Apple’s Files app lets you view and manage your files stored on online services like iCloud Drive, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and more all in one place. You can also view files directly on your iPhone or iPad and run various commands on them.
With the update to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, Apple has spiced up the Files app with some interesting new features. You can sort files by group, multitask more easily with multiple windows, and select multiple files by dragging them with an external mouse.
To make sure you have the latest features, visit: (Settings) > (General) > (Software Update). The device will either tell you that the software is up to date or ask you to download the latest update.
Check out the Files app to see how you can work with your documents, photos, and files.
Connect the service to the Files app
When you start Files for the first time, you need to enable and connect to the services you want to use.Tap the ellipsis icon at the top to select edit Click from the menu and turn on the switch for the online place you want to add. You can also press the hamburger icon next to your favorite service and drag each service up or down to reorder them the way you want.
Tap the name of the service you want to load and sign in. If this is your first time doing this, you will need to authenticate to see the items in this folder. In some cases, an authentication message may appear. This means that to use the app with Files, you must first open the mobile version of the app. Do this for each site you add.
Connect to external storage
You can connect your device to a USB stick, SD card, or external hard drive. To do this, you’ll need to physically connect your storage device to your iPhone or iPad using the appropriate adapter and cable. You will then be able to access that drive and its contents through the Files app.
If you have a network server or NAS, you can connect to it on your device and access it through the Files app. Make sure you support and enable SMB (Server Message Block), a universal network protocol that allows different systems to access and share the same files.
To set this up in the Files app, tap the ellipsis icon in the top right, tap connect to server Enter the command and enter the name or IP address of the server. (For example, to access my Synology NAS, I had to type: smb:// followed by the name of the NAS. .local,like smb://SynologyNAS.local.) Then enter your username and password for that device.
I was unable to connect to the NAS at first. Through a helpful online forum, I found that the maximum SMB protocol should be set to SMB3. If you are unable to connect to your server or NAS via the Files app, you may need to contact your vendor.
The Files app is also compatible with encrypted drives, but currently only drives formatted using APFS are supported. To try this, attach an encrypted storage device or connect to an encrypted network share. select the drive, rock Link.Enter your drive password and select unlock You will be able to access the drive.
Find and view files
You can find files in various locations. Enter a word or phrase for the file you want in the search field at the top. The app scans different locations and displays a list of search results accordingly.
If you use the same folder frequently, consider marking it as a favorite for quick access later.Press a folder to select it favorite It’s on the menu. After that, you will see the “Favorites” section in the left sidebar.To mark other folders as favorites, select the folder favorite section.
Find recently accessed files right in the app. Tap. recently Use the sidebar entries to view recently added, moved, or viewed files.
You can also access files downloaded to Safari through the Files app. When you download a PDF, audio file, or document from Safari, you’ll see a Downloads folder in your Files app.Tap on my iphone or on my ipad You’ll see folders for other apps and services on your device, as well as a Downloads folder. Open that folder to access the downloaded files in Safari.
Tap a specific file service to see the folders and files stored there. Tap a file to open it and the app will download and display the file. You can view documents, PDF files, images, audio files, and videos this way. Photos and other still images can also be edited using the built-in drawing and coloring tools.
manage files
You can perform basic file management by copying, moving, or deleting files. Open any of your online storage services to view your saved folders and files. To run commands on a single file, press its thumbnail. From the menu you can copy, duplicate, move, rename, preview, tag, share or delete files.
To run a command on multiple files, select Click the link in the top right corner of your iPad (on iPhone the button is hidden behind the three dots icon) and tap each file you want to include. At the bottom of the screen you will find links to share, duplicate, move or delete the selected file.Tap more Displays additional commands such as download and compress.
There is also a command when viewing a file. In the viewing window, tap the down arrow next to the file name. Depending on the file type, you may be able to save, duplicate, move, rename, export or print the file.
The iPad works with an external mouse, so you can select multiple files at once without using the (Select) option. Make sure your mouse is connected to your iPad, then click and drag a range of files to select all files.
The Files app lets you zip and unzip files and folders.Press File to select Compress Click from the popup menu to create a ZIP archive. You can also compress multiple files at once. If you need to open a ZIP file, tap it to unzip it or press the file to select it unzip from the menu.
If you want to delete a file, press the file to open the popup menu and erase instructions. Deleted files are recently deleted entry. This will show you all recently deleted files across various file storage services.
Tap. select Click the link and select the files you want to restore. Tap. Recover A link to return deleted files to the storage service.
File tagging and sorting
The Files app also lets you view important details and tag each file.Press File to select information Check the file type, size, creation date and time, creator, and other details from the menu. With Photos, you can check the size, resolution, exposure time, focal length, ISO speed, and more.
You can add tags to categorize your files and make them easier to find.Press File to select tag Or swipe to the bottom of the info screen and tap . add tag. Then add a tag from the existing color-coded list or tap add new tag Create a new one based on certain criteria. Tap Done when you’re done.
You can sort files in folders based on various criteria. To try it out, open a folder and tap the 3-dot circle icon on iPhone or the 4-square icon on iPad. From the menu, select sorting criteria such as name, type, date, size, and tags.
To group files based on certain criteria, display options instructions. You can then organize files into groups based on type, date, size, and sharing status. You can also view file extensions.
Multitask in multiple windows
iPad includes various multitasking features. Having multiple windows open at the same time makes it easier to view and work with files. Open a folder in the Files app and tap the ellipsis icon at the top of the screen to open the multitasking toolbar. Tap. split view Command to invoke Split View mode.
You can then open a second instance of the Files app to see different folders in different panes. If you want to open a specific file, tap the ellipsis icon and split view or slide over. You can then view the file in its own separate pane.
(Tag Translation)iOS