Repair PDF
Repair corrupt PDF files: rebuild the broken structure, recover readable pages and save a clean copy. Free, no sign-up, no upload – works in your browser.
- Upload
- Options
- Download
- ✓ 100% free
- ✓ No sign-up
- ✓ No limits
- 🔒 Files never leave your device
How to: Repair PDF
- Select the damaged PDF(s).
- Keep 'Automatic' or choose a repair method.
- Download the repaired PDF and check the report.
PDFs get corrupted by interrupted downloads, faulty email attachments, full disks or buggy software. FreePDF tries two repair engines: first a tolerant parser that rebuilds the file structure and keeps text, fonts and links; if pages are still missing it uses a second reader to recover every page it can render. You always see what was done.
Common uses
- Recover an email attachment that says 'file is damaged and could not be repaired'.
- Fix a PDF that opens in one app but not another.
- Rescue pages from a partly downloaded or truncated file.
- Clean up a PDF that makes printers or upload portals fail.
Tips for best results
- Try 'Automatic' first; it keeps text when possible.
- If the result is image-only, run OCR PDF to make it searchable again.
- Encrypted PDFs need the password – unlock them first.
Why use FreePDF for Repair PDF?
| FreePDF | Typical upload-based sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Files uploaded to a server | No – processed on your device | Yes |
| Sign-up required | Never | Often for bigger jobs |
| Hourly / daily task limits | None | Common on free plans |
| Watermark on output | Never | Sometimes |
| Works offline after loading | Yes, for most tools | No |
Frequently asked questions
What can be fixed?
Broken cross-reference tables, wrong offsets, junk before the header, truncated downloads and missing trailers – the most common causes of 'file is damaged' errors. Pages that can still be read are recovered.
What does 'Re-render pages' do?
If the structure is too broken to rebuild, each readable page is redrawn as a high-quality image so you still get a usable PDF. Text then is no longer selectable – run OCR PDF afterwards to restore it.
Is my file uploaded for repair?
No, both repair engines run inside your browser.
Can every PDF be repaired?
If the page data itself is missing (for example most of the file was never downloaded), those pages cannot be recovered. The report tells you how many pages were saved.
Is Repair PDF really free?
Yes. Every tool on FreePDF is 100% free with no file limits, no sign-up and no watermarks. The site is supported by unobtrusive ads.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. FreePDF processes your files directly in your browser using JavaScript. Your documents never leave your device, so they stay completely private.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes. FreePDF works in any modern browser on Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac and Linux.