FILES app on Ipad Pro not showing any files

[DrDrstrangelove]

Hello Guys,

I wonder if other users also got this issue. When I open the files app I can see the folders and files of my iCloud but when I got "files on my iPad" then there is nothing to see.... also I can't create a folder or move any files to the local storage it seems.

Anyone also having this issue and if so is there a fix or simply wait for the next beta.

thank u

 

[drysdalk]

Hi,

For now, that’s to be expected. Until other apps can add support for the Files app (and they won’t be allowed to do that until around the time of the final beta, if past experience is anything to go by), the Files app won’t be much use. But near the time iOS 11 actually ships, when developers are allowed to post updates to their apps on the App Store that add support for Files, you should start to see it working pretty much like you would have seen during the WWDC keynote.

 

[DrDrstrangelove]

yeah i understand this. but I mean is it right that the "files on iPad" is totally empty? I mean I got pages files and pictures on my iPad.. should they not be displayed there ?

 

[drysdalk]

Hi,

I think at this stage even Apple’s own apps don’t support Files. The iWork apps will gain support via an update on the App Store near the end of the beta lifecycle. Photos - I don’t know if it is meant to integrate with Files or not, can’t remember. If it is, subsequent iOS 11 betas should fix things for Photos at least. But I think like any other apps, you’ll see Apple’s own non-core ones gaining Files support around the time the final beta comes out.

For example, I remember during the iOS 8 beta that every single iWork app was totally broken from June through until right before the launch in September - tap them to open, instant crash back to home screen. That was because iOS 8 totally changed how apps had to access iCloud, with the new iCloud Drive functionality being added. And again the iWork apps got updated just like all the others during launch week. You could from the Developer site download updated versions that you had to side-load with a developer certificate, but for most folk even Apple’s own apps didn’t work on iOS 8 until right before launch day, all through the beta cycle.

 

[barger01]

I was under the impression that “on my iPad” or “on my iPhone” would show all downloaded files. Example: you have a movie in your iCloud Drive. To watch the movie, you are forced to download it. Once you watch it, the file is still downloaded and doesn’t give you the option to remove the download, you only get the option to delete the file from the iCloud Drive. My impression was that the file would be under the “on my iPhone/iPad” section. Kinda like Apple Music when you download a file and have the option to remove from library or just from device. If it doesn’t work this way or if Apple doesn’t allow you to remove the download, wouldn’t the device start to get low on space?

 

[Feenician]

I was under the impression that “on my iPad” or “on my iPhone” would show all downloaded files. Example: you have a movie in your iCloud Drive. To watch the movie, you are forced to download it. Once you watch it, the file is still downloaded and doesn’t give you the option to remove the download, you only get the option to delete the file from the iCloud Drive. My impression was that the file would be under the “on my iPhone/iPad” section. Kinda like Apple Music when you download a file and have the option to remove from library or just from device. If it doesn’t work this way or if Apple doesn’t allow you to remove the download, wouldn’t the device start to get low on space?

A file in a cloud collection need not actually exist on the filesystem. On My iPad/iPhone and Recents do need to. At least that’s what I understood from skimming the Apple videos on the subject.

Building Great Document-based Apps in iOS 11 - WWDC 2017 - Videos - Apple Developer

File Provider Enhancements - WWDC 2017 - Videos - Apple Developer

 

[barger01]

A file in a cloud collection need not actually exist on the filesystem. On My iPad/iPhone and Recents do need to. At least that’s what I understood from skimming the Apple videos on the subject.

Building Great Document-based Apps in iOS 11 - WWDC 2017 - Videos - Apple Developer

File Provider Enhancements - WWDC 2017 - Videos - Apple Developer

Then what happens once you download the iCloud file to view it? It downloads it on your device but doesn’t let you actually delete the download, like you can with Apple Music

 

[epca12]

I heard that it's not working in the iOS 11 beta, but are you sure you can't download to that area?

