PDF suddenly disappeared

Try logging into icloud on your browser. Scroll to the bottom where it says "Data Recovery." Click that. Then choose "Restore Files" on the next page. You should see your missing files. SUPER ANNOYING, and unacceptable, but I was at least able to find my files there.

Same thing happened to me. I worked on my files last night, woke up this morning, opened the folder, and watched the two pdf files I had annotated with my Apple Pencil disappear. The folder says it was last updated at the time I stopped working, but all the remaining files (that I hadn’t worked on) show the download date.

This solution doesn’t work, but when I logged into iCloud and clicked on “Data Recovery” (NOT “recently deleted”) I saw my missing files and was able to restore them.

Hi Ig4199,

Thank you for participating in the Apple Support Communities. We understand you're missing 3 PDF files you had in iCloud Drive. You can try recovering them on the iCloud website by following the steps here: Recover deleted files on iCloud.com.

"On iCloud.com, you can recover files deleted from both iCloud Drive and other apps within the last 30 days, whether you deleted them on iCloud.com or another device that has iCloud Drive turned on. However, you can’t recover or restore files you permanently remove.

Recover files deleted from iCloud Drive or iWork apps

1. In iCloud Drive on iCloud.com, click Recently Deleted in the sidebar.
2. Click Recover All, or select each file you want to recover, then click Recover.

Recover files deleted from other apps

1. On iCloud.com, click  in the toolbar, then click Data Recovery.
2. Click Restore Files.
3. Select each file you want to restore, or select Select All.
4. Click Restore.

Look for your recovered files in the folders they were in when you deleted them. For example, if a file was in the Pages folder when you deleted it, look for the recovered file in the Pages folder."

If you need further assistance, contact Apple Support here: Get Support

Take care.

There is no solution for this problem; Apple just deletes PDFs through the updating. But only those files where you use Magic Pencil. Make a backup - that was the answer after two hours of walking around.

How is this even possible?????? I lost PDF files I annotated since January! The files are not in my iPad or iCloud, or deleted files, the files are just lost among with hours of work. All files deleted are from 2024 and it seems those were deleted as part of a recent update sent by Apple. What is the solution so I can recover my work?????

Same here, files with notes from YEARS, music sheets with notes and marks from paper copies I threw away already, all GONE!!!! and their customer service can't help and don't know why or how to prevent it from happening again. If I have to do a backup every time I put a mark, what's the point?!? not practical... Annoyingly I didn't know apple was so useless sometimes..

Lost some important notes I worked on for hours. There’s no way to recover them either. They should have at least give a warning earlier. Just senseless.

Same problem since months. Basically renders my Ipad + pencil useless. Please solve this Apple!

My file got deleted in the middle of my work. 3 weeks of endless work put into writing, just vanished. Never again will I rely on anything from Apple.

no, nothing there