PDF file missing in Files Manager

You should be able to just press once on that Spotlight found PDF and it should just open in Adobe Acrobat Reader (if installed on iPadOS), or another PDF reader or Editor. There is no default Apple PDF reader on iPadOS and you will need a proper PDF Editor if your goal is to change any original content in that PDF.

Exact same issue for me here too. I can search for missing pdf that was stored locally on my iPad file but I can’t open it. This happened after my iPad automatically updated my iPad Air (4th generation) to iOS 17.5.1.

A PDF file disappeared in Files Manager while drawing in a notes file using the Apple Pencil. The file just suddenly curled up and disappeared from the folder in which it was located and now it is neither in the folder nor in the “recently deleted” folder. The only mention of it is in the "Recent" category, but I can't copy it or move it. File Manager simply cannot find its location in the properties. I worked on an iPad 9genration

Have you tried the iPadOS 17 Spotlight search field above the icon dock? Enter kind:pdf.

Hi, did you figure out how to access your missing files ? I've got the same problem; I could see them in the research bar, but couldn't open them. I restarted my iPad and now they are gone.

i have exactly the same situation now ! could you recover the pdf files again?

No not me. Still waiting, they are suppose to call me back on Friday.

I have the same problem

and i had it before too

im getting nervous about my other files and i need the missing pne back.

Isn’t anybody responsible for that?

I have the exact same issue. Did you find any solutions?

Dis you received their call? Did they fix the issue?