Fix the PDF Error “The file is damaged and could not be repaired”

Read time 6 min

While trying to open a PDF file you are receiving an error stating “The file is damaged and could not be repaired.” Many users have complained about this error and also raised their queries on how to fix it. This error may occur due to a lot of reasons. In this blog, we are going to discuss the reasons for the occurrence of this error. We will also discuss the best possible solutions for this eror. Let’s proceed with the reason and solutions!

Why might you be facing this error?
There are several reasons why you might be facing this error:

• Corruption may happen if the PDF file is downloaded improperly, due to sudden shutdown, unstable internet connection or a bulky file
• Due to a virus and malware attacks
• Security settings in Adobe Acrobat
• Broken or outdated PDF Reader
• Interruption while transferring (copying) the file
• Temporary files and cache
• Complications in the programs or its abrupt termination
• Corruption in PDF file

How to fix the error “The file is damaged and could not be repaired”
As there are many reasons that lead to this error, there are many solutions as well. Below we are going to mention the most successful solutions to fix the error.

• Download/Transfer Again
  If you downloaded or transferred the video from some external source, then it is advisable to do it again. Sometimes, while downloading a file, there are chances of it ending up with a broken or incomplete file. Hence, if you still have the access to the source or origin of the file, it is recommended to download or transfer the file again.
• Clear Temporary Files
  If you haven’t cleared your temporary internet files recently, then now it is the time to do so. Sometimes, temporary files are the ones that create this problem, and it is necessary to delete them. For this, just press Win + R key and type inetcpl.cpl and in the Internet properties dialogue box just Delete the browsing history.
• Change Adobe’s Security Settings

Too tight security measures in Adobe Acrobat can also cause this error. In this case, you might need to change the security settings and this will help opening the file. For this, follow the below-mentioned steps:

1. Run Adobe PDF Acrobat and click on the Edit menu in the toolbar.
   
2. In the Edit menu, select Preferences
   
3. Now, under Enhanced Security clear the Enable Enhanced Security option. Before moving forward make sure that the Protected View is checked Off.
   
4. Finally, click on OK to finish the process.

Once you follow all the above-mentioned steps successfully, you now should be able to open the file without any issue.

• Reinstall Adobe PDF Reader
  You might also be facing this error due to the broken or outdated version of Adobe PDF reader. If it is so, then first uninstall the Adobe PDF reader and then install the latest version of it on your system.
• Fix with Kernel for PDF Repair
  This error might be occurring due to the corruption of the PDF file and hence it is recommended to use Kernel for PDF Repair. It is an automated third party tool that repairs, corrupt, damaged and broken PDF file(s) in no time. This tool is unique because of its friendly user interface and descriptive features. This tool supports all versions of Windows and PDF files generated from any version of Adobe Acrobat.

Let’s learn A simple way to repair Adobe PDF files step by step:

• Start with downloading the tool from its website; then install it properly into your system and run.
• Now the home screen of the tool will be in front of you; there, click on the Select File(s) option and add files from its location on your system.
  
  Note: You can add as many files as you wish, and if you want to remove any, you can use the Remove File(s) option to do so.
• Now, click on the Repair option to start with the repair process.
  
• Once all the steps performed properly, the tool will start repairing the files one by one. The tool will display the report of repair process live on the screen as shown in the snippet.
  

Stop: Click on the Stop button anytime to stop the whole process.

So, this is how one can repair a PDF file with Kernel for PDF Repair. You can also learn to Open PDF Documents in Microsoft Edge easily.

Conclusion:
In this blog, we have discussed about the error “The file is damaged and could not be repaired” that occurs in a PDF file. We discussed many reasons for its occurrence and tried to provide the best solutions for it. When it comes to corruption, Kernel for PDF Repair is all you will need. Don’t waste your time trying other methods which do not even guarantee results. Hope this blog helped you.