Error 109 appears in Adobe Acrobat or Reader when the software encounters a problem reading or processing a PDF file. You'll typically see messages like "There was a problem reading this document (109)" when opening, saving, printing, or exporting a PDF.
This error almost always indicates file-level corruption—not a problem with your Acrobat installation.
Corrupted PDF file — Incomplete downloads, interrupted saves, or storage issues
Embedded image problems — Damaged or improperly compressed images
Font embedding issues — Missing or corrupted fonts on specific pages
Incomplete download — File transfer was interrupted before completion
PDF creation software bugs — The original application created a malformed file
Security/encryption conflicts — Corrupted password protection or DRM
Download the PDF again from the original source. Ensure the download completes fully without interruption.
Try Foxit Reader, SumatraPDF, Chrome, Edge, or Mac Preview. If it opens, re-save from that application.
Go to Help → Check for Updates and install any available patches.
Open the file → File → Print → Select "Adobe PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF" → Save as new file.
iLovePDF (ilovepdf.com/repair-pdf)
Sejda (sejda.com/repair-pdf)
PDF2Go (pdf2go.com/repair-pdf)
Note: Don't upload sensitive documents to online services.
Stellar Repair for PDF
DataNumen PDF Repair
PDF Repair Toolbox
gs -o repaired.pdf -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -dPDFSETTINGS=/prepress input.pdf
Windows: Delete contents of %appdata%\Adobe\Acrobat\Preferences Mac: Remove com.adobe.Acrobat files from ~/Library/Preferences
Ask the sender for the original document or a freshly exported PDF/A version.
Wait for downloads to complete fully
Use stable internet connections for large files
Create PDFs using PDF/A format for important documents
Embed fonts instead of using system fonts
Keep backups in multiple locations
Can Error 109 cause permanent data loss? No—the error means Acrobat can't read the file, but your content is usually recoverable with repair tools.
Why does Error 109 appear only when saving? Acrobat performs stricter validation when saving than when opening, catching issues the initial load process ignored.
Does this error affect all pages? Often it's triggered by a specific corrupted element on one page. Use print-to-PDF with page ranges to isolate the problem.
Try our free PDF Error 109 diagnostic tool: Access the Interactive Troubleshooter
PDF Won't Open — Complete Guide — Reader compatibility, file associations, and encryption issues
PDF File Corrupted — Recovery Methods — File structure repair and 0KB error fixes
PDF Not Printing — Hardware and Setup — Connections, ink/toner, basic printer configuration
PDF Printing Error — Error Codes — Spooler crashes, driver conflicts, specific error resolution
PDF Stuck in Print Queue — 60-Second Fix — Clear stuck jobs instantly
Get Live Tech Support — Connect with a certified specialist who can troubleshoot your specific file.
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