What Is the Files App?
The Files app is a centralized hub for available cloud-based storage options such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and iCloud Drive. It also contains documents stored on iOS devices that were created in other apps. Previously, the only way to get at these local files was by plugging the iPhone or iPad into your PC and launching iTunes. With the Files app, you can copy these documents to any storage location.
How to Move Documents in Files With Drag and Drop
The drag-and-drop feature Apple introduced in iOS 11 provides easier ways to manipulate files on iPad or iPhone. While it is possible to select and move files using buttons on the screen manually, it’s faster to pick up files and move them.
How to Move Documents With Buttons
You can also move files by using buttons on the screen. This method can be faster and more convenient than managing documents and photos with multiple fingers and hands.
How to Use Tags in Files
Tags flag individual documents or folders for quick access later. The Tags section includes color-coded tags (red, orange, blue, and other colors) and specialized tags such as work, home, and important. To add a label to a document or a folder, drag a file or a stack of files and drop the files on a tag. Tap an individual tag to display a list of files and folders with that tag. You can also drag-and-drop from this folder to another tag or move the stack of selected files and folders to a different location in Files.
Drag and Drop Outside of the Files App
When you select a stack of documents in Files, you aren’t restricted to dropping it on another area of the Files app. Use multitasking to open another app as a destination or close the Files app by clicking the Home button before launching the new app. The requirements are that you keep the original finger holding the stack of files pressed against the display and that the destination must be able to accept those files. For example, you can drag an image to the Photos app and drop it on an album, but you can’t drag a Pages document to Photos.
