You've got a PDF that won't open. You click it, and your PDF reader says "this file is corrupted" or "can't read this file." It's a document you need — a contract, a report, something important.
Why PDFs become corrupted
- Incomplete downloads: The download stopped before the file was fully transferred.
- Transfer errors: File transfer between devices or over networks can corrupt data.
- Storage issues: Bad sectors on a hard drive or USB drive can damage files.
- Software errors: The software that created or saved the PDF might have crashed.
How to repair a PDF
- Open PDFly's Repair PDF tool.
- Upload the corrupted PDF.
- Click process — the tool attempts to repair the file.
- Download the repaired PDF and try opening it.
What can be recovered
- Text: Most or all of the text from the document.
- Images: Depending on the damage, images can often be recovered.
- Layout: The structure of the pages may be recoverable.
Need to fix a corrupted PDF?
Repair your PDF in seconds — no uploads, no signup.
Open Repair PDF ToolFrequently Asked Questions
Can every corrupted PDF be repaired?
Not always. If the file is severely damaged, repair may not be possible.
Does repair work with encrypted PDFs?
You'll need to unlock the PDF first.
Will I lose content when I repair a PDF?
If part of the file is unrecoverable, that content may be missing from the repaired version.