How to Use the New Files App in iOS 11

[dk001]

Hello everyone, I have a fast question. When I open the Dropbox link on the left side in the new Apple file app, all my files appear grayed out and will not let me select them. However, when I go to the actual Dropbox app, outside of the Apple file app, all the files are not grayed out and open like normal. What am I missing? What am I doing wrong inside Apples file app? Thx

Update… I went to edit and turned off Dropbox. Then turned it back on. Now the files are no longer grayed out. I can now select the file I want. However, I get the downloading notification but nothing seems to actually load. My internet isn’t the fastest but it isn’t that slow either.

Why wouldn’t I just use the regular Dropbox app instead of jumping through these extra hurdles in Apples file app?

Somewhat the same issue ....
I can access anything at the root level in Dropbox via this app. It downloads it.
Anything beyond root it just stays in download loop forever.

 

[BWhaler]

Dropbox still has problems.

1. Still has the weird export feature. I don’t want two copies of a file, When will,they get this behavior is hostile to their customers?

2. It’s really buggy. I keep,getting download errors when I try to open files from within msoffice or iWork.

I may have to move my files and 300 person Company to OneDrive or Google. Enough is enough.

 

[artfossil]

Somewhat the same issue ....
I can access anything at the root level in Dropbox via this app. It downloads it.
Anything beyond root it just stays in download loop forever.

Hello everyone, I have a fast question. When I open the Dropbox link on the left side in the new Apple file app, all my files appear grayed out and will not let me select them. However, when I go to the actual Dropbox app, outside of the Apple file app, all the files are not grayed out and open like normal. What am I missing? What am I doing wrong inside Apples file app? Thx

Update… I went to edit and turned off Dropbox. Then turned it back on. Now the files are no longer grayed out. I can now select the file I want. However, I get the downloading notification but nothing seems to actually load. My internet isn’t the fastest but it isn’t that slow either.

Why wouldn’t I just use the regular Dropbox app instead of jumping through these extra hurdles in Apples file app?

I don’t find any issues dowloading Dropbox files within the Files app (iPad Pro).

 

[Phil A.]

I see google drive listed but when I click it I just get a smaller window to navigate and no option to share or add Apple files app. Any ideas?

I get that with all my providers, even ones that have been updated to support files integration according to the developers. I’m hoping I’m doing something wrong because if that’s all you get, it’s a bit of a waste of time!

 

[RevTEG]

I don’t find any issues dowloading Dropbox files within the Files app (iPad Pro).

I’m using a Gen 1 iPad Pro 12.9. I’m still having issues with Dropbox. PDF Expert is working fine. I’m experiencing the same issues with Google drive (which I never really use) as I’m having with Dropbox.

I have finally got Dropbox to let me select a file but it stays stuck in an endless download.

I’m glad yours is working.
[doublepost=1505885818][/doublepost]

I get that with all my providers, even ones that have been updated to support files integration according to the developers. I’m hoping I’m doing something wrong because if that’s all you get, it’s a bit of a waste of time!

I agree. I’ve found it much faster (so far) to just use the regular app as I’ve been doing before iOS 11.
[doublepost=1505886085][/doublepost]And now the Pages/Keynote app just takes me back to the Apple files app to start my work? So I should “hide” the iWork apps and just go through the files app to work in them? It just feels redundant to me. I’ll adjust.

Never mind... looks like you can’t start a new pages doc from the files app. You have to go to the Pages app that now looks like the new file app to start a new doc. SMH. Lol

 

[dk001]

Went back in and decided to try all my repositories.

• ICloud - works as expected. Can create new folders
• Documents - will not display any of the documents. Shows ;empty folders.
• Google Drive - Can access anything. Once you finish with the object and go back to Files, it kicks you totally out of Google Drive. Start over. No way to display separately if you have more than one Google Drive
• Dropbox - can access and download root files only. Anything nested sticks in a download loop
• One Drive - see Google Drive - same functionality except most files will not show to be selected.

At this time it is a waste. Don’t know if it is the cloud owners who need to enhance functionality or iOS.

