Markup in Files on iPadOS corrupting PDFs

I have the same experience. I didn’t do anything suspicious. I just edited the files as usual, then suddenly one day after editing, the file went corrupted. So sad at that moment because it took me 1 month to go from just a few MB to nearly 1GB. I called Apple Support with the only purpose is to find solution to recover the file. But no helpful solution is given. I accepted the fact that I lost the file. So disappointed because i had just bought an iPad recently just to note everything for my studying, but if the files keeps corrupting like this, i don’t know what i buy an iPad for.

I have had several very unhelpful conversations with Apple support in the last 24 hours over this very issue! I feel like they have been gaslighting me about my corrupted files and the fact that they went missing. They seem to think that I’ve just deleted them by mistake. Glad to see I’m not the only one! I did not experience this issue until the most recent change to the markup toolbar. I will definitely be looking for a different application to annotate my files from now on. Disappointed in Apple on this one!

This has happened to me several times in the last 24 hours. I've lost at least five hours of work. The problem was non-existent until the operating system updated the other day, and now my PDF files are consistently being corrupted. Additionally, it pauses every few minutes to save, which is also impeding my progress. I am working under deadline and am beyond frustrated by this situation. I purchased the iPad specifically for the purpose of marking up PDFs with the Apple pen. Frankly, between this and recent changes to the pen's weight, I'm losing confidence.

Im a doctor who took notes on the ipad, on pdfs using markup, but now all the files are corrupted and not opening , ive lost notes for two days worth of classes, and its so much work down the drain. Apple really needs to find a solution for this. Kindly email me with a response

The same thing has happened to me twice now - once in October last year and now again - both times after hours of writing (eg 4-5 full days of being on a course).

In one instance I was using a year-old pdf doc which already had notes and it got corrupted too. The doc size decreased instantly from eg 800 MB to 65 MB.

Hey guys! I recently suffered from this incident while working with markup over a PDF. I could not retrieve the PDF since it would not be shared or opened from another app such as One Drive or Books. However, I was able to open the file by grabbing it and moving it to the top of the screen as if I was to split screen with that file, and somehow it opened. I was able to do this with my iPad 10th gen running on iPadOS 17.5.1. Besides from this "trick" I had recently forced restarted it which did not help. Hope it works for you!

Begin with a forced-restart of your iPad - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

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.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

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

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad for faults - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Hh

I have had multiple pdf files that I downloaded in Books and then edit with highlight and my Apple pen go corrupt. I literally lose hours of editing. It’s so frustrating. Happens to at least 10 % of the files I work on. Apple needs to fix this or I’ll have to recommend everyone to look for other products from other companies.

DrAnuchand wrote:

Im a doctor who took notes on the ipad, on pdfs using markup, but now all the files are corrupted and not opening , ive lost notes for two days worth of classes, and its so much work down the drain. Apple really needs to find a solution for this. Kindly email me with a response

Perhaps understand the Apple Support Community is a user-to-user technical forum. Contributors here are all end-users, just like you. Other than the site Moderators, Apple neither monitor nor participate here.

As such, if you anticipate reaching Apple through these forums, you will be sadly disappointed. Nobody will contact you via email in response to anything that you post within this Community.

You might be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page.

Alternatively, you can initiate and manage your support cases from Apple devices using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

forced restart worked for me, thank you

edit: never mind, no it didn't

I lost everything. They should find a solution asap!

Apple, really disappointing . A week before my exam I’ve lost my file. Seriously this is your service? Not only once today after 1 month of my exam I lost another pdf . First it used to happen with Books and now the pdf reader has itself claimed it to be a a corrupt file? What the **** is this ?