Methods to Repair Corrupted or

Damaged PDF File

Eleanor Reed

Do you work with PDF (Portable Document Format) files? The file format developed by
Adobe contains all the required components that are vital to show the entire document in one
layout. Irrespective of the operating system, you can easily share this highly secure
document.

While working on these files, users encounter error messages like - your PDF file is corrupted
or not readable? Are you also getting this error? When you see such messages, it can even
lead to the loss of your important data. Are you wondering now how to repair corrupted
PDF?

This article will guide you with the possible reasons for corrupted or damaged PDF files and
various ways to repair damaged PDF. If your PDF file is deleted accidentally, you can
quickly recover it with Recoverit Data Recovery.

In this article
01Possible reasons for PDF file corrupted or damaged
02How to Repair Corrupt or Damaged PDF files
03How to Recover PDF file deleted accidentally
Part 1: Possible Reasons for PDF File Corrupted or
Damaged?
While uploading, downloading, or during your everyday use, the PDF file can get corrupted
anytime. Some of the possible causes for its damage or corruption are:

 Improper download: While downloading the PDF files, sometimes you have an unstable
internet connection. It can lead to failed or incomplete download. This damages the file
structure and thus results in corruption.

1
 Problem with your storage media or hard drive: If you have your PDF on the corrupted
hard drive, USB device, or any other social media, it results in corruption of your file too.
 Unexpected system shutdown: Sometimes, while working on your computer, you
experience a sudden shutdown of your computer or laptop. It can be because of power failure
or any internal system error. But in such a scenario, if you are transferring your PDF file or
working on it, chances are high of it being getting corrupted.
 Virus: Any virus or malicious file in your system can also be the possible cause for corrupt
or damaged PDF files.
 Incompatible programs: Using incompatible programs to open the PDF can also damage
your files.

The cause of the corruption of PDF files can be any. If you are also in such a situation, repair
the PDF easily with the methods discussed in the next part.

Part 2: How to Repair Corrupt or Damaged PDF files

Whenever you come across such a situation, where your important PDF file gets corrupted,
do not panic. Try some basic troubleshoots like:

 Copy or download the file from the source again.

 Try restoring it from backup.
 If you are editing the file, you can even try restoring it from the previous version and do the
editing again.

However, if none of the above-listed troubleshoots work, there is nothing to worry about. We
are listing below the effective methods for recovering your important PDF document. Follow
the detailed steps and repair the PDF file easily and quickly.

1. Try other PDF Reader utilities

When you are facing trouble while accessing your PDF files, before searching on how to
repair PDF files check whether the problem is with the PDF reader or file. For checking the
problematic area, you can consider opening it with another PDF reader tool.

You can check online, the search engine will make you available with numerous PDF
readers. Select the compatible one and try opening your file in it. If the file fails to open, try
the next method to repair the corrupted PDF.

2. Restore previous file version

Windows 10 users can use the in-built backup utility tool to restore the previous version of
the inaccessible PDF file. Proceed with the following steps:

Step 1: Open Update and Security

Press the Windows button and select settings to reach update and security

2
Step 2: Restore the backup and get access to your PDF file

If you have not taken the backup, then you can also try the File history feature to restore the
previous version of the file.

Step 1: Right on your file in Windows Explorer and click on "Properties."

Step 2: Move to the previous versions tab to restore.

3
Check the previous versions of the PDF files. Click on the latest or the right version and
check whether it is the one that will restore your file into the system.

If the previous version is unable to restore your file, you can repair PDF online with the
online tool.

3. Use a free online PDF repair tool

To repair PDF files online, you can try "Sejda," a free online tool used to repair damaged
PDF. You can repair a PDF file with 200 pages or a document of 50 MB. The tool allows 3
tasks per hour and keeps your files private before automatically deleting them after 2 hours.

Repair corrupted PDF file with the following steps:

Step 1: Select Files

After opening the "Sejda.com" website, click on "Upload PDF files" to select the corrupted
file. You can even drag and drop your file to the page to begin the repairing process.

Step 2: Repair PDF

After loading the file, click on the "Repair PDF" and wait until the process completes.

4. Try professional PDF repair software

Wondershare Repairit, a professional tool that can repair damaged PDF files easily. It is
compatible with your Windows 11/10/8/Vista/7 and supports PDF files of versions 1.2 to 1.7.

It helps you in restoring all the content of the PDF. It includes tables, page format, word art,
comments, headers, footers, etc.

Features:

4
1. Repair damaged or corrupt PDF files and its components.

2. Repair all the music, videos, graphs, hyperlinks, text, graphs, digital signatures, and other
content of the PDF file.

3. You can also repair PDF files stored on external devices.

If you are wondering how to repair a damaged PDF file, then download it and here are the
detailed steps for you.

TRY IT FREE
TRY IT FREE

Step 1: Add Corrupted PDF

Open the main interface of the Stellar PDF repair tool and select the corrupted file. If you
want to repair more than one file, you can add more PDf files with the use of the "Add"
button.

Step 2: Repair the PDF

5
After adding files, click on the "Repair" button to begin the repairing process. When the
repairing is in progress, you can stop the process anytime in between the on-going repairing
process.

Step 3: Preview and Save

Once the repairing process completes, view the repaired PDF file, by clicking on the "OK"
button. When you are sure that the file is repaired completely save it at the desired location.

6
Part 3: How to recover PDF file deleted accidentally
While accessing your PDF files, sometimes you accidentally hit the delete button, and your
important data is lost. You strive to get your lost data. If you are in the same situation, do not
worry. Data loss is not a matter of concern unless you have the Recoverit Data Recovery tool.

Try It Free
Try It Free

This ultimate software supports above 1000 file types and formats and can successfully
recover data from your hard drive, recycle bin, desktop, and even from external devices.

Does not matter how you have lost your data, the software can recover your files deleted
under different scenarios.

Recover your deleted PDF file with the following three easy steps:

Step 1: Select a location

7
Download and launch the software Recoverit on your system. Choose the location from
where the PDF file is deleted from your system. After the location selection, click on the
"Start" button.

Step 2: Scan the location

8
When the scanning is running, you can add filters to let the software search for the specific
file. During the scan, if you have found your deleted PDF file, you can even stop it in-
between. However, if the scan completes and but you have not got your lost PDF file, you
can try "advanced search."

The "advanced" feature allows the software to do an in-depth search and look for the deleted
PDF file.

Step 3: Preview and save

9
When the scan completes the software allows you to preview your recovered files. After
verifying your PDF file, click on the "Recover button and save the file to the required
location.

Note: While selecting the location to save the recovered file, it is recommended never to save
on the same path from where you have lost your data. This can overwrite your precious data.

With this step, you have successfully recovered your important PDF file.

The Bottom Line

PDF files saved on your computer or any other storage media can get damaged or corrupted
anytime. The reason for data corruption can be any, but you can easily recover them. We
have discussed various ways of recovering your damaged or corrupted PDF file.
Wondershare Repairit for PDF is the most recommended software to recover your PDF files.

However, during the recovery process or while working on the PDF file if you accidentally
delete your file, Recovereit Data Recovery software can help you in recovering it.

10
11