Top 9 PDF Repair Tools for Windows, Mac, and Online in 2024

PDFs are essential for both personal and professional use, but they can sometimes become corrupted, leading to lost information and frustration. The good news is you can use tools to repair the PDF damage and hopefully get back your data.

In this article, you’ll discover the best PDF repair tools available for Windows, Mac, and online, ensuring you have reliable options no matter what platform you're using. Let's dive into the causes of PDF file corruption and then review the top tools to fix your PDFs effectively.

Part 1: What Causes PDF File Corruption?

There are many reasons for the corruption of the PDF files due to which you will not be able to either open or use them properly. Knowing these causes can help prevent problems again and know what to do when they have appeared.

1. Interrupted Downloads or Transfers: If your Internet connection is dropped while downloading or transferring the file and you have no access to PDF, this might corrupt the saving of a pdf.
2. Software Issues: Creating, editing or viewing a PDF using outdated or unreliable software might cause the file to get corrupted. Always ensure that your PDF reading software is always updated and download them from an authentic place.
3. Virus or Malware: Your PDF files may have been infected and become corrupted with malicious software. Make sure your device is protected properly with antivirus and then also check it regularly.
4. Faulty Storage Media: If your storage media, like a hard drive or USB stick, is failing or damaged, it can lead to corrupted files. Regularly backing up your files can help you avoid losing important data.
5. File System Errors: Errors in your computer’s file system can sometimes cause PDF files to become corrupted. Running regular disk checks and keeping your system healthy can minimize these risks.

Part 2: 3 Best PDF Repair Tool on Windows

In this part, you will discover the three best PDF repair tools for Windows. These tools are easy to use and can fix a variety of common PDF issues. You will access your important documents again.

PDF Repair Tool 1: Repairit PDF File Repair Windows

Wondershare Repairit - File Repair

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1,010,994 people have downloaded it.

• Repair damaged files with all levels of corruption, including blank PDF, PDF not opening, PDF picture issues, PDF color issue, PDF fonts missing, unreadable pdf, etc.

• Fix text, hyperlinks, forms, headers, footers, graphs, watermarks in PDF, etc

• Perfectly repair corrupted files with a very high success rate, without modifying the original file.

• No limit to the number and size of the repairable files.

• Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.10~macOS 13.

• Except PDF, Repairit also supports all formats of Word, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ZIP, and Adobe files.

If you're looking for an easy way to fix your PDFs, Repairit PDF File Repair is a great choice. It is one of the products that Wondershare Repairit offers. It handles common problems like missing text, unreadable fonts, and corrupted images, all while keeping the original layout of your document.

If you have multiple PDFs to fix, you can use their batch repair feature to save time. Plus, they offer a free trial so you can try it out before you decide to buy.

Step 1: Click on the More Types Repair menu and choose File Repair. Click +Add and choose your corrupted PDF file.

Step 2: Hit Repair to begin the repair process.

Step 3: After the repair process has been completed, click Save.

PDF Repair Tool 2: Stellar Repair for PDF

Stellar Repair for PDF is perfect for tackling tougher PDF issues. It can recover text, images, fonts, and formatting from damaged files, and it even works on password-protected PDFs. This tool has different repair modes depending on how badly your file is corrupted and lets you preview the repaired PDF before saving it.

PDF Repair Tool 3: Kernel for PDF Repair

Kernel for PDF Repair is all about comprehensive fixes for your PDFs. It can repair structural damage, recover text content and formatting, and even generate a log report to help you understand what went wrong. This tool supports batch repair and works with various PDF versions. While it might seem a bit more technical than the others, it offers a wide range of repair options.

Part 3: 3 Best PDF Repair Tool on Mac

If you are a Mac user and you are having trouble looking for a PDF repair tool for you, there are also great options to repair corrupted PDF files. Luckily, there are 4 reliable software that are compatible with your Mac device to help you fix the issue.

PDF Repair Tool 1: Repairit PDF File Repair Mac

This is a Mac version of Repairit PDF File Repair Windows, which is also offered by Wondershare Repairit. Like Repairit for Windows, Repairit PDF File Repair Mac is a user-friendly tool that can fix common PDF corruption issues using your Mac device. It aims to preserve the original layout and formatting of your document during the repair process.

PDF Repair Tool 2: VeryPDF for Mac

VeryPDF for Mac is another excellent choice for fixing your PDFs. Unlike some tools that leave you in the dark, VeryPDF shows you real-time progress updates, so you always know how the repair is going. It can handle complex issues and even fix password-protected PDFs without removing the password.

Additionally, VeryPDF is designed to work efficiently on macOS, ensuring smooth operation even on older Mac models. This is a big plus if you haven't upgraded your hardware recently.

PDF Repair Tool 3: SysTools PDF Recovery for Mac

SysTools PDF Recovery for Mac focuses on recovering data from damaged PDFs. It handles complex issues, recovers text and formatting, and creates a new, healthy PDF. This tool is especially useful for severely corrupted files, making sure you get your data back in a usable format. It also offers batch repair and has a user-friendly interface, though there's limited info on free trials and some users have reported occasional inconsistencies in repairs.

Part 4: 3 Best PDF Repair Tool Online

In this section, we'll explore the three best PDF repair tools online. These web-based solutions allow you to fix your corrupted PDFs directly from your browser, making it simple and fast to recover your files no matter where you are.

PDF Repair Tool 1: Repairit PDF Repair Online

Repairit PDF Repair Online is also a product of Wondershare Repairit. It offers more than just an easy-to-use interface. Its smart repair process analyzes your corrupt PDF and helps you fix it while keeping the original layout intact. This means you don't have to worry about formatting issues. They also offer a free trial, letting you test its capabilities on your PDF before committing to a subscription.

PDF Repair Tool 2: iLovePDF Repair Tool

iLovePDF Repair PDF is another great online option. You simply upload your file and it analyzes the problems, like minor corruption or damage. While it might not be as fancy as some downloadable programs, it's perfect for those everyday PDF hiccups. It helps you get your documents back in working order without any fuss. It can repair depending on how big the file can be or how complex the repair needs to be.

PDF Repair Tool 3: PDF2Go PDF Repair Tool

PDF2Go PDF Repair is another web-based tool that can fix corrupted PDFs. It offers you a variety of additional PDF tools. This makes it a versatile option. It can fix a PDF and also convert it to a Word document or reduce its size for emailing. PDF2Go can handle both tasks in one place.

It’s super convenient because you can do everything directly in your web browser. However, like other online options, it might not be the best choice for highly complex repairs.

Conclusion

Choosing the right PDF repair tool is important for recovering your important documents efficiently and effectively. Whether you are using Windows, Mac, or an online tool, there are excellent tools available to suit your needs. \With the right tool, you can restore your corrupted PDF files and get back to work quickly and smoothly.