Accidentally deleted an Excel spreadsheet on my iPad and I have tried several options but can’t recover it.

Based on the described steps, the file can only be recovered if it still exists in a recycle/recovery location for where it was actually stored (PC, OneDrive, SharePoint/Teams, or iPad local storage). Work through these locations systematically:

1. Check the Recycle Bin on the original desktop PC
   • If the spreadsheet was originally saved on the desktop’s local drive (e.g., Documents) and then copied/downloaded to the iPad, the original file may still be on the PC or in its Recycle Bin.
   • On the PC:
     • Open Recycle Bin.
     • Search for the workbook name.
     • If found, right‑click it and choose Restore to put it back in its original folder.
2. Check OneDrive (personal account) If the file was saved to or opened from OneDrive (for example, via the Microsoft account used on the iPad): a) Search for the file
   • Go to the OneDrive website and sign in.
   • Use Search everything at the top to search by filename and also by keywords that might be inside the file (e.g., “sales”, “xls”, dates, locations).
   b) Look in the OneDrive Recycle bin
   • On the left side of the OneDrive website, select Recycle bin.
   • Look for the deleted workbook.
   • If found, select it and choose Restore at the top of the page.
   c) Restore OneDrive to a previous point in time (if a Microsoft 365 subscriber)
   • If the file was in OneDrive and was deleted recently, and a Microsoft 365 subscription is active, it may be possible to roll back the entire OneDrive:
     • Open the Restore your OneDrive options.
     • Use the timeline to restore OneDrive to a date/time before the accidental deletion.
     • Be aware: any files or folders created after the chosen restore point will be moved to the OneDrive Recycle Bin and would need to be restored from there if still needed.
3. Check OneDrive for work or school (if applicable)
   • If there is also a work/school account, sign out of the personal OneDrive and sign in with the work/school account.
   • Repeat the steps:
     • Use Search everything.
     • Check the Recycle bin.
     • If supported by the organization, use Restore your OneDrive from Options → Restore your OneDrive to roll back to a point before deletion.
4. Check other Microsoft accounts
   • If more than one Microsoft account is used (for example, one for the desktop and another on the iPad), sign in to each account’s OneDrive separately and repeat the search and Recycle bin checks.
5. Check iPad storage and iOS file locations
   • If the file was downloaded directly to the iPad and not saved back to OneDrive or another cloud location, it may only have existed in the iPad’s local storage.
   • Use the Files app on iPad to search all locations (On My iPad, iCloud Drive, OneDrive location within Files) for the workbook name.
   • Also check any “Recently Deleted” area in the Files app or iCloud Drive.
6. If the file was never saved or was overwritten
   • If the workbook was only ever opened on the iPad and changes were never saved back to OneDrive or the desktop, there may be no recoverable copy.
   • If the file was overwritten and not just deleted, recovery would depend on version history in OneDrive/SharePoint. For OneDrive/SharePoint‑stored files, version history can be used from the web to restore a previous version if the file itself still exists.

If the file does not appear in any Recycle Bin (PC, OneDrive personal, OneDrive work/school, SharePoint/Teams) and cannot be found via search in those locations or in the iPad Files app, there is no further supported recovery path.

References:

• Excel for iPad Help
• Excel for iPhone help
• Find lost or missing files in OneDrive
• Restore deleted files or folders in OneDrive
• Collaborate on Excel workbooks at the same time with co-authoring
• retrieving an accidental Excel file deleted - Microsoft Q&A