Repair PDF
Rebuild damaged PDFs — best effort.
Attempt to recover a broken PDF. Readable files are rebuilt losslessly; damaged files are re-rendered page by page. A report explains exactly what was done and what could not be recovered.
Your files are processed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to a server, ever.
Tip
Drop your file here or click to browse. Everything is processed on this device — nothing is uploaded.
Quick answers
- What does this tool do?
- Rebuild damaged PDFs — best effort. Attempt to recover a broken PDF. Readable files are rebuilt losslessly; damaged files are re-rendered page by page.
- Is it free?
- Yes — free and unlimited, with no account required and no watermark on the result.
- What files are supported?
- PDF files, up to 100 MB each.
- Where is my file processed?
- Entirely in your browser. Your file never leaves your device — nothing is uploaded to a server.
- What are the limitations?
- Best-effort recovery only. Severely damaged files may lose content; re-export from the source app when possible.
- What happens if processing fails?
- You get a clear message explaining what went wrong and how to fix it (try another file, check the format, or start over). Your original file is never touched.
How to Repair PDF
- Upload the PDF that will not open properly.
- Click "Process" — Paperly attempts recovery.
- Download the repaired PDF and the repair report.
- Verify the output before relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
Common problems and fixes
- My signature or drawing looks faint
Why: thin pen input or fast strokes produce low-contrast ink on small canvases.
Fix: draw larger than needed, use a thicker stroke, or type a signature and pick a heavier font style.
- My changes seem to have disappeared
Why: the original file was opened instead of the new download — the tool never modifies your original on disk.
Fix: look for the freshly downloaded file and use that as your new version.
- Added text does not match the document font
Why: embedded subset fonts cannot always be reproduced, so the closest standard font is offered.
Fix: pick the nearest match from the font options, or accept a slight typeface difference.
Who uses Repair PDF?
- Anyone signing from home — contracts and forms signed on screen — files up to 100 MB, drawn, typed or uploaded as an image.
- People filling non-fillable forms — adding text on top of flat PDFs that were never designed as forms.
- Reviewers marking drafts — stamps, dates and notes before a document circulates for approval.