Forum Discussion
Corrupted Timestamp Display in Recent Files View
I am using Office 365 for iPadOS on a 2025 iPad Pro. With an Excel workbook open, the battery died. Ever since, the Recent Files (in List View) displays the timestamp of any workbook opened after the battery death into numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. The unopened files are not affected until they are reopened. The thumbnail view shows the correct timestamps, as does OneDrive. This carried over into Word as well. A second iPad shows the same corruption, but computer and iPhone are fine. So it is limited to just the iPadOS applications.
Since it has propagated to a second iPad, it looks like the problem may exist on the server. The sorting algorithm or the user interface rendering loop may be hitting a fatal mathematical error, and to prevent the entire application from crashing, the app's code panics and falls back to simple numbering.
Extensive troubleshooting has been done, including full app deletion/reinstall multiple times with sign-outs, account swap, time zone toggling, calendar format changes, and force restarts and updated/replaced the iPadOS using recovery mode. All settings have been reset. Since a backup to iCloud occurred after the incident, it may have the corrupt data. I have done everything but a full restore as a new iPad, which is impractical due to the number of applications.
Thank you for your reply! The problem has been solved by the update 2 days ago.
2 Replies
Thank you for your reply! The problem has been solved by the update 2 days ago.
The pattern points away from workbook corruption: OneDrive and Thumbnail view show correct timestamps, while Excel and Word display numbers only in the iPad Recent list. Reinstalling the apps and reproducing on a second iPad also make a device-only cache problem unlikely. This looks like a Microsoft 365 for iOS Recent-list formatting or account metadata defect, not something workbook repair should change. Update iPadOS and every Microsoft 365 app from the App Store, then capture the Excel and Word version numbers and a screen recording comparing List and Thumbnail views. In each affected app, use the in-app feedback option and include diagnostics if offered; also open Microsoft 365 support and state that the same account reproduces on two iPads but not iPhone or desktop. Avoid erasing the iPad or altering cloud files. Use OneDrive or Thumbnail view for reliable timestamps until Microsoft confirms a service-side or app update fix.
