Corrupt a Photoshop File Online
Corrupt a Photoshop (.psd) file online for free. Destroys the 8BPS header and layer records so Photoshop cannot open or recover the document.
- No upload
- No size limit
- No sign-up
Corrupt your Photoshop file
Tuned for .psd, .psb, and works with every other format too.
Why Photoshop files are hard to corrupt properly
A PSD stores a flattened composite alongside the full layer stack, which is why partially damaged files often still open, Photoshop falls back to the composite and discards the layers. Breaking a PSD properly means destroying the header both depend on.
What this tool destroys
- The 8BPS signature. The file header declaring dimensions, colour mode and channel count is destroyed.
- 8BIM resource blocks. The image resource blocks holding guides, paths, colour profiles and the thumbnail are overwritten.
- The layer and mask section. The record describing every layer, blend mode and mask loses its structure.
- Image data. Entropy scattered through the compressed channel data destroys the flattened composite as well.
What you will see afterwards
| Application | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Adobe Photoshop | "Could not complete your request because the file is not compatible." |
| GIMP / Affinity Photo | Reports an unsupported or damaged PSD and refuses to import. |
| macOS Preview | No thumbnail is generated and the file will not open. |
| Bridge / Lightroom | Shows a generic icon with no preview. |
Common reasons people do this
- Testing that a design asset pipeline validates uploads.
- Verifying a PSD parsing library fails safely rather than allocating unbounded memory.
- Creating a damaged file for a creative-workflow backup demonstration.
- Checking that an asset management system reports corruption on ingest.
How to corrupt a Photoshop file
- Drop your .psd file onto the box above, or click to browse.
- Leave the level on Standard unless you want partial damage (Light) or need to defeat recovery software (Heavy).
- Press Corrupt file. Processing happens on your device, so it finishes almost immediately.
- Download the result. It keeps the original filename and byte length by default.
Photoshop FAQ
Will Photoshop recover the layers?
No. At Standard level the header, resource blocks and layer section are all destroyed, so there is no structure left to read.
Does the flattened preview survive?
No. The composite is stored in the same file and is scattered along with everything else.
Does it work on large PSB files?
Yes. PSB uses the same structure with wider offsets, and files are processed in slices so size is not a problem.
Are linked smart objects affected?
Only if they are embedded. Externally linked files are separate and untouched.