A family of Microsoft word processing software products for creating web, email, and print documents.
If the document icons are still listed but opening them shows that the files were deleted or are not accessible, the most likely issue is that the files are in a different storage location or account, or they were not synced after the iOS update.
Try these steps on the iPhone or iPad:
- Update the Microsoft 365 app.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap the profile picture.
- Scroll down and select Update next to the Microsoft 365 app, or Update All.
- Open the app again and sign in if prompted.
- Check whether the files are in OneDrive.
- Open OneDrive and confirm the correct account is signed in.
- If multiple Microsoft accounts were ever used, sign out and sign back in with the other account.
- Also check the Recycle Bin in OneDrive.
- Check local device storage.
- Open the Files app.
- Browse the device storage and look for Word or Office files saved locally.
- Search the device for the document names.
- If OneDrive files are missing, reset the OneDrive iOS app.
- In OneDrive, go to Profile > Settings > Account > Reset.
- If the files were in OneDrive and changes were lost recently, restore OneDrive files.
- Microsoft 365 subscribers can restore OneDrive to a previous point in time from the Restore your OneDrive options.
- Caution: files or folders created after the restore point are moved to the OneDrive Recycle Bin.
- If the issue is with Office app access after updating, make sure the device meets the minimum supported versions.
- iPhone/iPad requires iOS 17.0 or later and minimum Microsoft 365 app version 2.93.
- If Office opens but files still cannot be edited or saved after updating, sign out and sign in again.
- Open the app.
- Go to the app’s Account settings.
- Sign out, then sign in again with the Microsoft account.
Important facts:
- Updating Office does not delete files by itself.
- Microsoft states files remain safe; the issue is usually access, sync, or account-related.
- If files were saved under another Microsoft account, they may still be available after signing in to that account.
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