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Repair a damaged PDF, free

Repair a damaged PDF: GrovePDF rebuilds its structure and recovers as much as possible. If the file is too broken, the readable pages are saved as pictures.

  1. 1Choose file
  2. 2Set options
  3. 3Download

Drop your PDF here

PDF → repaired PDF · up to 100 MB

Choose file You can also paste a file or screenshot with Ctrl+V.

    AI assistant

    Add a PDF above to ask questions about it, summarise it or give it a better name.

    Repair PDF in 3 easy steps

    1. Choose your file (PDF → repaired PDF): drop it on this page or click “Choose file”.
    2. Check the options (smart suggestions can set them for you), then click “Repair PDF”.
    3. Download the result. Everything runs in your browser, so your files are never uploaded.

    Why use GrovePDF

    • Free, with no signup, no watermark and no daily limit.
    • Private: your files are processed on your device, never on a server.
    • AI built in: smart suggestions and an assistant that answers questions about your PDF.
    • Works on any device with a modern browser, in nearly 110 languages.

    Updated · GrovePDF team

    Why PDFs break

    Most "damaged" PDFs aren't really destroyed: a download stopped early, an email program changed the file, or the program that made it wrote its internal index (the cross-reference table) wrongly. Readers then refuse to open the file, show blank pages, or say it is corrupt.

    What Repair PDF does

    1. It rebuilds the file's structure: the index of objects, their positions and the page tree.
    2. It keeps every page and object that can still be read.
    3. If the file is too broken to rebuild, it saves the pages that can still be displayed as pictures, so you at least get their content back.

    The result says what happened: problems fixed, the structure rebuilt, or pages recovered as pictures.

    If it can't be repaired

    • Download the file again or ask the sender to resend it: truncated downloads are the most common cause.
    • Missing content (pages that were never saved) can't be brought back by any tool.
    • Pages recovered as pictures have no selectable text; run them through OCR PDF to make them searchable again.

    Repair PDF: questions and answers

    Which problems can be fixed?

    Broken cross-reference tables, truncated downloads, wrong object offsets and other structural damage. Missing content can't be brought back.

    The pages came back as pictures.

    The file was too damaged to rebuild, so the pages that could still be read were saved as images. Text in them can't be selected.

    Is the damaged file uploaded?

    No. The repair runs in your browser, so the file stays on your device.

    Can it open a password-protected PDF?

    Repairing doesn't remove passwords. If you know the password, remove it with Unlock PDF first, then repair the file.

    Guide: How to compress a PDF under 1 MB (and keep the text sharp)