Repairing & Recovering Corrupted PDFs
Seven recovery methods, from re-downloading the source to running specialised repair tools, with guidance on when each one is worth trying.
Read GuideArticles & Guides
A curated index of the longer-form articles on FileTypeError.com. Each one walks through a specific file-type problem with the causes, the safest fix to try first, and the more advanced steps to take when the quick fix doesn't work.
Last reviewed on May 11, 2026
Documents
When a PDF Won't Open
Why a PDF refuses to open and how to work through the most common causes — bad downloads, reader bugs, permissions and corruption.
Read GuideFixing DOCX Files That Won't Open
Word's built-in repair tools, alternative openers, and recovery options for documents that fail to load.
Read GuideRecovering Corrupted Excel Files
How to recover spreadsheet data from damaged XLSX files using Excel's repair tools and fall-back techniques.
Read GuideImages
Opening HEIC Photos on Windows
Several reliable approaches for opening and converting iPhone HEIC images on Windows.
Read GuideRecovering Damaged JPEG Files
What causes JPEG corruption and how to repair or salvage data from images that won't open or display correctly.
Read GuideRAW Photo Recovery
Recovering RAW camera files when previews fail, files won't open, or the storage card is unreadable.
Read GuideOpening PSD Files Without Photoshop
Free and paid alternatives for viewing, editing, and exporting Photoshop documents.
Read GuideAudio & Video
Fixing Corrupted Videos
Diagnostics and repair workflows for video files that stutter, refuse to seek, or fail to open entirely.
Read GuideMKV Compatibility & Playback
Codec requirements, compatible players, and conversion strategies for MKV containers.
Read GuideMP3 Corruption Repair
Recovering playable audio from damaged MP3 files and rebuilding broken headers.
Read GuideVideo Codec Compatibility
Why the same video plays on one device but not another, and how to choose a codec that works everywhere.
Read GuideArchives
Opening RAR Files
The right tools for RAR on Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile, plus what to do when extraction fails.
Read GuideRepairing Corrupted ZIP Files
Built-in repair options, alternative extractors, and rescue strategies for ZIP archives that fail to extract.
Read Guide7z Compatibility Problems
Why 7z archives sometimes refuse to open on other systems, and the safest formats for cross-platform sharing.
Read GuideMounting ISO Files
How to mount, browse and extract ISO disc images on each major operating system.
Read GuideFoundations
Understanding File Formats & Extensions
What a file extension actually represents, why renaming rarely works, and how operating systems decide what to open.
Read GuideWhy Files Get Corrupted
The most common causes of file corruption, what each one looks like, and how to reduce the risk in everyday use.
Read GuideConverting Between File Formats
Choosing a target format, picking a converter, and avoiding the quality loss that happens with the wrong settings.
Read GuideRecovering Deleted Files
What "deleted" really means on each operating system, when recovery is realistic, and the tools that actually help.
Read Guide