PDF Editing Issues

Fix PDF Highlights and Last Viewed Page Not Saving in WPS Office on iOS

Adam Davis Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users report that PDF highlights and reading progress are not being saved when viewing and editing files on iOS devices.

How to Fix PDF Highlights and Last Viewed Page Not Saving on iOS

Product: WPS Office for iOS
Device & OS: iOS 11.2
Scenario: Opening a PDF from a local directory or cloud storage, applying highlights, closing it, and then reopening the document.
Observed behavior: The PDF opens to the first page instead of the last visited page, and all previously applied highlights or annotations are lost.

Before you start

Ensure that your WPS Office iOS app is updated to the latest version, as older versions may exhibit saving or compatibility glitches on certain iOS updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Save Modifications by Creating a Local Copy

When closing a document with pending edits, you must explicitly save those changes locally if the original file directory restricts direct overwriting.

On iOS devices, files opened from certain cloud storage providers or external directories may open in a read-only state. If you edit these files, WPS Office cannot overwrite the original file directly. To preserve your annotations and reading position, you must save the changes as a new local file.

Apply your edits

Open your PDF document in WPS Office, apply your highlights, and read up to your desired page.

Exit the document

Tap the 'Close' or 'Back' arrow button located in the top-left corner of the PDF viewer interface.

Select Create a Local Copy

When the unsaved changes dialog box appears, tap 'Create a Local Copy' instead of 'Discard'. This will save your reading progress and highlights to your device.

Save Modifications by Creating a Local Copy

Storage Verification: If you continue to experience this issue, check whether your document is stored in iCloud Drive or another third-party cloud service, as synchronization delays can sometimes cause edits to revert.

WPS PDF Editor

Edit and Annotate PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office

WPS Office offers a robust and feature-rich PDF editor for mobile devices. It automatically tracks your reading progress and lets you highlight, comment, and sign documents with ease, ensuring your work is always preserved.

1. Open your PDF: Launch the WPS Office app and open your PDF document from your local storage or WPS Cloud.
2. Highlight and edit text: Tap the 'Tools' menu, select the 'Annotation' tab, and use the highlighter to mark important information.
3. Save your progress: Tap the floppy disk 'Save' icon at the top of the screen before closing to guarantee your reading position and highlights are logged.

Smooth PDF highlighting and annotation tools for mobileAutomatically remembers your last viewed pageFully compatible with standard Adobe PDF formatsSeamless cross-device file synchronization via WPS Cloud

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did I lose my PDF highlights after closing the file on my iPhone?

This typically occurs if the file was closed without successfully saving, or if it was opened from a read-only location. To prevent this, always tap 'Create a Local Copy' when prompted upon exiting the document.

How do I make WPS Office remember the last page I was reading?

WPS Office automatically bookmarks your last viewed page. However, if the file modifications are discarded or the app is force-closed unexpectedly, this history is not written to the file. Ensuring you save the file properly will retain your reading progress.

Where are 'Local Copy' PDFs stored in WPS Office for iOS?

When you create a local copy, the file is saved to the app's internal directory. You can locate it by navigating to the 'Files' tab at the bottom of the WPS Office home screen and selecting the 'Local' or 'On My iPhone' folder.

PDF Troubleshooting