all tips and features

The Files application is the right option to manage any type of document, image or file on the iPhone or iPad, we show you some tips to get the most out of it

For many years in iOS, we realized that In daily use, we needed an application capable of grouping all available files and filessomething like a Finder but for the iPhone or iPad. Until iOS 11, Apple launched the Files application and our request was granted. As time has improved, in addition to file management, it allows us to perform organizational tasks such as renaming files, opening them without the need for external applications and even the ability to format external drives in iOS and iPadOS 18. In this article we show you the tips and functions you are missing.

Make annotations or annotations on any image or PDF

The Files app not only works as a manager for documents, images, etc., He also has abilities that might surprise you.. Just as you can take some quick notes in a screenshot or quick note too you can create them on your own files. This is useful if you need to highlight something in a file you just received or if you need to share it in seconds. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Files app and choose a PDF, jpg or png file in which you will make annotations or markings
2. Touch it Markup button from the lower right corner
3. An editor will open with markers and different types of pensyou can also choose the autocomplete button then the Plus icon to activate a text box or signature
4. When you have made the corresponding notes, click Done to conclude.

Move multiple files in a single gesture

In the Files app, you can have folders or different file locations. If this is the first time you use the application and you see that everything is messy, you can apply the order by moving the files exactly how you want it.

1. Open the files and go to the location where the files you want to move are located
2. Touch it three point button from the upper right corner
3. Click on the Select an option
4. Select file by file until the heap is full files to move
5. Tap the folder icon located at the bottom
6. Then click on Explore in the upper left corner to move to the location or folder where you will move said selected files
7. Confirm with Move in the upper right corner

This will save you from moving file by file. So, by simply making a selection, you will be able to move files in batches according to your organization’s needs.

Compress or decompress files

As a file manager, it is of utmost importance that you have a tool to compress or decompress files. You won’t need to use any third-party app since Files has this feature.

1. Open the files and find the compressed or decompressed file
2. Tap and hold the item and select Compress or Uncompress depending on the action you want to perform

If you compressed or decompressed a file, the result will be displayed in the same folder containing the one where you performed the action.

Scan documents from files

This is something that almost no one knows and you are about to find out. Users who use the Notes application the most know the possibility of being able to perform analyzes to physical documents. However, if you don’t use this app for any reason and you use a third-party application to scan any document, There is an alternative to use the built-in file scanner.

1. Open the Files app and press the three-point button
2. Select the Document scanning option
3. As you would with any scanning application, Place the document in the viewing area of ​​the iPhone camera
4. Press the shutter button to perform the analysis
5. Drag the corners that appear right after scanning to define what you don’t want to see at the edges
6. Click Continue Scanning then Save if you are already finished; you can click Repeat if you want to try the scanning procedure again
7. Once finished, give the scanned file a name and confirm Save

The scanned file will be saved in PDF format in the previously selected folder.

Set tags on your files

You probably already know this tip if you already own a Mac and you are a tag dependent user. It is possible to replicate them in the Files application. Depending on how you want to organize, you can use colors for different files.

1. Open the Files app and long press on the file to tag
2. The action menu will be activated, choose Tags
3. Select the tag to add or customize it in the Add new tag option
4. Give it a name and a color, confirm ready
5. You can now assign the new custom label
6. Click Done to finish

In the Explore menu, you can find tags and find your files more easily. You can also enter the tag name in the search to find them.

Duplicate your files

The Duplicate feature is built into macOS in the Finder, luckily there is something similar in the Files app. This comes in handy when we have a format or document that we are going to edit but we don’t want to mess it up if we try a certain type of editing.

1. Open the Files app and find the document or file to duplicate
2. keep the pressure on above to activate the options menu
3. Select the Duplicate option

The file will be duplicated and to differentiate it a number will be placed at the end of its name.

View files faster

If you are on an iPhone and for some reason you need to check your Files app to find one or more files, but you need some time to do so, you should apply the following trick:

1. Open the Files app and Locate the folder or location of the file set you want to examine
2. Open one of the files then, to move to another, Tap the three-line button that appears in the upper left corner
3. Scroll and now you can view and open another file in list view

It’s easier to locate a document in a folder with too many files by its title than by the thumbnail, which usually doesn’t appear in some.

Locate “trash” files

What happens to deleted files in archives? Once you delete a document or image, that file will be retained for a period of 30 days. until it is completely removed. If you want to recover or delete deleted files, follow these steps:

1. Open the files and go explore
2. With an overview of all possible locations, choose the recently deleted folder
3. Choose one of the files and select Recover to restore it to its original folder or Delete now do it permanently

Optimize the size of your PDF files

If most files in the Files app are PDFs, There is a trick to reduce the storage they take up in the cloud or on your iPhone. So that they are not in danger, the application will generate the copy with a smaller size.

1. Open the Files app and Locate the PDF file you want to optimize
2. Maintain pressure on the backrest and choose from the options menu Quick Actions
3. Select the Optimize file size option

The smallest automatically generated file will have a word “compressed” at the end to differentiate it from the original file. It is not possible to optimize this new file, so you can only do it once.

Did you already know the tips we showed you? The Files app has been refined over time, and we’re confident it’s a great option for users who rely solely on iOS or iPadOS to manage their documents, images, and more.

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