Repair PDF
Try to repair a damaged PDF in your browser with qpdf, which rebuilds a broken cross-reference table and rewrites the file. Missing data cannot return.
Upload PDF Files
About This Tool
Repair PDF passes a damaged file through the open-source qpdf engine in your browser and saves a rewritten copy. qpdf can rebuild a broken or missing cross-reference table, the index that tells a viewer where each object sits, which is a common reason a file will not open. It cannot bring back data that is missing from the file.
It is worth trying on a file damaged by an interrupted save, a faulty edit or a transfer that altered the bytes, or one that a strict program rejects with a structure error. qpdf scans the file for the objects that are still there and writes a clean structure around them. A file that has lost its end, has damaged page content or images, or is not really a PDF may give an error or a copy with blank or missing pages. The tool does not run OCR.
The repair runs qpdf with its decrypt option. A file protected only by permission restrictions therefore comes out without them, and a file that needs a password to open cannot be repaired. Because the whole file is rewritten, a digital signature in the original will no longer verify.
The upload area accepts several files, but in the current version only the first file in the list is repaired, and when more than one is listed the download is named repaired_pdfs.zip although it is a single PDF. Repair one file at a time. Keep the original, and page through the copy before relying on it. Nothing is uploaded. If the copy opens but is large, Compress PDF can reduce it.
How to Use
Add the damaged PDF
Drop the file on the upload area or click to browse. Add one file only, because only the first file in the list is processed.
Repair
Click Repair PDFs. The qpdf engine loads in your browser and rewrites the file.
Download
If qpdf produces a file, a download button appears. The copy is named with repaired_ in front of the original name.
Check every page
Open the copy and page through it. An error message means the damage is beyond what qpdf can rebuild.
Use Cases
A file a viewer refuses to open
Try a repair when a PDF reports a damaged or invalid structure, before asking the sender for a new copy.
Rejected by a strict system
A PDF that one program opens but an upload portal or archive rejects can sometimes be accepted once qpdf has rewritten its structure.
Load errors in other tools
When merging or compressing fails because a file will not load, repair it first and run the other tool on the copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can Repair PDF fix?
Mainly structural damage, such as a broken or missing cross-reference table and similar errors in how the file is indexed. qpdf rebuilds the index by scanning for the objects that are still in the file.
What can it not fix?
Data that is no longer in the file, such as the end of a truncated download, and damaged page content or images. It does not run OCR, and it cannot open a file that needs a password.
Why are the restrictions on my PDF gone after the repair?
The tool runs qpdf with its decrypt option, so a file protected only by permission settings is saved without them. Apply new protection afterwards if the file needs it.
Can I repair several files at once?
Not yet. You can add more than one, but only the first file in the list is repaired. If several are listed, the download is named repaired_pdfs.zip even though it is one PDF, so rename it to end in .pdf.
Does a successful repair mean the file is complete?
No. It means qpdf produced a readable file. Pages can still be blank or missing where the source was damaged, so compare the copy with any other version you have.
Is the file uploaded?
No. qpdf runs in your browser as WebAssembly, and the file stays on your device.