 

[Feenician]

Then what happens once you download the iCloud file to view it? It downloads it on your device but doesn’t let you actually delete the download, like you can with Apple Music

I’m not entirely sure what you mean. Are you saying you want to delete a file locally but leave it in place on iCloud Drive? i.e. make it so it has the little cloud download symbol? If so, you’re right, iCloud doesn’t do that in this version but the facility exists for 3rd parties (it’s explicitly talked about in one of the videos I linked) and Apple may or may not add it later for iCloud.

If you just mean deleting (both locally and from iCloud) you can certainly do that now.

 

[barger01]

I’m not entirely sure what you mean. Are you saying you want to delete a file locally but leave it in place on iCloud Drive? i.e. make it so it has the little cloud download symbol? If so, you’re right, iCloud doesn’t do that in this version but the facility exists for 3rd parties (it’s explicitly talked about in one of the videos I linked) and Apple may or may not add it later for iCloud.

If you just mean deleting (both locally and from iCloud) you can certainly do that now.

Gotcha! Thanks for explaining! I was editing raw images from the Drive and was starting to worry about all the space taken up locally that I couldn’t delete. Hope they add that function later on!

 

[Feenician]

Gotcha! Thanks for explaining! I was editing raw images from the Drive and was starting to worry about all the space taken up locally that I couldn’t delete. Hope they add that function later on!

Files has a long way to go in this beta cycle but I’m more optimistic about it after watching those two presentations. It seems Apple have thought about making document-based applications and intra-app sharing viable, without compromising the sandbox nature of iOS apps.

 

[stulaw11]

The most frustrating part is in Mail they rely solely upon the Files app (the old locations method is gone) so you cannot attach any Dropbox/Onedrive files in mail now until Files is built out.

 

[Feenician]

The most frustrating part is in Mail they rely solely upon the Files app (the old locations method is gone) so you cannot attach any Dropbox/Onedrive files in mail now until Files is built out.

That’s pretty poor. You might be in for a wait too as it looks like document providers for Files need to use a new class in iOS11. Traditionally that means that they won’t be able to release compatible versions until the release of the final version. Maybe Apple will let up on that.

In the meantime perhaps you can use the share sheet from the native app of your Cloud provider. I just tried OneDrive and it worked fine, even for multiple files. Note: Choose “Send File” on the bottom row of the share sheet then “Mail” on the top row, not “Mail” on the top row directly. The former attaches the files and the latter just inserts a OneDrive link!

 

[stulaw11]

That’s pretty poor. You might be in for a wait too as it looks like document providers for Files need to use a new class in iOS11. Traditionally that means that they won’t be able to release compatible versions until the release of the final version. Maybe Apple will let up on that.

In the meantime perhaps you can use the share sheet from the native app of your Cloud provider. I just tried OneDrive and it worked fine, even for multiple files. Note: Choose “Send File” on the bottom row of the share sheet then “Mail” on the top row, not “Mail” on the top row directly. The former attaches the files and the latter just inserts a OneDrive link!

Oh I know it wont be until fall once the services update their apps to integrate, but Apple should have left the document/location picker that Mail had before, and just had the Files app as one of those options rather than the default/only way.

Unfortunately share sheet wont help replying and adding an attachment; only for newly composed emails.

 

[epca12]

Oh I know it wont be until fall once the services update their apps to integrate, but Apple should have left the document/location picker that Mail had before, and just had the Files app as one of those options rather than the default/only way.

Unfortunately share sheet wont help replying and adding an attachment; only for newly composed emails.

Maybe but it is designed for the September release when the main apps will hopefully support it, and limiting it to files makes sure those apps do update it to allow users to attach items from there

 

[Feenician]

Oh I know it wont be until fall once the services update their apps to integrate, but Apple should have left the document/location picker that Mail had before, and just had the Files app as one of those options rather than the default/only way.

Unfortunately share sheet wont help replying and adding an attachment; only for newly composed emails.

It’s just one of those things about running betas. You end up in a “neither here nor there” situation. I do agree its awkward in the meantime though.