Preview app vs Files app

[Fatyank]

I have iPad OS26 installed on my IPad Pro 12.9 6th Gen. Working fine but I’m trying to understand the difference between the Files app and Preview app. They seem to do the same thing. Is preview app a replacement for Files? I would greatly appreciate if anyone can explain difference or how they work together.

 

[StumpyBloke]

As I see it, Preview lets you view one file, Files lets you browse your list of files.

 

[Fatyank]

When I open Preview or Files I have complete access to all my files on my IPad, iCloud, One Drive etc…
When I open Preview it shows a panel with “Preview” displayed at the top and my list of files in a pop-up screen below it. Behind it are two other panels that I can’t access. Don’t know if they are functional or just a useless display.

 

[MrTSolar]

iPadOS 26 is all about adding as many unnecessary steps as possible to things that used to be quick and easy. The Preview app is another one of those things. It does exactly what the built-in PDF viewer in Files used to, but in a separate app that slows down workflows. The only benefit I’ve found is that it can act like a PDF accumulator, similar to how Pages and Numbers list all recently used files of those formats in-app.

Best way I found to disable it is to go to a PDF file (or any other file that opens Preview), long hold or two-finger click on the file, go to Open With, and Check the box at the bottom that says “Preview with Quick Look”. This restores the old functionality that iPadOS 18 and older used. You do this once per file type, so if you do this on one PDF file, it works on all PDF files.

 

[papbot]

When I open Preview or Files I have complete access to all my files on my IPad, iCloud, One Drive etc…
When I open Preview it shows a panel with “Preview” displayed at the top and my list of files in a pop-up screen below it. Behind it are two other panels that I can’t access. Don’t know if they are functional or just a useless display.

They’re not functional. Just a display. For a primarily ipad user like myself, I haven’t found any feature or function that this new Preview app adds. It’s essentially a second step added to what I normally do in the Files app. For those that primarily use a mac, I suppose Preview makes the ipad look more like the mac, but doesn’t add any additional functionality.

 

[hg.wells]

The Preview app adds functionality for filling out forms and adding notes to PDFs with Apple Pencil functionally. Similar to the Preview app on the Mac.

 

[papbot]

The Preview app adds functionality for filling out forms and adding notes to PDFs with Apple Pencil functionally. Similar to the Preview app on the Mac.

I was able to do all that in my Files app. It’s nice that it gives mac users something they’re familiar with but for someone like me that uses an ipad for essentially everything I haven’t seen anything yet that I couldn’t do before. The Apple Pencil already worked with any of my PDFs in Files. I don’t have an objection to Preview, but it adds nothing to what I already could do.

 

[MrTSolar]

The Preview app adds functionality for filling out forms and adding notes to PDFs with Apple Pencil functionally. Similar to the Preview app on the Mac.

Quick Look in Files on iPadOS 18 has all of those tools.

 

[hg.wells]

Here is the full list of features from the App Store description:

 

[papbot]

Quick Look in Files on iPadOS 18 has all of those tools.

I’ve used my iPad and the Files app for years now - insurance forms, contracts, lease agreements, etc. I keep my mac up to date only in case I run into an issue that for some reason doesn’t function or work properly on an ipad. Years ago I frequently ran into such things, now, almost never. So I only fire up my MacBook about once a week to recharge it and make sure it’s working. But it’s going to be the last mac I’ll probably ever purchase. There may be some function that Preview adds for some people, functions I don’t use perhaps. Otherwise, it adds nothing for me.

 

[papbot]

Here is the full list of features from the App Store description:View attachment 2532127

And I believe I’ve done all or almost all of those thing prior to Preview. Maybe that helps those that weren't familiar with what the Files app does in a more concise manner.

 

[MrTSolar]

There may be some function that Preview adds for some people, functions I don’t use perhaps. Otherwise, it adds nothing for me.

Preview seems to have added the ability to rotate PDFs, but other markup tools (form fill-out, Pencil, etc.) exists in Quick Look.

In post #4 of this thread, I explain how to disable the Preview app if you want to gain the old functionality back. If only I can find a way to turn off double click with mouse in Files.

 

[papbot]

In post #4 of this thread, I explain how to disable the Preview app if you want to gain the old functionality back

Thank you! I had missed that. Nice find.

 

[richpjr]

One small feature (but one I use all the time) is zoom in and out on a PDF. You can do that in the preview app but not in the files app that I have been able to see.

 

[papbot]

One small feature (but one I use all the time) is zoom in and out on a PDF. You can do that in the preview app but not in the files app that I have been able to see.

You mean by pinching out to expand a document? That hasn’t changed. I’m using my ipad, I don’t know if 26 changed that on a phone.

 

[Fatyank]

Thank you everyone for your input. I’ve only ever had iPads and iPhones no Apple desktop or laptops so nothing to compare to. I’m retired now so lots of editing is not necessary for me anymore. I mainly use Files for storage now but I like to try new things out. Too much time on my hands I guess😹😹

 

[droidgod]

Preview also allows dark mode pdfs. Also it feels a lot more like the Mac variant. Preview allows you to customize the floating toolbar with tools you use, for example.

This is one of the best parts of iPadOS26 for me. I don’t have to go fishing for those crappy freeware PDF Reader apps finally.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

it doesn’t necessarily bring much functionality to viewing PDFs, but it does make it a much nicer experience than just using quick look.
there’s nothing wrong with quick look, but that’s exactly what it’s for, quickly looking.
if you want to keep a PDF open in its own individual application for viewing PDFs, or if you want to view more than one PDF at a time, or if you want to continue to use the file browser while viewing PDFs without having to close the quick look view every single time, it’s very useful for them to have their own dedicated application.
Think of it like this, imagine “Pages” wasn’t available and the only way to edit a proper text document was in the Files app. even if it had every function available that’s in pages today, it would still be significantly more clunky if you couldn’t open them in their own dedicated application.

 

[Abazigal]

I have iPad OS26 installed on my IPad Pro 12.9 6th Gen. Working fine but I’m trying to understand the difference between the Files app and Preview app. They seem to do the same thing. Is preview app a replacement for Files? I would greatly appreciate if anyone can explain difference or how they work together.

My guess is that there will be some overlap between the two. Both let you view and annotate on pdf documents, but preview lets you do so as a standalone app, while doing so in files pretty much takes over the entire files app, meaning you cannot browse the rest of your documents.

So files may be great if you just want to add some quick notes, but if you are taking notes over an extended period of time, may be better do so in a separate app so you still have your files app available for other purposes.