Fix the “PDF File is Damaged and Could Not Be Repaired” Issue

Understanding Error: PDF is Damaged and Cannot be Opened

Before we begin troubleshooting, it is better to understand the error, its causes, and the consequences. Well, this error typically states that the file’s structure is compromised. Hence, it is unreadable by PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat. There are three prominent reasons for this PDF error ‘Adobe file is damaged and could not be repaired’. They are:

• Your PDF file is corrupted or damaged, and thus cannot be opened.
• The PDF file has been decoded incorrectly, causing error.
• If the PDF reader is corrupt or outdated, it may prevent from opening PDF.
• Intruptted or improper downloads of PDF files.
• The storage-external or internal media, where the PDF file is saved is full.

Besides, enhanced security settings of the PDF reader, or unknown virus attacks, can also cause the error. It is important to know the real cause of the error. Now, let’s proceed to the procedure section.

Resolving Steps- Error PDF File is Damaged and Could Not be Repaired

Depending on the cause of this error, there are various troubleshooting steps for this error. Let us discuss all the troubleshooting procedures one by one in detail.

1. Download or Share the PDF File Again

Sometimes, some serious technical issues can be resolved with the simplest steps. If your PDF file is damaged due to improper download, try re-downloading or re-sharing the file. Follow the steps below:

1. First, delete the corrupt PDF file from your device.
2. Go to the original source, and re-download the file. Or ask the sender to resend the original file.
3. This time, make sure the download completes without interruptions.

If the PDF file opens, the error is resolved. However, if not, move to another solution.

2. Clear Temporary Internet Files or Cache

Whenever you surf through a website, your system saves Cache data. Occasionally, these data can get corrupted, further interfering with file opening. Therefore, it is important to clear these folders regularly to avoid such ‘file is damaged and could not be repaired’ errors. Do as the step says:

1. Open the Run dialog (press Windows + R).
2. Type temp and press Enter.
3. Select All files in the temporary folder and tap Delete.
4. Again, do the same process with the %temp% folder (type in Run).

Instead, you can also go for:

Run > type inetcpl.cpl > Delete > Select folders to delete > Delete.

Now, try opening the PDF file that was encountering the error. Has the error been solved?

3. Repair Corrupt Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a software that enables you to open, read, modify, and fill PDF forms. If this utility is corrupt, it might prevent you from opening PDFs. Nevertheless, Adobe Acrobat Reader has a built-in repair functionality that can fix the software. Ultimately, you will get rid of the error notification ‘PDF file is damaged and could not be repaired’.

The steps are as follows:

1. Open the Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader.
2. Go to Help > Repair Installation.
3. Follow the prompts to repair the Adobe Acrobat Reader successfully.

Alternatively, you can perform PDF viewer repair following these steps:

1. Press Windows + R and type appwiz.cpl. Click Ok.
2. Uninstall or change a program window opens.
3. Right-click on the program (Adobe PDF Viewer) and choose Change.
4. Now, select the ‘Repair installation errors in the program’ radio button.
5. At last, click Next to begin the repair process.

After repair is complete, restart the system. Again, open Adobe Acrobat Reader and try to access the faulty PDF file. If the issue was with the software, you can now open PDF.

4. Check for Adobe’s Security Settings and Change

If your Adobe PDF Reader is set to advanced security settings, this may also cause the error. For security reasons, it may prevent you from viewing the file and shows the message ‘PDF damaged and cannot be repaired’. In that case, you have to disable the Enhanced Security feature of the software. Follow the process as mentioned below:

1. Launch the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. Then, go to Edit and select Preferences.
3. Now, click on the Security (Enhanced) tab.
4. Under the Enhanced Security section, uncheck the ‘Enable Enhanced Security’ checkbox.
5. Also, make sure the protected view setting is turned off.

Adjusting this setting can also help you troubleshoot if the ‘PDF file is damaged and could not be repaired’ error encounters.

5. Update Adobe Acrobat Reader

Moreover, using outdated software to open PDFs might cause this error. Therefore, update the Adobe PDF Reader tool to the latest version for better functioning. Follow the steps as mentioned:

1. Run the software, Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. On the top-right, click on Help.
3. Then, click on Check for Updates.
4. If any update is found, follow the prompts and update the software.
5. Restart the application and check if the issue is repaired.

You can also try reinstalling the software. That might fix the issue ‘the file is damaged and cannot be opened PDF’.

The aforementioned suggestions are manual troubleshooting solutions. They will help you resolve the error, but cannot repair corrupt PDF files. If you have to repair corrupt PDFs and restore data, move to the following solution.

Repair Corrupt PDF Files Using Robust Software

PDF Recovery Tool is a secure and handy solution to fix your corrupt PDF files. You can use this tool to access PDF contents and restore them securely. Moreover, the tool maintains the data integrity after the recovery process. It allows bulk submission of PDFs and repairs them altogether. Spending on the level of PDF corruption, you can repair all levels of file corruption using dual recovery modes.

Steps to Recover Data from a Corrupt PDF File

1. Firstly, download the tool on your system and run it.
2. Now, choose to select single/multiple corrupt PDFs.
3. Browse for corrupt PDFs from your system and Next.
4. Opt for a recovery mode depending on how corrupt the PDF file is.
5. The tool will show the preview of PDF files in images. Click Next.
6. From the given option select to save recovered PDF data. Click on Save.

Also Read: Know how to merge password-protected PDF for proper management.

Conclusion

So, these are various troubleshooting methods to fix the ‘PDF file is damaged and could not be repaired’ error. However, if the PDF file is corrupt, go for the professional PDF Repair Tool for quick results and maximum data recovery. The tool is secure and easy to operate even if is not tech-savvy. Furthermore, figure out the cause of the error and then go for the perfect solution as required.

Frequently Asked Questions

About The Author:

Deep Shikha

Deep Shikha Pandey is a Tech Writing Expert having deep knowledge about Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, SQL, and other databases and email clients. She will guide you the best about email migration and SQL Database recovery using her expertise and making all the processes a cakewalk for the readers. Make your technical journey easy with simple layman’s blogs and accurate technical information.