How to Fix Files App Not Working on iPhone: Complete Troubleshooting Guide (2024)

The Files app is a welcome addition to iOS. It looks simplistic, yet there’s a real powerhouse underneath once you get to know the various features available.

But just like with anything new, the Files app isn’t without its fair share of bugs and glitches, not to mention a severe lack of intuitiveness at times.

While Apple has done a great job at toning down a lot of problems over the few months that the Files app’s been in business, there are a number of annoyances still present, so let’s see how we can have them resolved.

Fix for Files App Isn’t Present

Unlike most iOS stock apps, the Files app is actually removable. If you don’t see the Files app on your Home screen or dock, then you may have deleted it accidentally.

To re-install the Files app, just search for Files via the App Store and tap the cloud-shaped icon to get it installed.

Afterward, you should find it on the Home screen instantly. You can also choose to drag the Files app onto the Dock to make it readily accessible.

Note: If you can’t find the Files app on the App Store, make sure that your device has iOS 11 installed or supports it in the first place

iCloud Doesn’t Show Up/Won’t Display Files

The Files app features iCloud Drive as a supported location by default. In fact, it’s the only location available if you don’t have any third-party cloud storage apps installed.

However, there are a couple of issues where the Files app fails to display any items stored within iCloud or stops showing iCloud as a supported location altogether. But a simple fix lets you make things function properly again.

Step 1: Open the Settings panel, tap your profile name, and then tap iCloud.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap the toggle next to iCloud Drive to turn it off. Wait for a couple of seconds, and then turn it on again.

Voila! You should now find iCloud listed within the Files app again, or if it already was, have your iCloud files and folders show up normally.

Can’t Find Additional Storage Locations

The Files app is a one-stop portal for all installed cloud storages on your iPhone or iPad. However, that doesn’t mean that the app shows your cloud storages as soon as you install them. Rather, you need to manually toggle them on — except for iCloud, which should show up by default.

On the Files app, tap the Edit option above Locations. You should now see a list of all cloud storage locations that you can turn on to gain direct access via the Files app.

Simple, wasn’t it? You should also expect a red-colored notification badge above the Locations section whenever there’s a freshly installed cloud storage location just waiting to be turned on.

Cloud Storage Isn’t Fully Integrated

When the Files app first launched, there were just a handful of cloud storages that actually integrated themselves fully into the Files app. And since it’s been well over six months into iOS 11, the majority of them now support the Files app completely.

If you still see your files and folders show up in a seprate document picker instead of directly within the Files app, then you must really update the problematic cloud storage.

To do that, get to the App Store, tap Updates, and then tap Update next to the cloud storage app if there’s an update available.

OneDrive was the last among the big boys to finally make the move to full-on Files integration, and that was over two months ago.

If you still don’t see complete Files integration for a particular cloud storage, keep an eye out for new updates on a regular basis.

Also Read: What to Do When Your Google Drive is Running Out of Space

On My iPhone/iPad Folder Missing

On My iPhone or On My iPad is another default location in addition to iCloud that only shows up if you have certain apps installed that store files locally.

But if you find it missing, installing an app such as Word, PowerPoint, or Excel should make the location show up again.

We have compiled a dedicated guide to make the On My iPhone/iPad location visible within the Files app, as well as some tips and tricks to help you store any file to your device locally. Do make sure to check it out.

Files App Opens Up In Place of Another App

Certain apps such as Adobe Acrobat Reader have started to fully implement the Files app as a means to open files from cloud storages. However, there’s a nasty bug where the Files app tends to get stuck during the process.

This results in the Files app showing up in place of whatever app that you used to launch it in the first place. Hence, the only way to resolve this issue is to force-quit both apps from memory.

To do that, double-tap the Home button and push the related app cards upward.

Afterward, you should find things back to normal. Be warned, however. There’s always a chance for this issue to recur again!

Files App Stuck in Hover Mode (iPad Only)

When attempting to open the Files app in split view, you may find the Files app dormant while hovering without displaying anything. You also won’t see the upper handle that lets you pull down the app into split-view mode — you can push the app out of view, but it stays stuck even when you retry.

The fastest way to resolve this annoyance is to bring up the iPad Dock and tap the Files app icon, which should immediately make it start working again.

You won’t find the issue resolved permanently, but until Apple releases an update to patch the problem, do make use of this fix.

Also Read: 6 Amazing Calculator Apps Specific to iPad but Useful to Everyone

Files ‘Waiting to Upload’

Whenever you add any files to the Files app — either by sharing or via drag ‘n drop — you should find them synced to any cloud-storage pretty fast. However, that’s not always the case.

Sometimes, the upload procedure can hang and stay that way for an indefinite amount of time. Common fixes such as force-quitting the Files app doesn’t do any good since the app runs in the background regardless.

Fortunately, there’s a simple fix that resolves such instances, and that involves toggling Airplane Mode on and off.

To do that, swipe upwards from the bottom of the screen, and then tap the Airplane Mode icon to turn it on. Wait for at least ten seconds, and then switch it off.

Hopefully, this should prompt the Files app to upload the files from scratch, and you are most likely good from now onward.

Files Inaccessible via Cellular Data

Unlike the App Store, the Files app doesn’t impose any restrictions on what you perform when using cellular data. If you use a combination of Wi-Fi and cellular data on your iPhone or iPad, you may find yourself unable to access certain files when switching solely to the latter.

To resolve the issue, you need to first check that the Files app has the required permissions to use cellular data.

On the Settings screen, tap Cellular Data, scroll down, and then check that the switch next to Files is set to On. If you found it disabled, just turn it back on and you’ve fixed the problem already.

If you didn’t find anything unusual, then it’s time to sign out and back into iCloud. Strangely, doing that tends to put the whole issue to rest once and for all.

Step 1: Tap your profile name on the Settings screen, and then use the Sign Out option to log out of your iCloud account.

Note:

Step 2: Once you are signed out, you should see an option to sign back in within the Settings screen. Do that.

Afterward, you should be able to access your files using cellular data normally.

Files App Doesn’t Download Files

At times, there’s a strange issue that prevents you from accessing certain files, specifically when it comes to items over 1MB in storage size. If that happens to you, try accessing the file using cellular data or consider switching to alternate sources of Wi-Fi.

In cases where the problem persists, then corrupted network settings may be the root cause of it all. Usually, resetting them fixes the problem for good, so let’s see how.

Step 1: On the Settings screen, tap General, and then tap Reset.

Step 2: You should now see an option labeled Reset Network Settings. Tap it to perform the reset.

After the reset, connect to an available Wi-Fi hotspot, launch the Files app, and you most likely should be able to access the problematic files normally.

Also Read: Download and Install Grayed Out on iOS 11: Here’s How to Fix It

That’s All! But Don’t Forget to Update

Hopefully, the above troubleshooting tips helped and whatever issue that was bugging you is now finally fixed!

Apple has performed numerous updates to the Files app to resolve early launch issues, and the entire thing works quite well compared to what we had before.

The only downside is that Files app updates are integrated into iOS system updates, so any issues that you come across do take a while to get fixed permanently.

And that means installing any iOS updates as soon as they are released. Now don’t forget that, got it?