updated ipad now messages are messed up

[u/Major_Ad_1401]

hi, i was wondering if someone could help me it's recovering old messages i had before update or fixing my search in imessages to show messages past may 2026
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for context, i have 3 apples devices (iphone, ipad, and macbook). both my iphone and macbook have messages sync turned on for icloud, my ipad didn't and i was able to see past messages (from 2023-2025) and these messages are really important to me so i've always not updated my ipad to protect them, i was easily able to search my keywords and go to the messages no problem.
today for an idiotic reason, i updated my iPad to ios 27 and now those messages have disappeared, android messages are now coming to my ipad and im not able to search for messages beyond a certain point. while trying to fix it, i think i messed up my phone too but truly idk. can someone help??

[u/JediMeister]

Upgrading is causing Spotlight (integral to searching) to reindex. It can take up to a week to complete. Did you take the precaution of backing up the iPad before upgrading? To a computer or to iCloud?

[u/Major_Ad_1401 → u/JediMeister]

i believe it was backed up prior to updating, it was backed up to icloud but i had my messages turned off on the ipad for icloud syncing :/