment or a file sent by chat didn't come through completely
What the repair can and can't do
The tool works with the content that's still in the damaged file and rebuilds the structure around it. When the damage is in that structure, this can be enough to get the file opening again.
Be realistic about the limits, though. If part of the file is truly missing, for example because only half of it ever downloaded, the repair can't recreate those pages. It can only work with the data that's in the file. Badly broken files may fail completely.
A repaired file may open with some pages blank or missing. That means the content for those pages was already lost from the file you uploaded.
When to use it
An important attachment won't open
A client, school or office sends you a PDF and it shows an error. Try a repair first, since it only needs the one file and no settings. If it fails, ask the sender to send it again, ideally after checking it opens on their side.
A file on an old drive or memory card
Documents kept for years on USB sticks and memory cards sometimes stop opening. Repair is worth a try before you give up on them.
Your own document after a crash
If your computer crashed while saving a PDF, repairing it might bring back what was written. If you still have the original Word or Google Docs file, though, it's simpler to save it as a PDF again.
After a successful repair
Once your file opens, it's a good idea to save a clean copy straight away. Depending on what you need next, other Xon File tools can help. Scanned documents that you'll want to search through can be run through OCR PDF. If the repaired file is large, Compress PDF can make it smaller for sending. To pull out the pages that survived and leave out blank ones, use Extract pages.
Your privacy
Your PDF is sent to our server for the repair and deleted as soon as the result is sent back to you. We don't keep it or share it with anyone. The repaired file has no watermark or branding added.
Frequently asked questions
Is Repair PDF free?
Yes. It's free to use, and there's no sign-up or account. The repaired PDF has no watermark on it.
Can it fix any corrupted PDF?
No tool can fix every file. Repair PDF rebuilds the structure of the file, which can get a PDF opening again when that structure is what's damaged. It can't recover data that is truly missing, and badly broken files may fail.
Why are some pages blank after the repair?
The content for those pages was most likely missing or too damaged in the file you uploaded. The repair can only rebuild what's still in the file, so it can't fill in those pages.
Can I repair a PDF on my phone?
Yes. The tool works in the browser on Android phones and iPhones as well as computers. Tap "Select files", choose the PDF, and the repaired file downloads to your phone.
Can I repair several PDFs at once?
No. Repair PDF takes one file per upload. If you have several damaged files, repair them one after another, and keep copies of the originals in case you want to try again later.
Will repairing change my document?
The aim is to give you the same document in a form that opens. The structure of the file is rebuilt, but the tool doesn't add anything to your pages, including watermarks.
What should I do if the repair fails?
Find another copy if you can. Ask the sender to share it again, download it again on a stable connection, or check whether the original Word, Excel or PowerPoint file still exists and save a new PDF from it.