Optimize & repair
Repair a Damaged PDF
A PDF that no longer opens or shows up garbled? The tool re-reads it, recovers the readable pages and rewrites them into a fresh file. No guarantee, and nothing is uploaded.
How to use this tool
- 1
Drop the PDF that gives you trouble.
- 2
Click “Try to repair” and wait while it reads the file.
- 3
Read the report: pages recovered, pages lost, method.
- 4
Check the preview, then download the repaired copy.
Help
- Three attempts in a row, from the most faithful to the heaviest: a full rewrite of the file (useful when the internal object table is wrong), a rebuilt page tree (truncated file or lost catalogue), then, as a last resort, a copy in which every readable page is turned into an image.
- You see what was done: pages found, pages recovered, pages lost, method used. The repaired file is reopened with a second reader to check that it opens, and its first page is shown as a preview.
- Honest limits: there is no guarantee. A file that is truly empty or destroyed does not come back, and bookmarks, forms, attachments and links may disappear because only the pages are copied. Your original file is never touched.
- A password-protected PDF is refused with a clear message: this tool never bypasses protection. Remove it first with “Unlock PDF” if you know the password. Up to 150 MB.
Frequently asked questions
Is repair certain to work?
No, and we would rather say so. It often recovers the pages of a truncated file or one whose internal index is wrong, but it can do nothing about content that is truly erased or unreadable. The report lists recovered and lost pages.
Why did some pages become images?
When a page cannot be copied as is but can still be displayed, a second copy turns it into an image to save it. It displays, but its text is no longer selectable: “OCR PDF” can bring the text back.
Is my file sent to a server?
No. Reading, rebuilding and checking all happen in your browser, using your device's memory. The document is neither uploaded nor kept, and your original stays intact.
Written and verified by the MaxyTools team · Updated on
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