How to Open a Corrupted PDF File [Free & Safe Ways]

To open and fix a corrupted PDF file, you can download a professional PDF repair software like Fixo Document Repair. Considering that the issue might be due to a system error, you can also try restoring a previous, undamaged version of the PDF file.

PDF files can get corrupted during upload, download, or regular use due to incorrect downloading, unexpected operating system crashes, system failures, virus attacks, or malicious content.

In this article, you'll learn how to **open a corrupted PDF file** and effective ways to easily repair a damaged PDF document. Let's start with the most efficient solution to fix a corrupted PDF file using a PDF repair tool.

Method 1: Open a Corrupted PDF with a PDF Repair Tool

How to open a corrupted PDF file? You can download some PDF repair tools, or try free online PDF repair tools to fix the damaged PDF. If this works, you'll be able to recover the corrupted PDF file. How to efficiently repair a PDF document? Downloading the Fixo Document Repair tool can help you easily fix damaged PDF files.

• With this software, you can easily open 0KB PDF files and resolve issues where PDFs won't open.
• Seamlessly repair PDF files by simply uploading corrupted or damaged PDF documents.
• Repair corrupted files quickly and securely, with support for various storage devices.

You can perform damaged PDF file recovery using the Document Repair solution by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Download, install, and launch the Fixo Document Repair Tool

You can download this repair tool using the download button provided or any other official source. After installation, double-click the Fixo icon to launch it. Click on "File Repair" > "Add File," select and fix corrupted Word, Excel, PDF, and other documents.

Step 2. Repair the corrupted document now

After adding the files, you can click “Repair” to fix a single file or select “Repair All” to fix all files in the list at once.

Step 3: Preview and Save the Repaired Document

Now that the document is ready, you can save it. You can also click the “eye” icon to preview the document. After clicking “Save All,” look for the repaired files in the appearing window by selecting “View repaired files.”

If a corrupted PDF won't open, try the Fixo Document Repair tool! Don't forget to share this page on social media to help more PDF users!

Method 2: Repair Damaged PDF on Android Using an Online PDF Repair Tool

Of course, you can use desktop solutions to fix damaged files, but what if you want to repair a corrupted PDF on an Android device? That's where an online document repair tool (such as Online Document Repair) comes in handy.

Repair OnlineFor All Document Types

This tool can help you fix PDF files online for free across different devices, provided you have an internet connection. You can also repair Word files and other Microsoft Office documents online.

Follow the steps here to perform online PDF repair:

Step 1: Drag the corrupted file onto this page, or click “Upload Document” to locate your Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or PDF file.

Step 2: Before the repair, you will need to enter your email address to receive the Education Discount Code that will be used in Step 4. Click on the “Start Repair” button to initiate the process. Wait patiently for the repair to finish. You may leave this webpage but please do not close it.

Step 3: When the repair is complete, the program will provide you with an extraction code. Go back to the tab, enter the code, and click “OK” to save your file.

Method 3: Repair a corrupt PDF file with Adobe Reader

How do I fix a corrupted PDF file? Sometimes, when a PDF file is corrupt, it's not because there's something wrong with the document itself, but rather with the PDF viewer you're using. So, try checking and repairing Adobe Reader first, and then attempt to open and read the PDF.

1️⃣ How to check for Adobe Reader updates:

Step 1: Launch Adobe Reader > Click on “Help” > “Check for Updates”.

Step 2: Check if the app is up to date. If an update is available, install it.

How to Fix Adobe Reader:

Step 1. Open the application > Go to Help > Repair Adobe Reader installation.

Step 3. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe Reader to fix the PDF.

If the methods above have helped you fix the lost or corrupted PDF file, don't forget to share this page to help more people!

Method 4: Restore a Corrupted PDF from a Previous Version If you're using a Windows operating system, you might be able to recover a corrupted PDF by accessing an earlier version of the file. Here's how: 1. **Locate the Damaged PDF File**: First, find the folder where the corrupted PDF is stored. 2. **Right-click on the File**: Right-click on the file and select "Properties." 3. **Select the "Previous Versions" Tab**: In the pop-up window, you'll see a tab labeled "Previous Versions." Click on it. 4. **Browse Through History**: On this page, you'll see backup versions of the file at different points in time. Choose a version that predates when the PDF became corrupted. 5. **Restore the File**: Click the "Restore" button next to the version you've selected. The system will ask if you want to overwrite the current damaged file. Confirm the action, and the previously undamaged version of the PDF will be restored. Please note that this method may not always work, as it depends on whether file history has been enabled on your system and if there are available previous versions. If this method doesn't work, you can try other methods to repair the corrupted PDF.

If you don't want to download a Windows corrupted file repair tool and have your PDF files backed up, you can restore the PDF to a previous version and then fix and open the corrupted PDF file.

Step 1. In Windows File Explorer, right-click the PDF file > Properties > Previous versions.

Step 2: All the previous versions of the PDF file will be displayed. Click on 'Open' to copy the file > Check if it's the required version > Once you find the correct one, click on 'Restore' to bring it back to your system.

Preventing Trouble: How to Keep Your PDFs Intact

When a PDF file is crucial, and you need it to accomplish a task, encountering a corrupted PDF can be frustrating. Here are some tips that might help you prevent PDF corruption:

• Open the PDF with a reliable PDF reader. Don't use unsafe software to open PDFs.
• Keep your PDF reader updated. Sometimes, outdated software can cause PDF corruption.
• ❌ Avoid interrupting while copying, downloading, or transferring the file. If you accidentally shut down your computer during a PDF transfer, it might get corrupted.

Abstract

If you can't open or read a PDF file with Adobe Reader, try using another PDF reader to determine whether the issue is with the reader or the file. If no alternative PDF readers can recognize or read your PDF, you might be dealing with a corrupted file. Follow this guide to recover damaged or corrupted PDF files. Don't forget to download Fixo Document Repair to easily solve your PDF issues!

Frequently Asked Questions About Repairing Damaged PDF Files

This article has shown you how to open a corrupted PDF file. Do you have more questions about PDF recovery/repair? The following additional questions might be helpful:

1. How do I fix a corrupted PDF file on my Android device?

You can repair a corrupted PDF file on your Android device using the following methods:

• Change PDF reader on Android device
• Clean cache and data on your phone
• Rename the PDF file
• Upload the PDF to an online repair website
• Convert the file format to open it
• Transfer the file to a computer for repair

2. How to Fix a Corrupted PDF File on Windows?

There are several ways you can repair a corrupted PDF file on Windows:

• Professional PDF Repair Software
• Check Adobe Reader
• Recover from an earlier version

How can I recover a lost or corrupted PDF file?

Follow the steps below to search for missing or corrupted PDF files on your PC:

• First, check the Recycle Bin. • If the PDF file is not in the Recycle Bin, examine your backups. • If you don't have any backups, use the Data Recovery Wizard to restore corrupted or lost PDF files.