Airdropped PDF file not showing up in iPad

[BHanular]

I just Airdropped a PDF file from my MacBook Air to my iPad and though a pop-up on the Mac said it was sent and I heard a tone, I can’t find it anywhere on the iPad. That includes the Files App, photos app, iBook app and Pages app. The iPad search feature didn’t help. It couldn’t even find known files I had in the Messages app.

I Airdropped using the same Apple ID.

I really thought it would end up in the Files app, but no.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much!
iPad 9
IOS 15.7

 

[usagora]

I'm on an iPhone and iOS 16 so maybe something's changed, but I just used AirDrop to transfer a PDF from my Mac Mini to my iPhone, and I get this on my iPhone. Do you not get something similar on your iPad?

EDIT: Meant to post this too:

Transfer files wirelessly between your iPad and computer with email, messages, or AirDrop

Transfer files wirelessly between your iPad and computer with email, messages, or AirDrop.

support.apple.com

 

[BHanular]

I'm on an iPhone and iOS 16 so maybe something's changed, but I just used AirDrop to transfer a PDF from my Mac Mini to my iPhone, and I get this on my iPhone. Do you not get something similar on your iPad?

View attachment 2108041

 

[usagora]

@BHanular You quoted my post but didn't add anything else.

 

[BHanular]

BillHon​

Thank you very much for the reply! That’s much appreciated.

I repeated the process with the same results. No window offering an App to open the file. But I heard a tone on the iPad telling me it successfully downloaded.

Thought it might be in the Download folder in the Files folder, but no

Where is the Airdropped PDF file residing on your iPhone?

Again, thank you for your time and effort.

 

[usagora]

Thought it might be in the Download folder in the Files folder, but no

Where is the Airdropped PDF file residing on your iPhone?

I don't know where else it could possibly be on your iPad other than in Files. As for me, I have to manually choose where to save it (either in Files, OneDrive, or Books). The other apps that can read PDF files just open the file and can't save it AFAIK. You might want to restart your iPad and try again.

 

[BHanular]

This’s extremely embarrassing. I rebooted my iPad and now I see the window with options to open the Airdropped files.

So-so sorry to have wasted your time!

 

[usagora]

This’s extremely embarrassing. I rebooted my iPad and now I see the window with options to open the Airdropped files.

So-so sorry to have wasted your time!

Nothing to be embarrassed about. It's not your fault iPadOS had a bug. Glad you got it working.

 

[crashnburn]

BillHon​

Thank you very much for the reply! That’s much appreciated.

I repeated the process with the same results. No window offering an App to open the file. But I heard a tone on the iPad telling me it successfully downloaded.

Thought it might be in the Download folder in the Files folder, but no

Where is the Airdropped PDF file residing on your iPhone?

Again, thank you for your time and effort.

This’s extremely embarrassing. I rebooted my iPad and now I see the window with options to open the Airdropped files.

So-so sorry to have wasted your time!

Thanks for sharing.

Had same issue crop up mysteriously and had to Reboot. Apple/ iPad OS.. F..ing mysteries.

And all apple did was misdirect

I can't find my PDF file Airdropped from … - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com