Find files on your iPhone or iPad in the Files app – Apple Support (UK) (2024)

FAQs

Find files on your iPhone or iPad in the Files app – Apple Support (UK)? ›

Browse files and folders

Don't see the blue Files app icon on your Home Screen? Just swipe down, then search for the Files app. In the Files app, search or browse for the file that you want.

Ensure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Launch the Documents app on both your iPhone and iPad. Go to Control Center > Start WebDAV Server. Enter any username and password you like and tap Start WebDAV Server to enable file transfer via WebDAV.

The Files app is a centralized hub for available cloud-based storage options such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud Drive. It also contains documents stored on iOS devices that were created in other apps.

Older or specialized formats might not work as expected if your device, its operating system, or the app you're using to view or play the file doesn't support the file's format. Install all available Apple software updates for your device, such as updates for your Mac or updates for your iPhone or iPad.

Navigate to the "File Sharing" section, which is typically located towards the bottom of the left sidebar. Under the "File Sharing" section, you will find a list of apps installed on your iPhone. Select the app whose files you want to access. Now, you can view, add, or delete files associated with the selected app.

Mark the folders you want to sync across your iOS devices, then tap the three dots (...) at the bottom right of the screen, and then tap Sync. Once the sync is set up, you will find a new orange-colored folder in My Files called Synced Folders.

What is the purpose of My Files app? ›

"My Files" manages all the files on your smartphone, just like a file explorer on your computer. You can also manage files stored on SD cards, USB drives and files in the cloud storage connected with your smartphone at the same time.

Whenever you delete files on your iPhone, they first go to the "Recently Deleted" folder, where they stay for a specific period depending on your data type.

If you can't open a file, It could be because:

You don't have permission. You're signed in to a Google Account that doesn't have access. The correct app isn't installed on your iPhone or iPad.

Files app basics

The Files app is preinstalled on your iPhone or iPad. If you don't see it on the home screen, just swipe down and search for Files in the Spotlight search bar. If nothing appears, go to the App Store, search Files and download it.

Open the Files app and tap the Browse tab. Under Locations, tap Recently Deleted. , then tap Select. Select the files that you want to keep, then tap Recover.

This could be due to a number of factors but firstly, head to Settings > Mobile and under mobile data ensure that mobile data is enabled for "Files". Alternatively, the following may help: Log out of iCloud from settings, then log back in. Turn Aeroplane Mode on, wait for 30 then turn it off.

Why Is iPhone Not Showing Up in File Explorer. Most of the time, this problem is brought on by older drivers set into place on the PCs. The issue can be resolved with a quick update and a safe restart. There are situations, though, where updating drivers isn't enough.