How to Use the Files App on iPhone and iPad
The Files app on iPhone and iPad is your digital filing cabinet. It lets you find, open, move, and organize documents from iCloud, your device.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Find your files
Open the Files app. Tap "Browse" at the bottom. You will see "Locations" (iCloud Drive, On My iPhone/iPad, and any connected services like Dropbox or Google Drive) and "Favorites" (saved folder shortcuts). Tap "iCloud Drive" to see files synced to the cloud, or "On My iPhone" for files stored locally.
Quick Tip
Tap the Search bar at the top and type any file name to find it instantly across all locations.
Step 2. Open and read a document
Tap any file to open it. PDF files open in a built-in reader. Word documents open in Microsoft Word (if installed) or Pages. Images open in a photo viewer. Tap the back arrow to return to the file list when done.
Step 3. Create folders to organize files
Press and hold any blank area in the Files app → tap "New Folder." Name the folder and tap "Done." To move a file into a folder, press and hold the file → tap "Move" → navigate to the folder → tap "Move" at the top right.
Step 4. Scan a document with your phone camera
In the Files app, navigate to a folder where you want to save the scan. Tap the three dots (...) at the top right → "Scan Documents." Point your phone camera at a paper document — the app detects its edges automatically and captures it. Tap "Keep Scan" and then "Save" to create a PDF.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: Scanned documents saved in iCloud Drive are available on your Mac and iPad right away — great for filing important papers digitally.
Step 5. Connect Google Drive or Dropbox
Install the Google Drive or Dropbox app on your iPhone. Once installed, open the Files app → tap "Browse" → scroll to "Locations" → tap "Edit" → toggle on Google Drive or Dropbox. These services appear as locations in Files. So you can access all your files in one place.
The Files app is built into every iPhone and iPad. It is your device's equivalent of the Documents or Desktop folder on a computer — a central place where you can find, open, organize, and manage files from multiple locations.
Before the Files app existed (it was added in iOS 11), files on iPhone were hidden inside each individual app. Now you can see documents saved from any app in one place, move files between apps, and organize everything into folders.
What the Files app shows:
- Files saved to iCloud Drive (synced across all your Apple devices)
- Files saved directly on your iPhone or iPad (not synced to the cloud)
- Files from connected storage — like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a connected USB drive (with an adapter)
Common things you can do:
- Open a PDF or Word document and read it
- Move a photo from iCloud Drive to your Photos library
- Compress files into a ZIP
- Scan a document using your phone camera (turns it into a PDF)
- Search across all your files at once
The Files app is the blue folder icon on your home screen. If you do not see it, swipe down on your home screen and search "Files."
Official sources
- Apple Support — support.apple.com
- iPhone User Guide — support.apple.com
- AppleCare contact options — support.apple.com
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