Level 8

41,390 points

Pages won't open document

We are getting an increased number of users all with files that refuse to open in Pages 5, particularly Pages 5.1.

I have gone over several of them and been unable to correct the problem, only able to open the Document.iwa sub file in the package to look at the mix of text snippets and I presume .xml.

Apple reportedly has also examined these and been unable to rectify them.

To aid some kind of resolution I ask that users who have had the problem post here, detailing the last things they did with the file and whether there is anything particular to the files that may be leading to the problem.

Particularly relevant would be where and how the files were last saved.

Are they being transferred or backed up to iCloud?

Are you using 3rd party syching or backup solutions like DropBox?

Are they being re-edited on iDevices, iWork for iCloud beta or back and forth from Word .doc?

Were there any preceeding warnings or difficulties of any kind with the document?

Or anything else you can think of.

Thank you,

Peter

Posted on Mar 19, 2014 5:37 PM

181 replies

Jemsar2

Level 1

4 points

Feb 2, 2018 10:07 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

I have only created 2 pages documents ever on my iPhone and both will not open. They are on local storage only. I tap to open and nothing happens.

Sep 9, 2017 9:41 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

as of recently, can not open word docs in pages. previously they opened just fine. PDF's open - these would be docs that were created in pages and then converted to pdf and will now not open in original form. I am dead in the water today trying to update a resume! HELP

Oct 23, 2017 1:56 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

I have and iPad Air 2. I believe the problem started after it updated the last time. I just updated it again last night to iOS 11.0.3 hoping that it might correct the problem but it did not. Many of my files just have the pages symbol on them and will not open. My September 2015 to May 2016 files will not open. Most of these documents were created in Pages. I click on these files and nothing happens. It does not give me options to open it in another program. I just had my husband send me a file through airdrop and it opens but the files sent to me, used to show a miniature version of themselves on the thumb nail, but the most recent ones just have the Pages symbol on them, which makes me think that I cannot open them since that is what is on all of my other files that do not open. This seems to only happen with files sent to me. I would love to fix this if possible.

Plus, I tried to create a document yesterday and when I click on Create Document it does not automatically pop up name this file, when I tried to tap on the word Blank at the top, like I used to do it would not go to the name so that I could rename it. So, I forgot to rename it and today when I looked for my document it did not save anything that I had written. It is just a blank document. I was reading some of the other posts and they talked about saving the document, but my Pages never gives me this option, am I missing something?

Also is there anyway to close the browse section that seems to be permanently open along the left side of the page? It is quite irritating when I want to type a document for the browse section not to go away so that my document can take up the whole screen like I am used to.

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,390 points

Nov 30, 2017 7:56 AM in response to SylvieOrp

The two Apps, one for macOS and the other for iOS, are two separate programs running on different platforms. They do not have the same version numbers.

The thing they should share is the same file format for their documents.

Peter

whp_uk

Level 1

4 points

Dec 1, 2017 12:21 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

I am suffering from the same issue. A document previously created on my iPhone and never moved from my iPhone now won't open on the iPhone. I've previously only edited and printed the document on the iPhone, but now it refuses to open. I can create other documents, but being unable to open an existing file has me flummoxed and irritated. I've done the usual regarding shutting down the phone. I have not tried deleting pages because I've never backed my files up to the cloud.

Thanks for any available help!

Dec 2, 2017 12:47 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

It’s a file I made with pages.

11.1.2. Are you going to tell me I have to update to use my iPhone now?:-) anytime an update is available sometime has to stop working...

I’ve been using my iPhone to open the pages file I update it every 6 weeks.

imtammy

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2017 2:55 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

The last time I used pages I was trying to name the files and that wouldn't work anymore. Now it will let me name them, but I cannot open so I have not Idea what is in the file. So frustrating! Any advise.

imtammy

Level 1

4 points

Dec 3, 2017 3:45 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Since I wasn’t able to change a name or do anything to the file but write it I don’t feel this is my problem. I didn’t change the Extension at all. When I clicked to change the name nothing happened. Now none of them open not even files from 6 months ago that I didn’t try to change a name on.

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,390 points

Jan 2, 2018 4:58 PM in response to Tim Holloway

“Early Autumn”?

Since March? why have you waited till now to do something?

iWorks ‘09 works on all OSes back to Snow Leopard, but Apple has made it totally incompatible with recent versions of iOS.

Apple does not think on subjects it doesn’t care about, like user’s work or productivity, or hardware incompatibilities or overheating or bad industrial design, or the cost of anything to do with Apple especially maintaining products...

Peter

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,390 points

Jan 7, 2018 8:09 PM in response to Nonetechy

We don't know your exact setup or circumstances, you need to tell us.

It may not be what the other users are reporting here.

Start with what version of Pages, on what version of MacOS, where you are saving the file to and whether you are having problems opening and saving any other documents in other Apps.

Peter

nbasheer

Level 1

4 points

Feb 2, 2018 8:13 PM in response to PeterBreis0807

Are they being transferred or backed up to iCloud? NO

Are you using 3rd party syching or backup solutions like DropBox? YES

Are they being re-edited on iDevices, iWork for iCloud beta or back and forth from Word .doc? Back and forth from word .doc YES

Were there any preceeding warnings or difficulties of any kind with the document? NO

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,390 points

Feb 7, 2018 1:37 AM in response to colinwright1

When you renamed the file did you change its file extension?

The Files App does not open files something else opened it. If so what?

And are you saying Pages can not find the document, or are saying you can find it but something is stopping you opening it? If so what is the point of non-opening?

Peter

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,390 points

Jul 27, 2017 11:07 PM in response to Mirtilla

You were writing a book on an iPhone!?! Definition of insanity!

I asked about the file size because that would tell us if the size was right for the type of document and its content. Too small and it is obviously damaged or empty.

iOS automatically saves to its own internal storage and if you have iCloud it synchs that with the iCloud version. So they all become the same. If the file is damaged anywhere, they are all damaged.

It is extremely risky because if anything goes wrong, you lose everything.

I honestly don't know how you can rescue anything. With iOS it either works or it doesn't inside a blackbox, and not sure even Apple knows everything that is going on inside.

I am very sorry but I spend a lot of time warning people to NOT do what you have done for all these reasons.

Your only hope, a slim one, is if someone in the iOS forum has a suggestion:

iWork for iOS

Peter

PeterBreis0807 Author

Level 8

41,390 points

Sep 9, 2017 2:20 PM in response to cathyshaughnessy

Pages does not open pdf files. pdf files are generally not editable.

Peter

Oct 6, 2017 6:17 AM in response to PeterBreis0807

I tried to move pages documents

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Pages won't open document