Missing files in iPad's Files App

It seems there is a severe bug in iPadOS 17 with the Files app and PDF files with image layers (the stuff written with an Apple Pencil is added as an image layer to a PDF). I've started to use the Documents app https://apps.apple.com/us/app/documents-file-manager-vpn/id364901807.

It's pretty easy to backup/copy the annotated PDFs to Google Drive, Dropbox, Box or OneDrive.

Yo i’m just happy I found this thread jk. I was straight up gaslighting myself thinking i didn’t transfer those files. BUT THEY LITERALLY JUST DISAPPEARED

the exact thing happed to me. it was a 1gb file that I needed to study for school. I even tried to connect it to my Mac and use a 3rd party to find it in the root files but I still cannot find it. it seems like iOS has requested it into the system data and cannot release it no matter what I do.

After waiting 3 days for them to call me back, I had others tests to do over the phone, they are going to call me back again on monday. It's never ending. Now the files aren't visibles anymore. I think they are forever lost.

It happened with me too. Initially I thought that there must be storage issue so I purchased iCloud. But the problem still persists. I have lost some really important files on which I had put hours to highlight and annotate with notes. I have an exam coming and now I have no idea what to do. The apple support says that this is the first time they have heard this type of issue and is blaming me that I must have deleted those files. This is pathetic and disheartening. Someone please suggest a solution to recover those files

Having myself updated to iPadOS17, I've not seen or been able to replicate your issue. As such, you may have been unlucky and have suffered a glitch specific to your iPad.

Your next step is to remove and reinstall the Pages App. Assuming that you wish to keep your documents, don't delete the Pages App; instead, you'll need to offload the Pages App. Offloading deletes just the App - and preserves the associated App data/documents.

Before proceeding, as a precaution, ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup of your iPad:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are confident that your backup has been created or refreshed, you can offload Pages:

Settings > General > iPad Storage -

Scroll down the list of installed Apps to find Pages - tap - then select Offload App.

Next, perform a restart of your iPad:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
3. Press and hold the top button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

Force restart iPad (models with the Home button)

Press and hold the top button and the Home button at the same time. When the Apple logo appears, release both buttons.

After restarting your iPad, you can reinstall the Pages App from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/pages/id361309726

Can you say which third party app? Don’t want anyone to get in trouble if answering violates any rules.

STILL no reply from apple, nearly 5 months on? This is wild. There are more threads in other forums detailing the same problem.

Data loss is completely unacceptable. The same thing happened to me. I lost about 5 PDF files that were annotated using an Apple Pencil.

It's only $9.95/mo if you need the VPN and PDF file conversion. It's free to manage and annotate PDF files.

Have you tried opening the associated documents from their original location/path - instead of from Recents?

Opening documents from the documents actual location may refresh the symbolic links that you see within the Recents folder

I wish that I saw this post way earlier. I lost all my clients’ pdf with their signatures and details. I’m so upset with Apple and how could they not able to resolve this issue for such a long period of time? I’m so disappointed with Apple.

Hey everyone! I spent hours with Apple Support and this is what worked for me:

1. Download everything that you still have that isn’t deleted to another computer or upload it to google drive
2. Go to settings and erase all data (trust in this) - make sure you download anything important beforehand
3. When the iPad turns back on, sign into iCloud and it should give you the option to restore a backup of your iPad, something that can only be done after erasing all current data.
4. it should give an option to restore back to a date when you had all the data.
5. choose that option and wait until ALL the iCloud data is finished downloading to check.

Yes, I know it sounds counterintuitive but it was the only way to get my data back that was deleted. It restored me back to a backup where all my files were there.

hope this works for y’all!

I spent hours with Apple Support and this is what worked for me:

1. Download everything that you still have that isn’t deleted to another computer or upload it to google drive
2. Go to settings and erase all data (trust in this) - make sure you download anything important beforehand
3. When the iPad turns back on, sign into iCloud and it should give you the option to restore a backup of your iPad, something that can only be done after erasing all current data.
4. it should give an option to restore back to a date when you had all the data.
5. choose that option and wait until ALL the iCloud data is finished downloading to check.

Yes, I know it sounds counterintuitive but it was the only way to get my data back that was deleted. It restored me back to a backup where all my files were there.

hope this works for you!