A PDF will not open
When a PDF refuses to open, the cause is almost always one of four things. Each has a different fix, so it is worth spending a minute finding out which one you have.
Updated September 28, 20263 min read
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The download did not finish
A download that was cut short leaves a file with the right name but missing its end. The file size is often suspiciously small. Download it again — ideally on a steady connection — before trying anything else.
It asks for a password, or opens blank
A PDF with an open password shows a password prompt in most readers; some browser viewers simply show nothing. Ask the sender for the password. Once you have it, Unlock PDF can remove it so the file opens everywhere.
It is not really a PDF
A file can end in “.pdf” and be something else — a Word document, an image or a web page saved with the wrong name. If DocuGrip says the file “does not look like a valid PDF”, this is the likely cause. Opening it in the program that made it, or renaming it back to its real type, usually works.
The file is damaged
Files can be damaged by a failed save, a faulty USB stick or an email gateway that altered the attachment. Repair PDF rebuilds the file’s internal index and recovers what it can. It cannot bring back pages whose data is gone, so keep the original.
- Open Repair PDF and add the damaged file.
- Download the repaired copy and open it.
- If pages are missing, ask the sender for a fresh copy.
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Frequently asked questions
Still stuck?
Write to support@docugrip.com with what you tried and what you saw. A person reads every message.