‎Files

Folklorist

,

I love Apple devices and software because they really are great almost all the time. The Files app on iPad OS and iOS, however, is a glaring exception. I’ve been using my 2022 iPad Pro 12.9 happily, leaning into it and using it almost entirely as my work device at home and the office. I really love using it and am one of the end users that patiently takes time to learn new apps and how they work in the OS environment. The Files app is a big disappointment because it is curiously and fatally limiting when working with iCloud and Google Drive—both necessities for my work. As others have noted often, Files seems to get amnesia regularly, losing setup and favorites information. At other times, is shows only 100 Drive files with zero function for searching Drive. Lately, it also becomes unresponsive at seemingly random and inopportune moments when browsing cloud files. It renders my lovely iPad Pro useless for work when I can’t access Drive files on it. I remained in denial for a long time because I’ve never experienced such utter inadequacy with an Apple software product.

Fortunately, I found a third-party app that does everything needed to manage files on device, in iCloud, in Drive, and more—just like anyone would want. Why doesn’t Apple put the resources it has to making a decent file management app for iPad OS and iOS?