How to Access & Edit iCloud Files from iPhone & iPad

Do you use iCloud to store your documents and other files from multiple Apple devices that you own? If so, you’ll be able to access, view, edit, and manage them right on your iPhone and iPad using the Files app.

Apple introduced the Files app that replaced the iCloud Drive app, alongside the release of iOS 11. This made it a whole lot easier to access any kind of file or folder that’s stored on Apple’s cloud servers. These could include screenshots, PDF documents, zip files and more. With this app, users can keep all of their files organized under different folders, and the changes they make get automatically synced across all of their Apple devices.

Are you interested in managing your files that are stored on the iCloud Drive? Perfect, let’s cover how to access and edit iCloud files from both the iPhone and iPad.

How to Access & Edit iCloud Files from iPhone & iPad

Before you go ahead with the procedure, you need to make sure that your iPhone & iPad is running iOS 13 / iPadOS 13 or later. Although Files app has been available since iOS 11, certain functions aren’t available on the older versions. If you don’t see the Files app on your device, simply download it from the App Store.

1. Open the “Files” app from the home screen of your iPhone and iPad.

   

2. Under the Browse menu of the Files app, tap on “iCloud Drive” as shown in the screenshot below.

   

3. Here, you’ll be able to view all the folders that are stored on iCloud. To make changes here, tap “Select” at the top-right corner of the screen.
   
   
4. Simply tap on any of the folders to select it. You’ll now have the option to delete that particular folder if necessary. For more options, tap on the “triple-dot” icon.
   
   
5. You’ll have the ability to compress / uncompress the folder or copy / paste it in a different location.
   
   
6. Tap on any of the folders listed under iCloud Drive to view all the files that are stored under it. Similar to the third step, if you head over to the edit menu by tapping on “Select”, you’ll have the ability to delete, compress and uncompress files. Additionally, you’ll also notice options that let you create a duplicate copy or move the files to a new location or a different folder within iCloud Drive, based on your preference.
   
   
7. By choosing the Move option, you’ll be able to move your documents and other files to the physical storage of your iPhone or iPad. If you take advantage of multiple cloud services, you’ll also be able to move files from iCloud Drive to Google Drive, Dropbox and more.
   
   
8. If you long press any of the files on your iCloud Drive, you’ll get access to even more options. Here, you’ll be able to rename the file according to your preference, view file information, add tags or get a quick preview of the file.
   
   

That’s an overview for accessing and editing iCloud Drive files right from the comfort of your iPhone and iPad, it’s pretty easy right?

All the changes you make to the files and folders within the app will be immediately synced across all your other Apple devices that are signed in to the same iCloud account, making it a convenient way to keep your cloud storage organized.

Do you want to access and edit your iCloud Files while you’re using your Windows PC or Mac? You can make use of Apple’s iCloud.com website to conveniently keep your iCloud Drive files organized. There’s no need to install any additional software, as all you need is a web browser.

Do you use a different service to securely store your files on the cloud? Files app can also be used to access and edit files that are stored on third-party cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox etc. If you’ve subscribed to multiple services, it’s also fairly easy to move your files between the cloud storages and keep them updated.

Did you manage to keep all your iCloud Drive files and documents organized right from your iPhone and iPad? What do you think of the convenience that Files app brings to the table? Do let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments section down below.