How to Fix Damaged PDF Files

Written By Lovely Baghel
Published on: September 17th, 2014
Updated on: June 27, 2025

Summary: The Portable Document Format (PDF) file, widely known as the PDF, has emerged as the dominant format for sharing documents online, a significant shift from the early 21st century when MS Word was the go-to for online document creation. While MS Word remains highly popular, PDF has become the reliable choice for emailing and FTP sharing due to its consistent formatting and security features. However, PDF files are not immune to corruption, which can render them inaccessible. Before delving into solutions for such issues, understanding PDF’s widespread preference is key. When faced with damaged PDF files that won’t open, SysInfo PDF Recovery Tool can be an invaluable solution, offering a way to repair and restore these crucial documents.

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Reasons for using PDF Format

One of the basic reasons behind this, is that PDF is not editable by a normal user. Which makes it secure. Since there are many paid tools available online that can edit a PDF file easily, but if you have implemented additional security to your PDF file, even a commercial tool cannot edit it until the security is removed. I too use Adobe Acrobat X, but If the file is secured, I fail editing it.

Pros and Cons of a PDF file

Every step we take, is surrounded by some advantages and some disadvantages as well.

Advantages (Pros)

PDF files are compatible with all the Operating Systems like Windows, Linux, Mac, etc.
It acquires less space, as a PDF file is compact and small in size
You can easily create a PDF document, convert Word document into PDF, or Print an online document into PDF through Google Chrome
Prevents unauthorized users from editing or modifying the document
Comply with the legal requirements of a document
Gives file compression and comes with multiple encryption and security features.

Disadvantages (Cons)

I mentioned above as well, that a PDF cannot be edited easily as compared to other formats like .doc or .docx. People find it difficult to edit these files.
If you want to edit a PDF file, you need to buy a commercial PDF editing tool, the better one is always expensive.
Other documents can easily be accessed or opened with the default programs in the OS package. Whereas to open a PDF document, you need Adobe Acrobat reader or Foxit reader.

PDF file is Corrupted?

So did you land on this article because your PDF file is corrupted? Do you need a tested solution to perform a PDF repair? Well! The above 336 words might be boring to read, but it was important for me to share why we do we use what we use.

The reason behind the corruption of your PDF file must be connection failure while downloading from internet FTP or network file sharing. Though PDF is not that prone to virus attack but, it is often the reason behind PDF corruption. Apart from all this, power outage, system or HDD failure while the file is open can also play a major role behind the PDF errors. Many people keep their PDF in an archive file, it can be a zip, rar, or 7z file. But when it is the bad day, even the archive file gets corrupted. You may follow the article to repair archive file as well.

PDF gives Error?

Are you facing any of the errors listed below?

Format error: not a pdf or corrupted
File is corrupt or damaged
This file contains information not understood by the viewer
There was an error processing the page. A font contains a bad cmap-encoding
There was an error opening this document
The root object is missing or invalid
File does not begin with %PDF
PDF file is not readable with Acrobat Reader

If the error you are facing is listed above, than you are on the right track. If you think that it is a unique error you are facing, the solution will still work for you. I request you to mention the error in the comment section below. This will help us to serve you much better.