Using an iPad Pro 12 v2

 

[jamesrick80]

So this file manager is basically actually not a file manager but a way of accessing the apps that manage your files (rebranded iCloud). I don't get it. Glad to be with Android......and the Samsung file manager is excellent and still integrates cloud services as well as native local support.

 

[Muzzakus]

How odd, this can’t be right. I would expect selecting a 3rd party provider would then populate the file manager on the right, instead I get a pop up list of contents. Totally unusable. Is there something wrong or is this it???

UPDATE: BOX is working as expected, exactly like iCloud Drive. Google Drive, Onedrive, Dropbox do not! Suspecting the third party providers maybe be at fault.

 

[FranzMarc]

So this file manager is basically actually not a file manager but a way of accessing the apps that manage your files (rebranded iCloud). I don't get it. Glad to be with Android......and the Samsung file manager is excellent and still integrates cloud services as well as native local support.

It does somewhat more than that. If you are using iCloud Drive on your other devices, you can access your Documents and Desktop folders from yiur Macbook, and the files sync back across devices.

This was however as you said already a feature of the icloud drive app.

The only thing I still find terribly annoying is that if I open a Word file on my iPad that sits in the Documents folder , I can’t just open it in my Word App, I actually have to save a copy in the Word app first to edit it. Is that one then also updating the word file in my Documents folder, or do i have to export a word file back to Files aka my documents folder?

It works with Pages and Numbers btw, there I just open files from Files app, edit them in Pages and it automatically updates them on my Mac.

So naybe it’s more of a question if other Apps supporting it?

 

[RevTEG]

Went back in and decided to try all my repositories.

• ICloud - works as expected. Can create new folders
• Documents - will not display any of the documents. Shows ;empty folders.
• Google Drive - Can access anything. Once you finish with the object and go back to Files, it kicks you totally out of Google Drive. Start over. No way to display separately if you have more than one Google Drive
• Dropbox - can access and download root files only. Anything nested sticks in a download loop
• One Drive - see Google Drive - same functionality except most files will not show to be selected.

At this time it is a waste. Don’t know if it is the cloud owners who need to enhance functionality or iOS.

Using an iPad Pro 12 v2

This is my findings as well, minus One Drive (I haven’t tested it). I’m using an iPad Pro 12.9 (Gen 1)
[doublepost=1505888707][/doublepost]

It does somewhat more than that. If you are using iCloud Drive on your other devices, you can access your Documents and Desktop folders from yiur Macbook, and the files sync back across devices.

This was however as you said already a feature of the icloud drive app.

The only thing I still find terribly annoying is that if I open a Word file on my iPad that sits in the Documents folder , I can’t just open it in my Word App, I actually have to save a copy in the Word app first to edit it. Is that one then also updating the word file in my Documents folder, or do i have to export a word file back to Files aka my documents folder?

It works with Pages and Numbers btw, there I just open files from Files app, edit them in Pages and it automatically updates them on my Mac.

So naybe it’s more of a question if other Apps supporting it?

When I open a Word Doc from my documents it opens in Pages (which changes a lot of fonts and formats) instead of just opening the Word doc in the MS Word app. Is there a way to change that?

 

[Ritsuka]

Dropbox and friends need to be updated to work correctly with the new Files app.
Once updated, they will work the same as iCloud Drive.

 

[FranzMarc]

When I open a Word Doc from my documents it opens in Pages (which changes a lot of fonts and formats) instead of just opening the Word doc in the MS Word app. Is there a way to change that?

Hhmm, for me it opens the doc within the files app in a sort of “view only” view. From there I can use the share button, square with arrow, to open it in Pages or Word.

There you can also just view it and have to save a copy in Word itself to actually work on the file.

 

[RevTEG]

Hhmm, for me it opens the doc within the files app in a sort of “view only” view. From there I can use the share button, square with arrow, to open it in Pages or Word.

There you can also just view it and have to save a copy in Word itself to actually work on the file.

Thanks for the reply. I'm stumped and headed to bed. Mine is not opening in any preview. It's giving me the the warning about font and format changes and opening in Pages. I like Pages, but this is not how I need the file app to function when I have the correct apps available. Thanks again for the info.

