"On my iPhone" folder in Files app

[rctneil]

Hi,

Just received a new 16 Pro as an Express Device Replacement and set it up by ensuring my current phone was nearby and everything transferred over.

I then noticed that the App Folders inside "On my iPhone" in the Files app were not there. Are these meant to transfer over or not? I called Apple Support but couldn't get a solid answer.

Any suggestions how to move them to my new phone. One folder has a lot of TV episode video files so is rather large.

 

[Slartibart]

as strange as it sounds: turn it off. wait “3 missisipi’s”, then turn it on. <- that is different to restarting it.

 

[NoBoMac]

Are these meant to transfer over or not?

Maybe not. Depends.

I know that the developers set a flag that says allow backup of data or not. Generally that means that if an app has a cloud component, media that is re-downloadable/syncable, the flag is set to "do not backup" as expected to re-download the content. All done to minimize the size of iCloud (and to desktop) backups.

So if these apps are tagging their data as "no backup", MAYBE? affecting transfer from one to the other.

Just did a quick scan of my last iPhone backup and my "On My iPhone" was pretty much intact, but did notice the Adobe folder there was not in the backup.

Another puzzle piece: it appears (on my device) much of the apps folders under On my iPhone are part of the app's silo and not actually in OMi. Makes some sense as the whole design paradigm of preventing one silo leaking into another and exposing potential threats. So looks like there is some redirection going on to make it look like the folders are in OMi and these folders might not exist until the app(s) are actually installed (and even then, maybe not until first invoke). So, once everything up and running, maybe Airdrop things over or shuttle via iCloud?

 

[rctneil]

I think you're totally right about these folders being inside the app silo and some fancy magic stuff happening to make it appear as a "folder" inside OMi. I have just transferred them manually again.

I did ensure the app was installed, and opened it but they didn;t auto sync so done manually now.

Thank you!