Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

RG03

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 15, 2018
5
1
I Apologise in advance, if my question sounds nerdy. It's just that i dont want to have extra space taken up by unwanted files.
I have recently been using the Files app quit a lot and am now wondering, about the files downloaded from inside the Files app in ios only for viewing. These files do not have the cloud with an arrow icon after i have pressed on them in order to view them (lets say it's a photo), so it seems that the Files app downloads these photos to my device, but where does it store these photos? I mean its obvious that it should be in the photos app, but no, it is only there if I specifically save it to the photos app. But where are these photos downloaded to from the cloud in first place from them to be viewed inside the Files app? And if there is some kind of a cache folder how to empty it or reupload these photos back to icloud.
 

CrashTestWalrus

macrumors regular
Mar 1, 2018
126
53
I think it depends on what app you downloaded them from since files interfaces with google drive and Microsoft one drive. If you are talking iCloud Drive files it is stored within the files app, this could be reflected as system inside of the storage view. It seems a lot of system apps are placing things there in iOS 11. There is another thread talking about that. The behavior you are seeing with downloading a picture or video for offline use that doesn’t appear in your camera roll is correct, though. It will appear there if you tell it to save it there, but not until then.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RG03 and jhall8

4492865

Cancelled
Jun 30, 2017
271
285
If you stored the files inside the Files app on your iOs device, than those files wouldn't have the arrow as they are already cached on your device. They will also be uploaded to your storage provider, e.g. iCloud Drive.

This happens if you long tap a photo or image and tap Save to Files. They won't go into your Photos app at all in the case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RG03

RG03

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 15, 2018
5
1
I think it depends on what app you downloaded them from since files interfaces with google drive and Microsoft one drive. If you are talking iCloud Drive files it is stored within the files app, this could be reflected as system inside of the storage view. It seems a lot of system apps are placing things there in iOS 11. There is another thread talking about that. The behavior you are seeing with downloading a picture or video for offline use that doesn’t appear in your camera roll is correct, though. It will appear there if you tell it to save it there, but not until then.
Thank you for your answer. Do you happen to know if it is possible to somehow re-upload files (photos etc.) from the cache within the Files (iCloud Drive) app to the cloud, so that it doesn't take up internal device space?
[doublepost=1521617305][/doublepost]
If you stored the files inside the Files app on your iOs device, than those files wouldn't have the arrow as they are already cached on your device. They will also be uploaded to your storage provider, e.g. iCloud Drive.

This happens if you long tap a photo or image and tap Save to Files. They won't go into your Photos app at all in the case.
Thank you 4 your answer)
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.