 

[Json81]

UPDATE: BOX is working as expected, exactly like iCloud Drive. Google Drive, Onedrive, Dropbox do not! Suspecting the third party providers maybe be at fault.

Just tested, yes BOX work as I expect things to work, can drag and drop files etc.
Guess the others need more time.
Wasn't dropbox mentioned at the keynote? Strange that they aren't the first to work properly.

 

[patent10021]

I’ve been using this since beta and it’s really convenient.

However I have NEVER seen such an ugly un-Apple-like design. Wtf is going on over there? Oh right, SJ is gone.

Those icons etc are putrid. Even the butt ugly Google Material Design stuff is better. In fact this stuff looks like 2010 Microsoft stuff.

 

[Monsieur Arykovère]

I tried moving a Dropbox excel file to a folder I created in Files... it downloaded (and opened) to somewhere I couldn't find after I closed it.

So far the regular Dropbox app seems more useful and intuitive, if lacking in pretty drag animations.

There's an update coming to Dropbox that should make the integration into the Files app more native.

At the time of this post the update is not yet available.

 

[Easttime]

I wonder how elders are gonna figure out stuff with these complex features.

Be wary of stereotyping: I suspect I was coding before most here were born. Meanwhile there are 20s who get frustrated with goofy interfaces, like everybody else. Seems to me that TV and IT UIs are getting worse not better.

 

[Muzzakus]

Just tested, yes BOX work as I expect things to work, can drag and drop files etc.
Guess the others need more time.
Wasn't dropbox mentioned at the keynote? Strange that they aren't the first to work properly.

Indeed, assuming windows sync is robust, I’m migrating to BOX. Make use of my 50 gig finally

 

[Json81]

Indeed, assuming windows sync is robust, I’m migrating to BOX. Make use of my 50 gig finally

I also have 50GB on the free plan, but that's not enough storage for me and the paid plan is more than dropbox and you still only get 100GB.

 

[Glassed Silver]

It still feels like Apple has managed to make file management a whole lot more confusing. Who really knows where things are stored anymore, how you get to them and what results in them (not) being copied/moved/opened in place. With traditional file management, at least there was a chance I could explain it to my mom or dad (whether they would listen is another matter), now even I have no idea what's going on. I suppose at least Apple has created a level playing field where nobody has an intuition about how things work anymore.

So much this.

Glassed Silver:win

 

[R10k]

Try tagging a book in iBooks. The tag shows up in Files, but not the book.

Methinks fixering needs to happen.

 

[Tovenaar]

The functionality I was looking for in this app is pretty simple: access files on my ipad and on the cloud, and synchronize between the two (I.e. make offline copies of files I want to use).

I currently used PDF Expert to do that, and it makes this task seamless. I create a synced copy of the files I want to use on my DropBox account and every time I’m online they synchronize.

Looks like I’m sticking to PDF Expert

 

[jayducharme]

Worth pointing out as I did in another thread: If an app saves files locally, it will enabled “On My iPhone/iPad” local file management as well. This option shows on the side bar but is hidden until you do that. Once it’s done you’re free to create folders and manage local files.

This was my main concern. I have plenty of storage on my iPad and don’t always need the Cloud. As long as I can access files locally, I’m happy.

 

[andycarver]

When using iOS 10 save to iCloud I could tap locations and choose macOS server. That’s not an option now.
Any solutions?

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

It still feels like Apple has managed to make file management a whole lot more confusing. Who really knows where things are stored anymore, how you get to them and what results in them (not) being copied/moved/opened in place. With traditional file management, at least there was a chance I could explain it to my mom or dad (whether they would listen is another matter), now even I have no idea what's going on. I suppose at least Apple has created a level playing field where nobody has an intuition about how things work anymore.

And I had a client that had enabled iCloud Drive, and had no internet access and so I popped them on the wired network, and disabled iCloud Drive. It created two folders while 'backing up her contents' from Drive. One with the folder hierarchy, and one with the same layout, AND all her data. Strange...

I don't use anything cloud based. Clouds make me think of storms, and I don't need a storm.