How to Repair a PDF File on Mac [Best 3 Fixes]

Are you wondering how to repair a PDF file on a Mac? This article gives you 3 unique ways to repair a PDF file on a Mac. Along with this, you will obtain information about corrupted PDF files and the ways to avoid getting corrupted PDF files.

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Table of Contents

Updated by Jaden on Feb 26, 2024

When you double-click on a PDF thumbnail to access it in the standard manner, you presume it can be accessed and read. However, when you try to do so, error warnings appear, such as "The PDF file is not valid" or "An error occurred to load PDF document," which indicates that your PDF file is faulty. Then, how do you repair a PDF file on Mac?

Any number of things, including corrupted files, viruses, erroneous storing or transferring, unplugging the wrong storage gadget, system crashes, bugs, and more, can lead to PDF distortion. 

The PDF file is not valid

Fix 1. Repair PDF Files on Mac with File Repair Software

Are you searching for a PDF repair tool to fix corrupted files on Mac? If you're a Mac user, one of Mac's best PDF repair software is EaseUS Fixo Document Repair! Regarding fixing the damaged PDF files on your Mac, no such tool can be as effective as EaseUS Fixo. It's a combined document, video, and image repair tool. Regardless of whether you have an inaccessible or permanently damaged PDF file, this software can assist you in repairing the PDF file effectively.

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Built with cutting-edge file repair modes, EaseUS Fixo lets you scan several damaged PDF files, repair them quickly, and save them as brand-new PDF files. It also has a user-friendly GUI, which is fantastic for inexperienced users. The main highlights of this professional file repair software for Mac are the following:

  • Free to preview corrupted PDF files
  • Fix damaged PDF files from SSD, HDD, external HDD, and USB flash drive
  • Repair corrupted photos, videos, Excel, and other files.
  • Repair different types of file corruption, including empty files, unreadable files, files that can't be opened, and garbled files.

Step 1. Download and launch Fixo on the Mac. Choose "File Repair" from the left panel. Click "Add Files" to select corrupted Office documents, including Word, Excel, PDF, and others you want to repair.

macfixo document repair step 1

Step 2. To repair corrupted files in batch, click the "Repair All" button. If you want to repair a specific document, move your cursor to the document and click the "Repair" button. You can click the eye icon to preview the repaired document.

macfixo document repair step 2

Step 3. Click "Save" to save a selected document. To keep all the repaired documents, choose "Save All". When the save completes, click "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

macfixo document repair step 3

Download this professional data recovery software today. If you found this passage helpful, kindly share the information with your friends on social media!

 

Fix 2. Repair PDF Files on Mac with an Online Tool

When a file gets damaged or corrupted, it becomes unsteady. It's OK that you don't want to download the software on your desktop. Hence, premium online file repair tools can be your better choice.

You need EaseUS Online Document Repair if you face a power outage, software bugs, HDD failure, or any other problem, which are the main reason for a corrupted PDF file.

The main features of the EaseUS Online File Repair tool are the following:

  • Efficiently rescue the erroneous Excel, Word, PDF, and PPT files online with its advanced repair algorithms.
  • Without installing software, it can also repair broken pictures online with JPG, PNG, CR2, and other formats.
  • Helps Repair documents online for free with just one click.

Try EaseUS Online File Repair today! 

Step 1. Open the official website and drag your corrupt document here. You can also click "Upload Document" and find the location where your Word, PowerPoint, Excel or PDF files are stored.

upload document

Step 2. Before the repair process, you need to enter your email address to receive the education code you will use in step 4. Now, click "Strat Repairing" to launch the process. Wait patiently for the process to end. You can leave the site during the repair but remember not to close it.

click start repairing

Step 3. EaseUS will send you the extraction code when the repair is finished. Go back to the page, type your code, and click "OK" to save your file.

enter the code and click ok

Fix 3. Repair Corrupted PDF Files on Mac with First-Aid

PDF corruption is quite unpredictable, where the bad sectors on your disk are the biggest culprits leading to damaged PDF files on Mac. It also brings the maximum risk of data corruption in another file format. Hence, you're suggested to fix the corrupted disk on your Mac using the best repair tools. The steps to repair the disk on Mac are the following:

Step 1. Open "Disk Utility" and opt for the disk where you kept the damaged PDF.

