Deleted File Recovery

Recover Lost Excel Files After Reinstalling on iPad

Nimra Malik Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to recover Excel spreadsheets that were stored locally on an iPad and disappeared after the Microsoft Excel app was uninstalled and reinstalled.

How to Recover Lost Excel Files After Reinstalling the iPad App

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Uninstalling and reinstalling the Excel app on an iPad caused locally saved files to be deleted.
Observed behavior: Excel files stored in the local app directory are permanently deleted along with the app during uninstallation, making them inaccessible upon reinstallation unless they were backed up to a cloud service or iCloud.

Before you start

Before proceeding, verify if you have an active iCloud, OneDrive, or iTunes backup created prior to uninstalling the Excel app, as local iOS app data is immediately erased when the app is removed.

Solution 1Recommended

Restore Your iPad from an iCloud Backup

If your iPad was backed up to iCloud before deleting the Excel app, you can restore the entire device from that backup to recover the local files.

Apple's iOS and iPadOS sandbox system securely stores local files inside the app's specific directory. When you delete the app, the local files go with it. Your best chance of recovery is restoring a full device backup made before the deletion occurred.

Verify your last backup date

Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup on your iPad to ensure a backup exists from a date prior to when the Excel app was deleted.

Erase your iPad

Navigate to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad, then tap on 'Erase All Content and Settings' to factory reset the device.

Restore from the iCloud backup

Follow the on-screen setup instructions until you reach the 'Apps & Data' screen. Tap 'Restore from iCloud Backup' and choose the relevant backup date.

Data Overwrite Warning: Restoring an old backup will replace your current iPad setup and overwrite any new data, photos, or documents created after that backup was made.

Solution 2

Check Cloud Storage Services and the Files App

Sometimes files are automatically saved or synced to cloud services like iCloud Drive or OneDrive rather than being stored strictly locally.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Safer Mobile Editing Experience

Avoid losing your important spreadsheets due to local storage issues by switching to WPS Office. It provides robust cloud integration, auto-saving features, and full compatibility with Microsoft Excel files on your iPad, all for free.

1. Download WPS Office: Search for WPS Office in the Apple App Store and download it to your iPad for free.
2. Connect your cloud storage: Sign in and link your preferred cloud storage accounts (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive) to ensure your files are always backed up.
3. Edit your Excel files: Open, edit, and save your existing Excel spreadsheets seamlessly without worrying about format issues.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formats.Built-in cloud sync with WPS Cloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox to prevent data loss.Lightweight, free, and easy to use on iPads and other iOS devices.All-in-one suite for Word, Excel, and PDF files.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Excel files disappear when I deleted the app?

On iPadOS, apps operate in a 'sandbox' environment. If you save files directly to the local 'On My iPad' folder specific to that app, those files are permanently erased by the operating system when the application itself is uninstalled.

Can I recover deleted iPad files without a backup?

Unfortunately, if the files were only saved locally on the iPad and no iCloud or third-party backup exists, the files are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.

How do I prevent losing Excel files on my iPad in the future?

Always save your important files to a cloud service like OneDrive, iCloud Drive, or WPS Cloud instead of the local 'On My iPad' directory. Turning on the 'AutoSave' feature will also ensure your changes are continuously synced to the cloud.

Migration & Recovery