How to Repair Corrupt Images Files? [Quick Methods to Repair JPEG Files]

JPEG is one of the most widely used image formats in which you can save your precious or memorable photos on multiple devices. This specific file format is known for its efficient compression and high compatibility with digital devices and software. However, sometimes due to hardware failures, interrupted transfers, system errors, or other reasons, JPEG files get corrupted.

Having a corrupt JPEG photo can be distressful but don’t worry – there are multiple photo repair software tools and techniques available to help you. This comprehensive guide explores different photo repair methods to help you learn how to fix corrupt JPEG images and best practices to prevent future corruption. 

Why Do Photos Get Corrupted?

Before you learn how to repair photos, it’s essential to understand why image files become corrupted. Some main reasons for photo corruption are:

• Interrupted File Transfer: Sudden power failures or interruptions while transferring photos between devices can result in incomplete file structures.
• File System Errors: Any problem with your computer’s file system, such as corruption or improper shutdowns, can corrupt or damage images. 
• Virus or Malware Attacks: Malicious programs like viruses or malware can damage files, making them unreadable.
• Improper Compression: Excessive compression can degrade the quality of your photo and sometimes lead to file corruption. 
• Bad Sectors on Storage Devices: If the storage devices where your photos are stored have bad sectors, they can make files inaccessible.

Common Symptoms of Image File Corruption

When your image gets corrupted, you may encounter the following symptoms on your device:

• The image might not open in any standard image viewers.
• The file appears blank or distorted
• Colour bands, pixelation, or unusual artefacts appear.
• You may get error messages such as “Invalid Image” or “File Format Not Supported.”

How do I Repair Corrupt Photos Quickly? 

Whatever is the cause for your slightly corrupt photos, there are few manual methods as well as third-party photo repair software available to restore access to those photos. Let’s discuss these methods in detail:

Method 01: Change the File Format

Sometimes, changing the image file format can help fix minor corruption issues. You can use Windows built-in Paint tool or any third-party photo viewer to change the format. Follow the below steps to change the file format using the Paint tool:

• Firstly, open your corrupt photo in Microsoft Paint.
• Now, click File > Save As and select a different file format such as PNG, BMP, or TIFF.
• Once done, try opening the newly saved file. 

Method 02: Run a CHKDSK Scan

As your JPEG images sometimes get corrupted due to file system errors, you can perform a CHKDSK (Check Disk) scan to fix such issues. This command scans the drive for corrupt file structures, missing clusters, and cross-linked files. All you have to do is:

• Press the Windows + S key and type CMD in the search box.
• Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator option.
• Now, type the command: chkdsk/r/f X (replace X with the corresponding drive letter) and press the Enter key.
• Wait for the scan to complete and then restart your PC. 

Once done, check if you are able to access the JPEG image. If not, move to the next photo repair workaround.

Method 03: Use a Third-Party Photo Repair Software

If your JPEG file still appears corrupted, use a professional photo repair software. Their are various software and online tools are available that can repair multiple type of corruptions from your photos. Some of them are:

• EaseUS Online Photo Repair
• Wondershare Repairit – Photo Repair
• Stellar Repair for Photo
• JPG.repair

Above mentioned can help you fix images that are corrupt due to color distortion, blurriness, image artefacts or more. Not only JPEG, you can repair images of several file formats, including PNG, BMP, GIF, etc.

Suggested Read - Ways To Repair Damaged and Corrupt Excel Files

Method 04: Fix JPEG Headers Using a Hex Editor

If you are still unable to open the JPEG image, then there may be something wrong with the JPEG header. Any problem with the header section of your JPEG file can prevent it from accessing or opening correctly. In such a case, it’s important to fix this damaged header. 

Before you proceed with this method to repair corrupt JPEG photos, it is important to back up the original files. Follow the below steps to fix JPEG headers using a hex editor:

• Download and install a hex editor tool like HxD (Windows) or 010 Editor (Windows & macOS).
• Launch the hex editor and open the corrupt JPEG file which you need to repair. 
• If the file starts with the bytes ‘FF D8’, it is a JPEG image. In case the bytes are missing or altered, the header is corrupted.
• You can open a working JPEG file in another tab and copy the first 20-30 bytes over the damaged header in the corrupt file. 

Once done, save the modified JPEG images and try opening them in an image viewer. 

Best Practices to Avoid Photo Corruption

While the above-mentioned methods are quite easy to implement, prevention is always better. You can consider below preventive tips to avoid photo corruption from your end: 

• Regular Backups: Create multiple copies of your important photos on external drives or cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox). 
• Avoid Interrupting Transfers: JPEG corruption can occur due to unexpected system shutdown. To avoid such instances, ensure an uninterrupted power supply during file transfers.
• Use Antivirus Protection: Install a reliable antivirus software to scan storage devices regularly for viruses or malware.
• Eject Devices Properly: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option before removing storage devices from your PC.

Wrapping Up

Photo corruption can be distressful, but with the aforementioned tools and techniques, you can successfully recover your valuable photos. Whatever is the reason for your photo corruption, you can easily repair photos using the above manual solutions like file conversion, using advanced photo repair software, or applying expert-level techniques like hex editing. 

More importantly, you can adopt preventive measures such as maintaining regular backups, using a reliable antivirus software, etc. to safeguard your images from corruption in the future.