How To Corrupt A PDF Exactly? Top Full Options [2022]

There are several ways How To Corrupt A PDF document, depending on the type of corruption you’re looking for. In some cases, you may be able to tamper with the text or images in the document. 

In others, you may be able to change the security settings to allow for unrestricted editing. No matter your goal, there are several tools and methods available to help you achieve it.

How to Make the File Unrecognizable

As we have explained, you can make the PDF completely unrecognizable by reopening the document with a notepad.

Tap the keyboard to insert random text throughout your document. The file will become more difficult to read with the more characters you type.

Next, click File>Save to save your changes.

This will cause the PDF to disappear completely when you open it. You will get an error message, or pages will be blank. This will erase all traces of the original content.

Part 1: Possible Reasons for PDF File Corrupted or Damaged?

Part 1 Possible Reasons for PDF File Corrupted or Damaged

The PDF file may become corrupted while uploading, downloading, and even using it every day. These are some of the possible causes of PDF file corruption or damage:

  • Incorrect download: Sometimes, your internet connection is unstable, and you may not be able to download the PDF files. This can cause a failed or incomplete download. This can lead to file corruption and damage to the file structure.
  • Problem with your storage media: If your PDF is on a corrupted USB device or hard drive, it can also cause corruption.
  • Unexpected system shutdown: It happens when you are working on your computer. This could be caused by a power outage or an internal system error. However, in this scenario, your PDF file can be corrupted if transferred or worked on.
  • Virus: A virus or malicious program in your computer system could also cause corrupted or damaged PDF files.
  • Incompatible programs can also cause damage to your files if you use incompatible software to open PDFs.

There are many reasons PDF files may be corrupted. You can easily repair a PDF file if you find yourself in this situation.

Part 2: How to Repair Corrupt or Damaged PDF Files

Do not panic if you find yourself in a situation where your PDF file is corrupted. You can try these basic troubleshooting steps:

  • You can copy or download the file again from the source.
  • You can restore it from backup.
  • You can also restore the file from an earlier version to edit the file again.

If none of these troubleshooting methods work, you don’t have to be concerned. Below are the best ways to recover your PDF file. You can repair your PDF file quickly and easily by following the steps.

1. Try other PDF Reader utilities

1. Try other PDF Reader utilities

If you have trouble accessing PDF files and cannot open them, it is worth checking whether the issue is with the PDF reader. You can open the PDF file with another PDF reader to check for any problems.

Online, you can search for PDF readers. Choose the compatible one and open your file. You can repair the PDF by following the next steps if the file does not open.

2. Restore previous file version

Windows 10 users can use the built-in backup utility tool, which allows them to restore the PDF file from an earlier version. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Update and Security

To access security and updates, press the Windows button.

Step 1 Open Update and Security

Step 2: Restore the backup and get access to your PDF file

Step 2 Restore the backup and get access to your PDF file

You can restore the previous version of the file by using the File History feature if you haven’t taken a backup.

Step 1: Click on the file you wish to open in Windows Explorer, and then click on Properties.

Step 2: Click on the tab for previous versions to restore.

You can check the older versions of PDF files. Check if the correct version is available and click on it to restore your file.

You can repair PDF online if the previous version of your file is not available.

3. Use a free online PDF repair tool

You can repair PDF files online with Sejda, a free online tool that repairs damaged PDFs. A PDF file can be repaired with as little as 200 pages or a file of 50 MB. It allows you to perform three tasks per hour and automatically delete your files after two hours.

These steps will repair corrupted PDF files:

Step 1: Choose Files

To upload the corrupted file, open Sejda.com. To repair your file, you can drag it to the page.

Step 1 Choose Files

Step 2: Repair PDF

After you have loaded the file, click the Repair PDF button and wait for the process to complete.

Step 2 Repair PDF

4. Try professional PDF repair software

A wondershare Repair is a professional tool that repairs damaged PDF files quickly. It works with Windows 11/10/8/Vista/7.

This tool allows you to restore all of the content from the PDF. It can be used to restore all the content of PDFs.

  1. Repair corrupt or damaged PDF files and their components.
  2. All music, videos, and graphs can be repaired.
  3. External PDF files can also be repaired.

Here are the steps to fix a PDF file that has been damaged.

Step 1: Add corrupted PDF

The Stellar PDF Repair Tool main interface will open. Select the corrupted file. You can repair multiple files by clicking the Add button.

Step 1 Add corrupted PDF

Step 2: Repair the PDF

To repair the files, add them to the Repair button. You can stop the repair process at any time during the ongoing repairing process.

Step 2 Repair the PDF

Step 3: Save and Preview

After the repair process is complete, click on the OK button to view the repaired PDF file. Once you’re satisfied that the file has been repaired, could you save it to the desired location?

Part 3: How to Recover PDF File Deleted Accidentally

Sometimes, you accidentally hit delete while accessing PDF files. Your important data is then lost. You want to retrieve your data. Do not panic if you find yourself in this situation. Data loss is not an issue if you don’t have the Recoverit Data Recovery tool.

This software can recover files from hard drives, recycle bins, desktops, external devices, and more than 1000 other file formats.

No matter what circumstances you are in, the software can retrieve your files.

These are the three steps to recover your PDF file deleted:

Step 1: Select a location

Start Recoverit software on your computer. Select the location where the PDF file was deleted from your computer. Click on the Start button after you have made your selection.

Step 1 Select a location

Step 2: Take a scan of the location

You can also add filters to allow the software to search for specific files while underway scanning. You can stop the scanning if you find your PDF file. If the scan is successful, but your PDF file has not been found, you can use Advanced Search to find it.

The software can use the advanced feature to perform a deep search and find the deleted PDF file.

Step 2 Take a scan of the location

Step 3: Save and preview

After scanning is complete, the software will allow you to view the recovered files. After verifying the PDF file, click the Recover button to save it to the desired location.

Notice: When choosing the location where the recovered file should be saved, it is important not to save on the same path as the place where you lost your data. This could cause your data to be lost forever.

This is the final step to recover your PDF file successfully.

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Conclusion

There are several ways to corrupt a PDF file, but one easiest is to use a PDF editor. A PDF editor can add or remove pages, change text, or add images. 

Another way to corrupt a PDF file is to use a PDF password cracker. A PDF password cracker can be used to remove the security from a PDF file to be edited or printed.