PDF Page Numbers & Repair — Add Numbering or Fix a Broken PDF
Add clean page numbers to any PDF — choose the position and starting number — and get a freshly re-saved file back. Re-saving through a clean PDF library also fixes certain minor structural issues some PDFs pick up (non-standard internal references, leftover metadata bloat) that can otherwise confuse some viewers.
How to use this tool
- Drop or choose your PDF.
- Pick where the number should sit and what number to start counting from.
- Choose a format — plain numbers, 'Page N', or 'N of total'.
- Press Add page numbers and download the result — a freshly re-saved, cleaned copy of your PDF.
Frequently asked questions
Can this fix a corrupted PDF?
It can fix minor structural issues — non-standard cross-reference tables, redundant objects — since re-saving rebuilds the file cleanly through pdf-lib. It can't recover a PDF that's severely corrupted, truncated, or password-encrypted; those need a different, more specialized repair approach.
Can I restart numbering partway through a document?
Not in one pass currently — this applies one continuous sequence starting from your chosen number across all pages. For mixed numbering (e.g. roman numerals for a preface, then 1, 2, 3…), split the PDF first, number each part separately, then merge.
Will this remove existing page numbers already in the PDF?
No — it adds new numbers on top; it doesn't detect or remove numbers that were part of the original page content. If your PDF already has printed numbers, check the position you choose doesn't overlap.
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No — everything runs in your browser via pdf-lib. Your file never leaves your device.