How to Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone or iPad? Our iPhones and iPads have become tools of everyday essentials. After all, we can not only use them as sources of entertainment and communication but also complete our workflow and study.
For this reason, it is very important that both devices are able to download content from the Internet; but how to find these files once we have them?
The answer is quite simple, actually; only in the first place can be a bit difficult to adapt to managing files on iPhone or iPad. However, once mastered, it is quite easy. For that, you just need to follow this procedure for how to find your downloads on iPhone and iPad.
Knowing how to take advantage of this feature is not limited to viewing downloaded documents. Too we can free up a lot of space if we find out where those files are that we didn’t know we could delete; basically because we didn’t know their location in the first place.
How to Find Downloaded Files on an iPhone or iPad?
To start, your iPhone and iPad must have iOS version 12 or higher. This requirement is essential because this is the version in which Apple has included the Files app. This integration has been essential for the growth of iOS and iPadOS, and with each new version of the two operating systems, those of Cupertino focus on improving this section.
How can you use this application to find your downloaded documents? Just follow these steps on your iPhone or iPad. The procedure is relatively similar on both devices; so you’ll have no problem using what you’ve learned in both versions of the app.
- On your iPhone or iPad, go to the app Folders built into your device.
- Go to the tab To explore, in case you are not there. To do this, tap the folder icon at the bottom.
- Here you will see several options under the section Pitches.
Each of these options corresponds to another section from your iPhone.
- iPhone/iPad: This will be your device’s local storage. Anything downloaded here will be stored directly on your terminal.
- iCloud drive: Of course, this section corresponds to cloud storage. Anything you download and store in this folder will be uploaded to the Apple cloud. However, if you don’t have space in iCloud, it will work as an extension of local storage.
- Other options: If you have more associated cloud services on your iPhone, you will also be able to see them here. Among them, we have Dropbox, Google Drive, Amazon Drive, and more.
- downloads: Here you can find downloaded files directly from your iPhone or iPad browser.
This last section can be used to direct access to your downloads. However, you can also do this by going to iCloud Drive and then to the folder downloads. Note that you can create your own folders here and use them to upload content to any of them whenever you want.
If you know the name of what you want to search for, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen.
How to properly use the Files app?
Once you have your downloaded files in view, you can perform various actions with them.
- A key: With a single tap, you can preview the contents of said document.
- long press: Hold the file to open a context menu that lets you copy, cut, and paste documents on all iOS and iPad. You also have other options like renaming, compressing, duplicating, and marking your files.
- Rearrange the view of your files: If you have iOS or iPadOS 14 and above, you can do this by tapping on the three dots in a circle located at the top right of the screen. Here you can change the document preview for lists or icons; as well as order them based on parameters such as date, name, size, and more. If you have iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 or earlier, you can change the view using the icon in the upper right corner and organize them using “Sort by…” at the top of the screen.
