How to Access iPhone Files

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Open the Files app on your iPhone.

2 Tap "Browse."

3 Browse for the file.

4 Tap the file you want to open.

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Article Summary

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 6, 2022 Tested

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This wikiHow teaches you how to open a file saved to your iCloud or a local mobile folder on your iPhone.

Steps

1

Open the Files app on your iPhone.

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   Find and tap the

   

   {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/6\/62\/Iphonefilesapp01.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Iphonefilesapp01.png\/30px-Iphonefilesapp01.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":460,"bigWidth":30,"bigHeight":30,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>I edited this screenshot of an iOS icon.\n<\/p><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a><br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

   icon. You'll see it on your Home screen or in the Productivity folder of your App Library.
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2

Tap "Browse."

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1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/31\/Access-iPhone-Files-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Access-iPhone-Files-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/31\/Access-iPhone-Files-Step-2.jpg\/aid10933555-v4-728px-Access-iPhone-Files-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   You'll see the Browse tab on the bottom-right. This button looks like a folder. It will open a list of all your available file locations.

3

Browse for the file.

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1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Access-iPhone-Files-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Access-iPhone-Files-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Access-iPhone-Files-Step-3.jpg\/aid10933555-v4-728px-Access-iPhone-Files-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   The file might be saved to your iPhone on your iCloud Drive. Tap iCloud Drive or On My iPhone to go to one of these locations. There, you'll see additional folders that might contain the file you're looking for.
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4

Tap the file you want to open.

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1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/Access-iPhone-Files-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Access-iPhone-Files-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/08\/Access-iPhone-Files-Step-4.jpg\/aid10933555-v4-728px-Access-iPhone-Files-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
   This will open the selected file in its default application. If your file is stored on the cloud, tapping will download it before opening.

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