Repair corrupted PDF files with First Aid on Mac

Step 2. Opt for "First Aid," and hit "Run to Repair" on the disk on your macOS.

Hit run

Bonus Tip: How to Avoid Corrupted PDF Files

Owing to its widespread use by users worldwide, the format of PDF documents can be contaminated if adequately managed. The PDF file type is the simplest method for storing large volumes of data in one file. It also has an advanced safety mechanism that lets users apply watermarks and passwords to secure their files. Email or external media like CDs and USB pen drives can quickly transfer the file; you can also recover PDF files on Mac.

The data and details in PDF files are lost due to corrupted files. Nevertheless, there are a few easy ways that users can keep their PDF files from getting contaminated as long as necessary:

  • 🪶You can first download it before viewing it when users get the PDF file as an attachment.
  • 👁️‍🗨️You can download and save the file first before printing or viewing it.
  • 📩If the PDF files must be sent via email, users must compress the PDF file into a ZIP file, attach it, and send it. It helps safeguard the PDF files from getting corrupted.
  • 🌐You may protect the PDF file from getting corrupted, and avoiding having to repair PDF is never to launch a PDF file on a web browser.

Why Are PDF Files Corrupted on Mac

Fixing a PDF file is quite tricky as sometimes it might have been damaged in the transfer or was with. Then, you should know the reasons for PDF files getting corrupted, which are the following:

1️⃣Incompatible software If you utilize incompatible software to launch a PDF file, the file might be repaired and damaged. Hence, it's crucial to use the right one, for example, Adobe, to launch PDF files.
2️⃣Virus attacks Viruses or adware enter a PC to damage it either by overwriting or adjusting it. If your PDF file gets corrupted due to virus attacks, you should possess updated antivirus software, mainly if you use the internet frequently.
3️⃣Downloading error Some errors ensue while downloading a PDF file, damaging the document. An unstable internet connection is an error causing a broken PDF file. Therefore, having a top-notch connection before downloading files is essential to lower these chances.
4️⃣Hard disk issues You must have encountered HDD crashes earlier. Some bits of files are lost after a minor crash happens.

If the data elimination were part of the PDF, it would never open due to corruption. The HDD also loses the file completely. The most crucial reasons for the HDD failures are system errors, missing sectors, etc.

Repair PDF Files on Mac FAQs

These are the FAQs to consider:

1. How do I repair a damaged PDF on a Mac?

You can repair a corrupted PDF on a Mac with the help of the EaseUS Fixo Document Repair tool or the EaseUS Online File Repair tool.

2. Can a damaged PDF file be repaired?

A damaged file is inoperable. While investigating this issue, you may try to mend them or conduct a virus detection program. If they don't work, you may install the EaseUS Fixo Document Repair tool to repair damaged files on Mac.

3. What is the best PDF repair tool for Mac?

EaseUS Fixo Document Repair tool is one of Mac's best PDF repair tools.

4. How do I fix a PDF on my Macbook?

You can fix a PDF on your MacBook by redownloading the PDF and retry opening it. 

If you find this information helpful, please share it with others on social media to assist them in overcoming this common challenge.

 

Conclusion

Fixing PDF files online with any third-party unreliable software is not a credible option. However, the EaseUS Fixo Document Repair tool is the one-stop tool to fix every corrupted PDF file. This tool helps repair PDF files without any data loss and adjustments made to its metadata, file parameters, fonts, and structure. Besides that, EaseUS Fixo can repair multiple corrupted PDF files simultaneously, implying that it supports repairing the PDFs in a single batch process.

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About the Author

author Jaden

Jaden

Jaden is one of the editors of EaseUS who lives and works in Chengdu, China. She focuses on topics concerning PCs and Mac data recovery. Jaden is committed to enhancing professional IT knowledge and writing abilities. She is always keen on new and intelligent products.

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