Where Did My PDF Go? How to Find and Re-Download Files You've Processed
Quick answer
If you were signed in when you ran the tool, you can re-download a processed PDF from the Files page, which lists every result newest first with its tool name and timestamp. Download mints a fresh link on demand rather than reusing one that may already have expired. Entries drop out after 24 hours and guest runs are not tracked at all, so treat it as today rather than tomorrow and save anything you need long-term.
Closed the tab before downloading? You're not out of luck
It happens constantly: you compress or merge a PDF, get pulled away before hitting download, and come back to a closed tab and no obvious way to get the result back. If you were signed in when you ran the tool, the file isn't gone — it's sitting in Files, ready to re-download.
Find every file you've processed in one place
The Files page (in the mobile bottom nav, and next to Workflows in the desktop menu once you're signed in) lists every tool result tied to your account — merges, compressions, signed documents, conversions, all of it — newest first, with the tool name and timestamp for each.
Each entry has its own download and delete buttons. Download re-generates a fresh, valid link on demand rather than reusing a link that may have already expired, so it works even if you're opening the page hours after the original run.
Files aren't kept forever
Entries drop out of Files 24 hours after the run, and the stored file itself is removed by a one-day storage expiry rule — about a day in practice, never more than two — matching the auto-delete policy shown on every tool page. Treat the window as "today, not tomorrow": if you need a result long-term, download it and save it somewhere of your own soon after processing rather than treating Files as storage.
Sign in to keep a history at all
This history is tied to your account specifically — guest tool runs (no sign-in) aren't tracked anywhere and can't be recovered once the tab closes, since there's no account to attach them to. If you routinely process documents you might need to revisit, signing in before you start is the difference between a recoverable mistake and a re-upload.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to re-download a file?
Entries drop out of Files 24 hours after the run, and the stored file is removed by a one-day expiry rule — about a day in practice, never more than two. Treat the window as today rather than tomorrow.
Can I recover something I processed as a guest?
No. Guest runs are not attached to an account, so there is nothing to list and nothing to restore once the tab closes. Signing in before you start is what turns a closed tab into a recoverable mistake.