Resolve the invalid JPEG marker error in Adobe Photoshop

Last updated on Oct 16, 2026

Learn how to resolve the invalid JPEG marker error when opening images in Adobe Photoshop by correcting the extension or repairing the file.

When you open an image in Photoshop, one of the following errors occurs:

Could not complete your request because it is not a valid Photoshop document.
Could not complete your request because an unknown or invalid JPEG marker type is found.
Could not complete your request because the file-format module cannot parse the file.
This is not a valid Portable Document File (PDF) document. It cannot be opened.

Try the following solutions in order. After each solution, try opening the file in Photoshop before continuing.

The extension does not match the file format

Make extensions visible in your operating system.

View the file in Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows.

Check the extension at the end of the filename, such as .jpg, .psd, or .png.

If you’re unsure of the actual file type, use Determine the file type.

Right-click the file and select Rename.

Change the extension to match the actual file format.

Photoshop automatically adds the appropriate extension when you choose a format in the Save As dialog box.

Make extensions visible in your operating system if they aren’t already.

View the file in Finder on macOS or File Explorer on Windows.

Check for two extensions, such as filename.pdf.jpg.

Right-click the file and select Rename.

Remove the last extension so the filename has only the extension that matches the actual file format.

For example, if the file is a PDF, rename filename.pdf.jpg to filename.pdf.

Open the file in another photo app, such as Preview on macOS or Photos on Windows.

Select File > Export or Save As.

Choose JPEG as the format.

Save the file with a new name.

Try opening the newly saved file in Photoshop.

Copy the file to a different storage location, such as an internal hard disk.

Try opening the file from the new location.

If multiple files are affected, check the storage device for hardware problems.

For additional recovery guidance, use File recovery troubleshooting.

To avoid file format errors, use File > Save As in Photoshop and let Photoshop add the appropriate extension for the selected format.

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Fix the Adobe Photoshop invalid document error

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