Repair a corrupt PDF
Drop a damaged PDF that will not open, and download a copy with its structure rebuilt. qpdf re-reads the file, repairs a broken cross-reference table and recoverable structure, and writes a clean version. The repair runs entirely in your browser, so your file never leaves your device.
What repairing a PDF actually does
A PDF can fail to open even when most of its content is intact, because the file’s structure is broken — a corrupt or missing cross-reference table, damaged object streams, or bytes that got truncated mid-transfer. This tool feeds the file to qpdf, which re-reads it as forgivingly as it can, reconstructs the structure it’s able to recover, and writes out a fresh, well-formed PDF. That is what fixes the “the file is damaged and could not be repaired” errors that viewers show.
What it can and cannot recover
qpdf repairs the container around your content, not the content itself. If a file was truncated, partly overwritten, or had pages genuinely deleted, that data is gone and no tool can reconstruct it. When a PDF is too far gone for qpdf to recover, the tool says so instead of handing back something broken. We don’t overclaim: a structural rewrite recovers a lot of real-world “won’t open’ files, but it is not magic.
Is it private?
Yes. The repair runs entirely in your browser using qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. Your file is never uploaded, stored, or seen by us, because there is no server to send it to. You can confirm it in your browser’s network tab: nothing leaves the page.
Frequently asked questions
- Does my file leave my device?
- No. The repair runs in your browser using qpdf compiled to WebAssembly. Your PDF is never uploaded, stored, or seen by us — there is no server involved.
- What kinds of damage can this fix?
- It fixes structural damage: a broken or missing cross-reference table, corrupt object structure, and the kinds of malformed files that make a viewer say a PDF is damaged or cannot be repaired. qpdf re-reads the file as forgivingly as it can and writes out a clean, well-formed copy.
- Can it recover content that was lost?
- No, and we will not pretend otherwise. qpdf repairs the structure around your content. If pages or data were truly deleted, truncated, or overwritten, that information is gone and no repair tool can bring it back. If a file is too damaged to recover, the tool tells you so rather than producing a broken result.
- What does “Optimize for web (linearize)” do?
- It is an optional toggle, off by default. When on, the repaired PDF is also rewritten linearized (web-optimized) so a browser can begin displaying the first page before the whole file has downloaded. It does not change the content.
- Is it free, and do I need an account?
- It is free with no watermarks, no daily caps, and no sign-up. Drop a damaged PDF and download the repaired copy.