Data Loss when Using Excel for iPad

Question

Data Loss when Using Excel for iPad

Justin 0

Hello,

I have a weird saving issue that has plagued a few iPads on our team. The Excel workbook sometimes does not save the changes that the user made, or deletes their changes after some time. Most times the autosave works perfectly and the workbook is saved, other times, data loss occurs. All Excel workbook files are saved locally, with no cloud option enabled (iCloud or OneDrive), as these iPads go out in the field and do not get on Wi-Fi again until they are back in office.

The iPads are on the latest iOS, Excel app V. 2.104.2.

If you have any suggestions of things to try next, it would be very helpful.

-J.

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Answer 1

Harold Milan 17,505 Independent Advisor

Hi,

Your iPad keeps a local copy of the file, and if it hasn’t synced to OneDrive yet, that’s the version you’re sending.

Quick Tips to Avoid This:

Share a link instead of attaching the file. This ensures your colleague always sees the latest version.

If you really need to send a copy, check that the file has synced in OneDrive before attaching it.

Avoid dragging files from the Files app into emails it often uses the cached version.

Syncing can take a little time, so giving it a moment before sharing can save you headaches later.

I hope this helps!

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Justin 0 Reputation points

2026-01-05T20:07:09.76+00:00

Unfortunately, we are not using OneDrive on the iPads and it is not setup. Thanks for the answer though.

The issue is that sometimes the local file does not save after it has been worked on. Autosave is working as the file is saved, just sometimes it does not save for some reason.
Harold Milan 17,505 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-01-05T20:22:37.7033333+00:00

If this is happening frequently, it might indicate a bug in the app version or a corrupted local cache. In that case:

Try reinstalling the app.

Or consider switching to a cloud sync option (OneDrive, iCloud, or SharePoint) for better reliability.
Justin 0 Reputation points

2026-01-06T12:04:49.3033333+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I've tried a fresh install on Excel. Unfortunately, a cloud option will not work as when staff go out in the field, there is no cell service available. It's probably happened to various iPads about 4-5 times since August.
Harold Milan 17,505 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-01-06T14:03:01.1766667+00:00

Check Your Connection Autosave works best with a stable internet connection. If the iPad is offline or switching networks, saving might fail silently. Try connecting to a reliable Wi-Fi before editing.

Save Manually as a Backup If Autosave seems stuck, tap Save yourself. Wait a minute or two before closing the app to make sure changes are stored.

Keep Everything Updated Make sure Excel and iPadOS are on the latest versions updates often fix bugs and improve Autosave reliability.

Test with a Simple File Create a small workbook with minimal formatting and formulas. If Autosave works fine there, the issue might be related to the original file’s complexity.

Turn Off Add-ins and Extra Apps Third-party add-ins or background apps can interfere with saving. Disable them temporarily and see if Autosave improves.

Review File History (If Using Cloud Later) If you ever switch to OneDrive or SharePoint, check version history and activity logs to confirm changes were saved and spot any sync errors.

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Data Loss when Using Excel for iPad

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