Word Online not saving copies to my iPad

Hi @JC

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand how frustrating it is to see your document appear empty after saving a copy, especially after putting in the effort to create it.

What might be happening: This usually occurs when the “Save a Copy” process to your iPad storage or a cloud location doesn’t fully complete. In such cases, the file may show a thumbnail preview (from cache) but the actual file is 0 KB and contains no content.

To better assist you, could you please confirm:

• Where did you choose to Save a Copy, On My iPad, iCloud Drive, or OneDrive?
• Which Word app version and iPadOS version are you using?
• Have you logged in your Microsoft account to Word? Is this your personal account or school account which provided by your school?

In the meantime, I recommend:

1. Do not edit the file further
   Avoid making any changes to the file. Editing could overwrite any recoverable data stored in Word’s cache or in the file system.
2. Try opening from Word’s Recent list
   • On your iPad, open Word > Open > Recent.
   • Locate the document and open it.
   • If it opens with your content, immediately:
   • Save a Copy to OneDrive (recommended for AutoSave and version history), or
   • Export as PDF for backup.
3. If saved to iCloud Drive
   • Open the Files app.
   • Navigate to iCloud Drive > Recently Deleted.
   • Check for earlier versions of the file and restore if available.
4. If saved to On My iPad
   • Open the Files app.
   • Go to On My iPad > Word and also check Recently Deleted.
   • Look for any copies that are larger than 0 KB.
5. If the file was ever in OneDrive or SharePoint
   • Open the OneDrive app or go to OneDrive on the web.
   • Use Version History (⋯ > Version history) to restore an earlier version of the document.
6. If the thumbnail still shows your content
   • In the Files app, tap and hold the file.
   • Select Quick Look, then tap Share and choose Save as PDF.
   • This preserves what you can see in the preview.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

Your detailed response will help us diagnose and investigate the issue more efficiently. If I misunderstood what you’re looking for, feel free to let me know or share a screenshot. I’d be happy to help further! 

Thank you for your cooperation.

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