How to repair a pdf file broken by a failed download
- Step 1Locate the incomplete download — Find the partially downloaded PDF in your downloads folder — it may have a .crdownload or .part extension. Rename it to .pdf before uploading.
- Step 2Drop it into the repair tool — Upload the renamed, incomplete file.
- Step 3Run the repair — The tool extracts all readable content from the partial download.
- Step 4Download the recovered PDF — Save and open to check the recovered content.
Frequently asked questions
How do I rename a .crdownload file to .pdf?+
In Windows Explorer, right-click the file, choose Rename, and change the extension from .crdownload to .pdf. Enable file extensions in View > Options if they are hidden.
What percentage of the file can typically be recovered?+
Files that are more than 80% complete often yield most of their pages. Files under 50% complete may only produce a few pages.
Should I try to repair before attempting a fresh download?+
Try a fresh download first — if the source is accessible, a complete file is always better than a repair. Use repair only when re-download is unavailable.
Privacy first
All PDF processing runs locally in your browser using PDF-lib and pdf.js. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.