FixMyFile.ai – Frequently Asked Questions

FixMyFile.ai is a free, no-login tool that attempts to repair, convert, and compress files using automated pipelines. You upload a file, we run a series of repair and conversion steps, and then you download the result.

We operate on an optional donation model to keep the service running. Donations are never required to use the tool.

Video (most common)

These cover most phone, camera, and editing exports, including iPhone / iOS recordings.

Audio

Images

Documents & Archives

If your file type isn’t listed, you can still try uploading it. The system will attempt to detect and route it, but results may be less predictable.

Examples of problems we can often improve:

• Video files that won’t open after a crash or bad copy
• Broken or missing container headers (e.g., MP4/MOV won’t play)
• Files that play in one player but not another
• Audio/video with incorrect duration or “frozen” last frame
• Simple PDF or image corruption where structure is mostly intact
• Files that need conversion to more standard formats (e.g., MOV → MP4)
• Files that are too big to send and need smart compression

What FixMyFile.ai cannot do:

• Recover content from files that are mostly zeros or completely overwritten
• Undo deep physical damage (e.g., failing hard drive sectors)
• Reconstruct content that was never recorded or saved
• Bypass encryption, DRM, or password protection
• Guarantee that a specific frame, page, or segment will be repaired

We focus on structural and container-level repair, smart conversion, and compression. If the underlying media or data is destroyed, no tool can fully restore it.

Size limits

In practice, most users have the best experience with files up to around 2 GB per upload. Larger files may still work, but:

• Your browser and connection become the main bottleneck
• Upload and download times increase significantly
• Timeouts are more likely if your network is unstable

If your technical setup uses a different internal limit, this number may be adjusted over time.

Typical processing times

• Small files (images, short audio): usually seconds
• Medium files (most phone videos, small PDFs): typically under a few minutes
• Very large or complex files: can take several minutes or more

Times depend heavily on file size, corruption level, and how busy the system is.

Do you keep my files?

No. Files are stored temporarily so we can attempt repair or conversion, and are designed to be automatically deleted from our active systems within roughly 24 hours after processing completes.

For full details, see the Privacy Policy. If the implementation uses a different retention period, that will be reflected there.

Do you use my files to train AI models?

No. We do not use individual user files as training data for unrelated AI models. Files are processed solely to provide repair, conversion, and compression for you.

Can other users see my files?

No. Repaired files are prepared only for the user who uploaded them and are never listed or shared publicly.

Sometimes a file is too damaged, incomplete, or heavily encrypted for our pipelines to fix. When this happens, you may see an error in the AI Repair Console or the status area on the main page.

Common reasons for a failed repair include:

• The file was never fully recorded or saved (power loss, crash, dead battery)
• The data region is mostly destroyed or overwritten
• The file is in an unsupported or proprietary format
• The file is password-protected or encrypted

You are always free to try again with another copy of the file or a smaller clip/export, but no repair is guaranteed.

No. Donations are completely optional and do not unlock hidden features, premium modes, or higher-priority processing. FixMyFile.ai is built as a free tool first.

Donations help cover storage, compute, and development costs so the service can stay online and improve over time.

FixMyFile.ai is operated by the creator behind the project and associated business entity. For contact details, questions about data, or suggestions for improvement, please visit the Contact & Suggestions page. That page includes simple links you can use to email questions, bug reports, or ideas.