Learn to merge PDF files effortlessly on your iPhone or iPad using the built-in Files app and Shortcuts app.
Files
What to Do If You Can't Delete Files on Mac That Are In Use
Follow these steps if you can’t delete files on Mac that are in use and “This operation can’t be completed…” appears.
How to Open RAR Files on Mac
Find out how to open RAR files on Mac using third-party apps such as the Unarchiver, which supports RAR file unpacking.
iOS: Here's How to Draw Perfect Shapes in Markup
Did you know you can draw perfect shapes with Markup? Markup lets you edit screenshots and photos to draw or add text.
How to Find and Copy File Paths in iOS Using the Files App
Using file paths in certain shortcut actions helps you automate your file workflows. But did you know you can copy file paths in iOS?
Encrypted Storage App ‘Boxcryptor’ Integrates Better With Files App
Boxcryptor received a major update for iOS and iPadOS that eliminates its own file browser. Instead, you’ll browse through your encrypted files completely within Apple’s Files app. Robert Freudenreich explains the decision: “By taking a ‘Files app first’ approach, we enable the best user experience for working with encrypted files in Apple’s Files app.” The integration with the Files app has been in place since iOS 11. But by eliminating the additional Boxcryptor-owned file browser, the Files app now becomes the exclusive file manager. For users, this primarily means an even simpler workflow.
There Are 2 Ways to Recover iCloud Drive Files
Did you accidentally delete a file or folder and want to get it back? Thankfully there are two ways to recover iCloud Drive files.
Gmail for iOS Integrates With Files App
Google shared a blog post today in which it announced that Gmail for iOS will now support adding files from the Files app.
File Speeds Using iOS Files are Terrible Compared to Finder
Redditor u/j1ggl did a test to compare Finder and Files using a folder of 2048 texture files. The folder was only 1MB, but iOS Files still handled different tasks way worse than Finder. For example, using the app’s built-in zip function, zipping the folder took 3 seconds with Finder and 38 seconds with Files. Unzipping took 7 seconds versus 42 seconds, respectively.
Conclusion: The Files app for iPhone/iPad is badly optimized and not ready to handle a larger amount of files, even though they take up just 1MB in total. It is also worth noting that the iPad required several reboots to even achieve the zipping and unzipping of the folder.
The 2020 iPhone Should Include a USB-C Port
Dieter Bohn writes that the 2020 iPhone should have a USB-C port, instead of a port coming to the 2019 iPhone.
I think it’s easier to get people to accept port changes when they go along with some other kind of dramatic change to a product line. And not to put too fine a point on it: if the rumors are correct, this year’s iPhone 11 doesn’t look like a very dramatic change.
The main reason I want a USB-C iPhone is flash drives. I’d love a USB-C flash drive that I could plug into both my iPad Pro and my iPhone. I have a wireless one that works with both, but it requires a separate app to use. One that “just works” natively with the Files app is ideal to me.
macOS: How to See Where a Download Came From
So you’ve downloaded files to your Mac. What’s an easy way to see where they came from if you forget? Or how can you tell where your dad got that pirated copy of Microsoft Office? In today’s Quick Tip, we’ll tell you how to see that info…and maybe help you call out your dad’s terrible computing habits.
How to Use "Insert Pattern" in TextEdit to Clean Up Text
The Mac’s built-in TextEdit program has a little-known feature that’ll let you find tabs, paragraph breaks, and the like and replace them in text—or find patterns of them, even. It’s a very powerful way to clean up extraneous characters, so come read this Quick Tip!
iOS 11: How to Share Documents from the Files App
The Files app in iOS 11 does more than let you see and organize documents with your iPhone or iPad. It lets you share files, too, although not all sharing is created equal.
Google Drive gets Full iOS 11 Files Support
Google Drive already worked Files in iOS 11, but thanks to a fresh update it now fully supports the app’s interface.
Apple Files App for iOS 11 Hints at Mac-like Document Organizing for iPhone
File management may be coming to the iPhone and iPad thanks to the just leaked Files app for iOS 11.