Troubleshooting and Restoring .PDF Files After System Glitches

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .PDF file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2025.

Troubleshooting and Restoring .PDF Files After System Glitches
Data Recovery Tool

What is a .PDF file?

A PDF file is a multi-platform document created by Adobe Acrobat or another PDF application. The PDF format is commonly used for saving documents and publications in a standard format that can be viewed on multiple platforms. In many cases, PDF files are created from existing documents instead of from scratch.

What Are Common Causes of ".PDF" Files Lost or Failure?

There are several common causes of ".PDF" files being lost or failing:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may mistakenly delete ".PDF" files while organizing their files or cleaning up their storage.
  2. File corruption: ".PDF" files can become corrupted due to various reasons such as improper saving, system crashes, or interrupted file transfers.
  3. Virus or malware attacks: Malicious software can infect ".PDF" files and render them inaccessible or cause them to be deleted.
  4. Software or hardware issues: Incompatibility between software versions, bugs, or hardware failures can lead to ".PDF" file loss or failure.
  5. Power outages: Sudden power outages while working on ".PDF" files can result in data loss or corruption.
  6. Storage device failure: If the storage device where ".PDF" files are stored (such as hard drive, USB drive, or cloud storage) fails, it can lead to the loss of files.
  7. Human error: Mistakes made by users, such as accidental formatting of storage devices or improper handling of files, can cause ".PDF" file loss.
  8. Operating system issues: Problems with the operating system, such as crashes or errors, can result in ".PDF" file loss or failure.
  9. Network issues: Issues with network connections or interruptions during file transfers can lead to ".PDF" file loss or corruption.
  10. Software glitches: Errors or glitches in PDF reader software or other related applications can cause ".PDF" files to fail or become inaccessible.

How to recover lost ".PDF" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".PDF" file may be deleted.

Go to view
🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".PDF" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".PDF" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".PDF" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 5.0
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".PDF" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".PDF" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo portable Document Format File image file file?

Programs that open ".PDF" files

Windows
File Viewer Plus File Viewer Plus
Adobe Acrobat DC Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Microsoft Word 2019 Microsoft Word 2019
Nitro Pro 12 Nitro Pro 12
Foxit Reader Foxit Reader
IMSI TurboPDF IMSI TurboPDF
Corel WordPerfect X9 Corel WordPerfect X9
Nuance Power PDF Standard Nuance Power PDF Standard
LibreOffice LibreOffice
Icecream PDF Converter Icecream PDF Converter
Web browser Web browser
Mac
Apple Preview Apple Preview
Adobe Acrobat DC Adobe Acrobat DC
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
Apple Pages Apple Pages
Microsoft Word 2019 Microsoft Word 2019
Solid PDF to Word Solid PDF to Word
LibreOffice LibreOffice
Smile PDFpenPro Smile PDFpenPro
Web browser Web browser
Linux
KPDF KPDF
KDE Okular KDE Okular
Evince Evince
PDFedit PDFedit
LibreOffice LibreOffice
Web browser Web browser
Web
Google Drive Google Drive
Microsoft OneDrive Microsoft OneDrive
iOS
Apple Books Apple Books
Apple Pages Apple Pages
Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader
Infraware Polaris Office Infraware Polaris Office
Good.iWare GoodReader Good.iWare GoodReader
MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro
Google Drive Google Drive
Android
File Viewer for Android File Viewer for Android
Adobe Reader Adobe Reader
Google Play Books Google Play Books
Kingsoft WPS Office for Android Kingsoft WPS Office for Android
Google Drive Google Drive

Additional Information

  • File type: Portable Document Format File

  • File extension: .PDF

  • Developer: Adobe Systems

  • Category: Page Layout Files

  • Format: Binary

  • Mime-type: application/pdf

  • HEX: 25 50 44 46 2D

  • ASCII: %PDF-

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 15:04 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .PDF files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What does the acronym "PDF" stand for, and what is the purpose of a PDF file format?

    The acronym "PDF" stands for Portable Document Format. The purpose of a PDF file format is to allow documents to be viewed and shared across different operating systems, software, and devices while preserving their formatting. PDF files are designed to be independent of the software, hardware, and operating systems used to create or view them, ensuring that the document will appear the same to all users. PDF files can contain text, images, graphics, and other elements, making them suitable for a wide range of documents such as reports, forms, manuals, and ebooks. Additionally, PDF files can be secured with passwords and encryption to protect sensitive information.

  • What are the common methods to open a PDF file on different devices and operating systems?

    There are several common methods to open a PDF file on different devices and operating systems:

    1. Adobe Acrobat Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free software available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. It is one of the most widely used PDF readers and offers a comprehensive set of features for viewing and interacting with PDF files.
    2. Web Browsers: Most modern web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge, have built-in PDF viewers. Simply double-clicking on a PDF file or opening it within the browser should display the PDF content.
    3. Preview (macOS): macOS includes a built-in application called Preview that can open and view PDF files. Users can simply double-click on a PDF file, or right-click and choose "Open With" Preview.
    4. Microsoft Edge (Windows 10): Windows 10 comes with Microsoft Edge as the default web browser, which also acts as a PDF viewer. Double-clicking on a PDF file or opening it within Microsoft Edge should display the PDF content.
    5. Third-party PDF readers: Besides Adobe Acrobat Reader, there are several other third-party PDF readers available for different operating systems. Some popular examples include Foxit Reader, Nitro Reader, and Sumatra PDF.
    6. Mobile Apps: For mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, there are various PDF reader apps available. Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit PDF Reader, and Xodo PDF Reader & Editor are commonly used on both iOS and Android platforms.
    7. Online PDF viewers: There are online platforms, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive, that allow you to upload and view PDF files directly in your web browser without requiring any additional software.

    It's important to note that the availability and functionality of these methods may vary depending on the device, operating system, and the version of the software being used.

  • Are there any specific software or applications required to open a PDF file, or can it be accessed using built-in tools on various platforms?

    PDF files can be accessed using built-in tools on various platforms. Most modern operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux, have built-in PDF viewers that allow you to open and view PDF files without the need for any additional software. These built-in viewers often provide basic functionality like viewing, printing, and searching within the PDF document.

    However, for more advanced features like editing, annotating, or converting PDF files, you may need to use third-party software or applications. There are numerous PDF reader and editor applications available, both free and paid, that offer additional functionalities beyond what the built-in tools provide. Some popular examples include Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit Reader, and Nitro PDF Reader.

    Additionally, web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge also have built-in PDF viewers, allowing you to open and view PDF files directly within the browser without the need for any separate software.
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