iPhone: Saving, sharing and deleting files
Learn how to save a copy of a file to your phone, how to find the file using the Files app, how to share a file with a friend using email, and how to delete a file you no longer need.
Before you begin
Before you start, make sure the iPhone is switched on and fully charged. Your operating software should also be up to date.
Saving an email attachment to the Files app
The Files app stores files on your iPhone, which can be accessed without an internet connection. You can use other apps to save files to your iPhone, and then use the Files app to find and view those apps later.
When you receive an email with an attachment, you can use the Mail app to save it onto your iPhone or view the attachment. For example, you can open an email to see a document, such as a travel itinerary, as a preview image of the file.
- Tap the preview to open the attachment full screen
- Tap the Share icon to open the Share options panel and choose Save to Files as the sharing option
- Check that On My iPhone is highlighted. Tap to highlight if it isn't
- Tap Save. When the Share options panel slides away, the file is saved to your iPhone.
Use search to find and open the Files app
The Files app may not have an icon on your Home screen. To find Files quickly, swipe down from the middle of the Home screen, to see the Search bar. Type in Files and the Files icon will appear as a search result. Tap to open the Files app.
When the Files app is open, tap Browse at the bottom of the screen. If the On My iPhone screen doesn't appear, use the arrow in the top left to see Browse options and choose On My iPhone to see all the files saved on your phone.
- Use the Search bar on this screen to find a particular file
- To open a file from the list, tap on it to see it in full screen
- Tap Done to close the file and see the On My iPhone screen again
- Remember, files saved to the Files app can be accessed even when your iPhone has no internet connection via Wi-Fi or a mobile network.
How to share a file from your phone or delete it
You can share files with other people using the Share menu. Find the file you want to share in the Files app, then tap and hold your finger on the file to open the options panel.
- Tap the Share icon to show the Share options panel
- Choose the blue Mail icon to share a file via email
- The Mail app opens on the New Message screen, with the file already included as an email attachment
- Enter an email address in the To box. You can also add a Subject. Tap above the attachment if you want to type a short message in the email
- When ready, tap Send. The Mail app will close and you'll see the On My iPhone screen in the Files app again.
To delete a file, select it from the On My iPhone list of files. Tap and hold on the file to see the options panel and choose Delete. Tap Delete again to confirm you want to permanently delete this file from your iPhone.
Only delete files from the On My iPhone screen. Deleting other files may cause your iPhone to stop working properly.