Deleted File Recovery

How to Recover a Deleted Word Folder After Reinstalling on iPad

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to recover a local folder of Word documents that disappeared after uninstalling and reinstalling the Word app on an iPad.

How to Recover a Deleted Word Folder After Reinstalling on iPad

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Reinstalling the Microsoft Word app on an iPad resulting in the deletion of local app storage.
Observed behavior: The local Word folder was permanently removed during app reinstallation, and the files are not visible in the 'Recently Deleted' folder or iCloud Drive.

Before you start

Before proceeding, check if you were logged into a Microsoft account or Apple ID, as your documents might have automatically synced to OneDrive or iCloud before the app was deleted.

Solution 1Recommended

Check Cloud Services and the iPad Files App

Verify if the missing Word folder was synced to a cloud service or temporarily moved to the Recently Deleted section of the Files app.

On iPadOS, uninstalling an app permanently deletes the files stored exclusively in its local 'On My iPad' directory. However, you might have inadvertently saved your files to a cloud provider integrated with your iPad.

Open the Files App

Locate and open the default 'Files' app on your iPad.

Check Cloud Locations

Tap 'Browse' at the bottom. Under the 'Locations' section, tap 'iCloud Drive' or 'OneDrive' and search for your missing Word folder.

Check Recently Deleted

Go back to the 'Locations' menu and tap 'Recently Deleted'. If you find any Word documents here, tap and hold the file, then select 'Recover'.

Check Cloud Services and the iPad Files App

Local Storage Limitation: If the folder existed only in Word's local app storage and was never backed up to a cloud service, it is permanently deleted by iPadOS when the app is uninstalled and cannot be recovered through the app.

Solution 2

Restore Your iPad from a Previous Backup

Use a full device backup to restore your iPad to a state before the Word app was uninstalled.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Protect Your Documents with WPS Office for iPad

To prevent losing local files during app updates or reinstalls, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, lightweight, and reliable alternative to Microsoft Office, featuring built-in cloud auto-sync to ensure your documents are always securely backed up.

1. Download the App: Install WPS Office for free from the Apple App Store.
2. Open Word Documents: Easily open, view, and edit any existing Microsoft Word documents on your iPad.
3. Enable Cloud Sync: Sign in and turn on WPS Cloud to automatically back up your files, ensuring they are safe even if you uninstall the app.

100% free and lightweight Office suite optimized for iPadOS.Perfectly compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) formats.Built-in WPS Cloud syncing to protect files and prevent local data loss.Familiar user interface makes transitioning and document editing simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does deleting the Word app on an iPad delete my local files?

iPadOS uses an application sandboxing system where local files are saved within the app's specific directory. When you uninstall an app like Microsoft Word, the operating system automatically deletes its dedicated storage folder, permanently removing any documents saved locally.

Can third-party data recovery software recover my deleted iPad files?

Third-party iOS recovery software can occasionally scan for deleted files, but success is highly unlikely due to strict iPadOS security protocols and data encryption. Restoring from an iCloud or iTunes backup is typically the only viable method for retrieving overwritten app data.

Where is the default save location for Microsoft Word on iPad?

By default, the Word app often attempts to save documents to OneDrive if you are signed in to a Microsoft account. If not, it saves them to the 'On My iPad' section within the Files app inside a specific 'Word' folder.

Migration & Recovery