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bob_1765
January 19, 2026
Answered

Files missing

  • January 19, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 51 views

My Acrobat app on my Ipad pro was crashing . I had no idea what to do so I looked at the Adobe community forum and it recommended to remove the app and re-install. While uninstalling the app there was a notice that all data would not be removed. I assumed it was telling me the truth. Unfortunately that does not seem to be the case as all files are gone.  Please do not respond that all files should be in the Acrobat cloud, i dont use it, and when things go there I take them off (not your business what files i have) 

Why did your system give that notice and then remove all the files? 

The files went back years - this is not about me deleting them it is about your servce telling me they would not be deleted and they are. 

how do I recover files that you said would remain resident on my machine.

 

 

. 

Correct answer Amal.

Hi there 

 

Hope you are doing well, and sorry to hear about the experience. Losing long-term files is incredibly frustrating.

 

On iPadOS, when you uninstall an app, iOS itself can display a message that data won't be removed. However, for many apps (including Acrobat), local documents stored inside the app’s sandbox are deleted when the app is removed, unless they were:

  • Exported to Files (iCloud Drive, On My iPad, etc.)

  • Synced to Adobe Cloud or another cloud service

  • Backed up in iTunes/Finder backups

So the message you saw likely came from iPadOS, not Acrobat specifically, and unfortunately, it doesn’t guarantee preservation of in-app files.

 

Check if the iPad has a backup. If you ever backed up the device with:

  • iCloud Backup
  • Finder/iTunes Backup

Before uninstalling Acrobat, restoring that backup can bring the app’s documents back.


Path to check iCloud Backup:
Settings > Your Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Backups (select device) > Check last backup date

If that date is before the uninstall, files are likely in that backup.

 

Hope this information will help.

 

~Amal

1 reply

Amal.
Amal.Correct answer
Legend
January 19, 2026

Hi there 

 

Hope you are doing well, and sorry to hear about the experience. Losing long-term files is incredibly frustrating.

 

On iPadOS, when you uninstall an app, iOS itself can display a message that data won't be removed. However, for many apps (including Acrobat), local documents stored inside the app’s sandbox are deleted when the app is removed, unless they were:

  • Exported to Files (iCloud Drive, On My iPad, etc.)

  • Synced to Adobe Cloud or another cloud service

  • Backed up in iTunes/Finder backups

So the message you saw likely came from iPadOS, not Acrobat specifically, and unfortunately, it doesn’t guarantee preservation of in-app files.

 

Check if the iPad has a backup. If you ever backed up the device with:

  • iCloud Backup
  • Finder/iTunes Backup

Before uninstalling Acrobat, restoring that backup can bring the app’s documents back.


Path to check iCloud Backup:
Settings > Your Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Backup > Backups (select device) > Check last backup date

If that date is before the uninstall, files are likely in that backup.

 

Hope this information will help.

 

~Amal

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