Geek Dashboard

How-To's, Smartphones, News and Reviews

  • Home
  • News
  • Smartphones
    • Android
    • iOS
  • Computers
    • Windows
    • macOS
  • Internet
  • Reviews
You are at Home » Mobiles

How to Download Files and Documents to iPhone

Last Updated on March 27, 2020 by Amar Ilindra Leave a Comment

Android devices have a default “Downloads” folder and you can download almost any file type from the Internet into it. Downloaded files can then be opened using an appropriate application or shared via Bluetooth, Email easily. But we can not download files to iPhone directly as Android users are doing.

For iOS users, things are trickier than that. Differing from Windows, Mac, and Android, iOS organizes and manages data/documents in a different way. It does not support direct downloads by default. Instead, it lets you load and open files from within the web browser (such as PDF, DOCX, Doc files).

Also Read: How to unlock Mac with iPhone (with Bluetooth or Touch ID)

If Safari cannot open the file (ZIP, RAR), you’ll need to use another app that is capable of handling it. If you are using iCloud Drive or a cloud storage service like Dropbox or Google Drive, iOS also enables you to save files to these places.

Those are a couple of ways to deal with downloading files on iOS. However, they are still not the best options. With the new Files app added in iOS 11, you can easily download any file type you want and manage them by using third-party download manager apps. Keep reading and I’ll show you the best way to save files to your iPhone or iPad.

download files documents iphone

The third-party downloader app we’re going to use in this tutorial is Documents by Readdle. There are a couple of other file downloader apps available in the App Store, but I choose this app because of its powerful file downloading and managing features. If you’re interested in other options, you can read this dedicated article on iPhonebyte.

By description, Documents is a file manager which is useful to open multiple file formats. But besides being a file manager and opener, it also features a built-in web browser, which you can use to visit a web page, tap on a download link and start downloading the respective file.

Steps for downloading files to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Step 1: Install Documents app from the App Store.

Download on App Store

Step 2: Open the Documents app, tap on the icon that looks like Safari in the bottom right corner. It is the built-in web browser.

documents app for iphone

Step 3: Open the download using the address bar at the top of the app.

Step 4: Documents will bring up a file saving dialogue box. You can rename the file and change the download folder before starting. By default, your files are saved to “Downloads” folder in the app. Once you’ve done with that, tap on the Save button in the top-right corner to start the download process.

Rename the files before downloading

Step 5: Once the file has been downloaded, you can click on the eye icon respective to the file. This will open up the folder containing the downloaded file. You can alternatively go to the Documents area and find the formerly chosen folder.

Download files to iPhone

Note that the file is saved in the app’s local storage, which means if you delete the Documents app, its data and documents including your files will also be deleted.

Documents are able to handle multiple file types and can be a media player to play music and videos. It can be a document viewer to read PDF files and Office documents or it can even be a zip opener for your iPhone that lets you extract and compress files with ease.

Also Read: How to View and Copy MAC address in iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

In the rare occasion that Documents cannot do the task, such as editing a Docx, you can export the file to an appropriate application via the Open In feature. Despite the fact that it is completely free, Documents is a great application to have on your iPhone and iPad.

#Apple#Apps#Download#iPhone
Posted inMobiles

Spread the Word!

Avatar for Amar Ilindra

Amar Ilindra Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram GitHub

Amar Ilindra is a tech-savvy individual who is passionate about gadgets and new technology. He is a full-stack developer who enjoys experimenting with technology and sharing his experiences through blogging. When he's not writing, he devotes his time to creating practical web and mobile applications for both Android and iOS platforms.

Related articles

Reviews

What is Mi Band and How To Configure It?

How to charge Mi Band
Mobiles

How to Root HTC EVO 4G

root HTC EVO 4G
News

Xiaomi Beats Samsung and Apple to become India's ‘Most Preferred Smartphone Brand’

Comment Policy:

The comments section is aimed to help our readers in case of any questions or you can even appreciate us for our hard work. Every comment is strictly moderated before approving it.

Your name and comment will be visible to the public. Never share your personal information in the comments section.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Over 1,30,286+ Followers

Join to get latest updates from Geek Dashboard

Facebook Twitter Telegram Pinterest YouTube Instagram

Recently Published

  1. Lenovo Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Laptop with 13th Gen Intel Core i7 Launched in India

  2. Lenovo Tab P11 5G Launched with 11-inch 2K Display and Snapdragon 750G SoC in India

  3. How To Select All Photos on iPhone and iPad Quickly

  4. iQOO 11 5G with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and 120W Fast Charging Launched in India

  5. Realme 10 Officially Launched with 90Hz AMOLED Display and Dual Cameras in India

Geek Dashboard Placeholder

Download the apps and never miss a story from us

We put a lot effort and resources in writing our articles and we believe it is our responsibility to satisfy your tech hunger. We will keep you filled forever!

  • Get Geek Dashboard App from Google Play
  • Get Geek Dashboard App from Chrome Web Store
Geek Dashboard Logo

At Geek Dashboard, we are dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest in technology news, reviews, and how-to guides. From smartphones to laptops, and everything in between, we've got you covered.

Got a Tip? Write In tip@geekdashboard.com

© 2012 - 2023 · Geek Dashboard, product of ikva eSolutions

Blog Advertise About Jobs Contact Privacy Policy Write For Us T&C Office Setup

No dogs were injured while working on this website because we love them