The multi-tool app millions rely on
Work better. Learn faster. Stay organized.
Many of the apps you have installed on your iPhone lead to creating/storing more files on your device the more you use them. You may also download files from the internet, save files that your family and friends may share with you, or you may even want to save any file you want to reference later. Over time, your iPhone keeps accumulating many files you have created, saved, or downloaded from various sources and stored in different places and folders on the device.
There’s a good chance your iPhone is home to a cluttered mess of unorganized files as you read this sentence. Don’t worry, there are several like you. And that’s exactly why we’ll help you understand how to reduce the clutter of unorganized files on your iPhone.
The problem with the default Files app on iOS
Apple has shipped the Files.app by default with every iOS version released since 2017. The Files app fills the void created by the lack of any file manager in all previous versions of iOS. Unfortunately, the iOS Files app is not as powerful or user-friendly as it needs to be, even falling short of the basic feature set offered by Finder on macOS. iOS is a far more demanding and content-rich platform that deserves a feature-rich file manager, something the Files app severely lacks.
- The Files app offers a very basic interface to browse and manage files, which ends up confusing a lot of seasoned users.
- There is no straightforward way to connect with Cloud storage providers using the Files app.
- Having both the ‘iCloud Drive’ and ‘On My iPhone’ locations in the Files app is confusing, and there’s no way to get an overview of all the files stored in these locations.
- The Files app shows files and folders automatically created by apps that use iCloud for syncing files, thereby showing irrelevant and cluttered files to the users.
Readdle’s Documents app has been available on iOS since the launch of the App Store and, over the years, has shaped up to be the perfect home for your files on your iPhone and iPad. Documents is an incredibly powerful and smart alternative to the Files app on iOS and does a splendid job of helping you organize your files.
Download Documents for Free from the App Store
How to reduce clutter and better organize files on iPhone
If you want to eliminate the cluttered mess of unorganized files on your iPhone and start organizing your files better, you should start taking advantage of the Inbox 2.0 feature in Documents immediately.
- First, head to the App Store and download the Documents app by Readdle if you haven’t already. Documents is a far better alternative to the default Files.app on iOS and comes with a plethora of features that help you unclutter your digital space and makes it easier to work with files on your iPhone.
- Next, open the Documents app you just downloaded and notice the folder titled ‘Inbox’ — this is the new default home for all your files. Any files you save or copy to Documents automatically get sorted into this folder, awaiting further action. The new Inbox 2.0 feature in Documents is the one-single place where you can store all your files, and then organize them when you have the time and will. Positioned at the heart of Documents, it guarantees that every file you get is captured and stored safely, ensuring your "My Files" section remains easy and clutter-free.
- To save or copy files from other apps into Documents, simply tap the Share button in any app and then choose the ‘Copy to Documents’ option. Documents will automatically save the file into the Inbox folder, instead of cluttering your device.
- As you start putting your files into the Inbox folder, Documents suggests swipe actions you can take on those files. For example, you can quickly swipe left or right on a file in the list to Move the file into a specific folder of your choice, open the file, or Delete it. You can even connect to your choice of Cloud storage services and move your file there if you wish to.
- You’ll also receive a push notification to remind you about files that need your attention. If you're unsure, simply let the file stay in the Inbox and take action on it later.
- Similar to the ‘GTD’ method, any files in the Inbox folder you haven’t actioned upon are denoted by a small “Unread” indicator. You can mark a file as Read/Unread as you wish.
That’s it. As you continue using Documents, you’ll automatically cultivate the habit of dumping your files into the Inbox folder and, later, organizing them neatly into relevant folders, instead of letting iOS haphazardly save your files by default and cluttering up your iPhone.
3 reasons why Inbox 2.0 in Documents will help you get things done and make you productive
The Inbox 2.0 feature in Documents has been designed with the GTD idealogy in mind, in an effort to reduce the cluttered mess of files stored on your device and help you better organize them. By using the GTD method, Documents encourages you to proactively take action on files you’ve created, copied, downloaded, or saved on your device, thereby saving you from the burden of cleaning up a messy folder with 100s of files that you cannot recognize without any context. Here are three reasons why Inbox 2.0 does a great job of helping you organize files on your iPhone.
- Much like email, Documents encourages you to reach Inbox Zero with your files and rewards you when you do.
- With the help of push notifications, you know which files you should pay attention to.
- Documents even suggests actions on these files, and with contextual actions, you’ll never be confused about what to do next. You’ll zip through any long list of files in a jiffy.
Documents by Readdle is a must-have app on any iPhone and iPad. You can get started with all its incredible features for Free. Just head to the App Store and download Documents today!