Files on iPadOS 26 doesn't suck anymore

AppleInsider

Apple's WWDC 2025 announcements included changes to the Files app in iPadOS 26 that, well, frankly, makes it actually usable for the first time.

The Files app in iPadOS 26 finally has List view - Image Credit: Apple

The Files app is a very handy tool on iPadOS for managing documents and folders, but it's not as user-friendly as it could be. And let's be honest, it was a bare-bones effort, that didn't work that well.

For a start, the List view was pretty limited in how it appeared, as you couldn't adjust how the columns appeared size-wise at all. It was also very clunky when it came to navigating between different folders, since you could only see the contents of one folder at a time.

And that's just a start. That's all about to change, though.

As part of the refresh for iPadOS 26 at WWDC, the Files app is getting a few more usability changes.

Under the new version, the List view has sortable columns like before, covering data points like Date Modified, Kind, and Size information However, this time each column can also be resized to the user's preference, so they can more easily see date or size information rather than the full document name, for example.

List view in Files for iPadOS 26 - Image Credit: Apple

This makes the Files app come a bit closer to what Mac users see in Finder under List view. Finally.

Folders within the folder being viewed are also collapsible. This is a massive change, as users can more easily navigate within nested folders and still see the contents of the parent folder, instead of having to back in and out of them.

Files also offers new customization options that can synchronize across a user's devices. This includes setting custom colors and icons, and even emoji.

Dragging items from Files to the iPadOS 26 Dock - Image Credit: Apple

Lastly, users can also drag any folder from within Files directly into the Dock. That gives power users even quicker access of documents.

The Files updates arrives at the same time as other productivity changes to iPadOS 26, including a new window management system that brings it closer to macOS.



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mplsp

The title of this article says it all! 

Files has been one of several glaring weakness in iPadOS for several versions. It’s great that they’re finally making it more useful and usable.

monkeyt

The new iPadOS Files and Window Management tools feel a lot like the first update of the MacOS "Mission Control" features from nearly a decade ago.  I suspect the iPad team got a "Baby with the Bathwater lecture".

edited June 9

derffy

This is a welcome step forward.  I attributed the limited file system to instant access and low processing power.   Additionally, moving files between desktop and iPad has always seemed clunky.  I wonder if this will bring better access when using Mac finder to transfer files.  For instance when moving a file to iPad in Finder, you can not rename from Finder, you have to either login into the iPad to rename or rename in finder window prior to moving onto iPad. 

jellybelly

I hope we can see date created.    

Please, please please.    

Just opening one of my two portfolio modeling Numbers spreadsheets just to ONLY view a file, changes the modification date—really, no changes made.   This is due to the handy sito save feature built in.  But it gets annoying.   

My files are very similar files and I’d like to know which one was created first and is usually the master file without having to have that as part of the file name.    

For now, I’ve compressed the file name clue to the “letters “MR” at the end of the file name, to designate as Master Record.  

I can then use my old desktop publishing conventions of starting with cc1, cc2… etc. Meaning customer corrreection vs a version change on my part which used v1, v2, v2.1, v2.12  v3 for my versions to try or advance to.   The dot .1 or dot .11, v1.12, or v3.23 were progressively more minor changes with whole number changes as the most major changes.    

I’ll still use those naming conventions that have served me since 1987 in early prepress and in my graphic design and then later in1991, in my Photoshop work.  

BUT I still want to see the creation date.   It helps me in billing work.   I use my “cc” prefixes for billable customer changes major and minor, but bill creative time for “v” versions.   But I do like to see a documents entire history for various reasons including creation date.   

Is it available without having to view on a Mac?  —can I view it on new iPad OS failed system?

avon b7

I haven't seen the keynote yet but any improvement to file management for the user is a huge plus.

iPad got files wrong from a design perspective right out of the gate with it being impossible to even download things like email attachments locally. 

People could work around the virtual keyboard by adding a physical Bluetooth one easily enough but it took almost forever for improvements file management in general. In 2025 there is no reason to hold the experience back. 

At last things seem to be moving on the right direction and that's massively positive. 

Now for touchscreen laptops and full interoperability at a system level between macOS and iPad OS/iPhone. 

And preferably a 3:2 aspect ratio option. 

sarsara_777

Looking at that screenshot, you still can't see the *size of folders*, only the number of items in them. This info is even displayed twice which seems redundant.

This is my single biggest pet hate of Windows, as it handy to know if a folder is 200Gb or 20mb in size!