Android File System on iPhone/iPad: A How-To Guide

iOS 8 and Enhanced File Management

The release of iOS 8 brought a significant change to Apple's mobile operating system. iPhones and iPads gained the capability to utilize a local file system, mirroring functionality previously common on Android devices.

This update enables users to store files directly on their devices for convenient offline access. These files can then be utilized within any application that has been updated to support this new feature.

Expanding File Accessibility

Furthermore, updated apps now have the ability to save files directly to the device’s file system, streamlining workflows and enhancing data management.

Beyond local storage, several solutions facilitate easy access to files residing on a Mac or PC. This allows for seamless file transfer and synchronization between your iOS device and your computer.

Utilizing Various Protocols

The new file system also supports access to files through a variety of network protocols.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)
WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning)

This expanded compatibility means that any app can leverage these protocols to access and manage files remotely.

Understanding iOS 8 File System Access

For context, consider the functionality of app extensions on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8 or later.

iOS 8 introduced a system of document and storage provider extensions. This allows external applications to integrate seamlessly with the operating system.

How Extensions Function

Initially, this integration enabled access to files stored in iCloud Drive. Users could both retrieve and save files to iCloud Drive directly from compatible applications.

Furthermore, third-party cloud storage platforms, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive, were able to connect to this system.

This integration allowed these services to function as native components within any application supporting the iOS 8 extension framework.

Importantly, developers didn't need to individually update their apps for each service; support for the standard iOS 8 extension system was sufficient.

Local File System Capabilities

The storage provider isn't limited to cloud-based services. It can be any application designed to manage files.

This means an app can store its data entirely on the device, creating a localized file system.

To establish a local file system, installing an application specifically designed for this purpose is necessary.

While this requires a third-party app, it mirrors the experience on Android, where similar apps are often needed to fully utilize the file system.

Files saved through this app are stored within the application’s designated data storage area on the iOS device.

Accessing Files: Transmit or Documents App

For those seeking expanded file management capabilities on iOS, several applications are available. This discussion focuses on two highly recommended options.

While numerous apps exist, the following represent the most effective solutions discovered to date.

Documents (Free): Developed by Readdle, the Documents app is a refined and cost-free solution. It features a comprehensive file system accessible across various applications.
Furthermore, it functions as a robust application capable of viewing diverse document and media file types.
Synchronization with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, and Google Drive is supported, enabling seamless file access between your computer and the app’s storage.
This syncing functionality is optional; the app can also operate as a completely offline file storage solution.
Similar to Transmit, it provides connectivity to WebDAV, FTP, and SFTP servers.
For the majority of users, this free application will likely be the optimal choice.
Transmit ($10): Transmit, renowned for its Mac OS X version, now extends its functionality to iOS, leveraging the advancements introduced in iOS 8.
The app offers a local file system alongside support for accessing FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, and Amazon S3 storage servers.
Due to iOS 8’s extension capabilities, Transmit can integrate with any application supporting the new document picker, allowing for file opening and saving to these remote servers.
An SSH/SFTP server can even be activated on your Mac, enabling direct file system access from iOS apps via Transmit or Documents.
Detailed instructions are available on Transmit’s official website.
Although priced at $10, this app represents a valuable investment for users requiring these specific features.

The iOS 8 extension system significantly enhances the capabilities of these applications.

These tools provide a level of file management previously unavailable on iOS devices.

Utilizing Your New File System

Begin by installing the application you prefer and then launching it. This application will provide access to locally stored files on your device. While these files reside within the app’s data, this detail is largely inconsequential.

Apps like Documents and others enable you to view and manipulate common file types, including images, documents, videos, and zipped archives. From within these apps, you also have the option to delete or relocate these files.

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These applications also facilitate share sheet access, allowing for seamless file transfer to other applications directly from the file system app. For instance, within Documents, selecting a file and tapping the Share button will reveal the "Open In" option.

This allows you to open the file directly in another application on your device, provided that application declares compatibility with the file type.

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Documents provides multiple methods for importing files, including access to network locations. A built-in web browser is also available for direct downloads.

Simply open the browser, navigate to the desired file, and save it directly to the app’s internal file storage.

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However, the fundamental component enabling this functionality is the extension system introduced with iOS 8. Ensure that the applications you are using have been updated to support this system, such as Apple’s Pages or other iWork applications.

To access available storage locations for opening or saving files, open the list and select the "More..." option.

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A list of installed applications offering storage provider capabilities will be displayed. Activate the extensions for the storage providers you wish to use and then tap Done.

The selected storage provider will then appear within the list of accessible locations.

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This configuration needs to be completed only once and will be active in any application that supports the extension framework.

Consequently, you will be able to open or save files directly from any compatible application to your local file store. Virtually any application can be updated to incorporate this support.

For example, an email application could be enhanced to allow attachment of these local files or saving received attachments to this storage location.

The potential applications are extensive – developers simply need to implement the necessary updates, and users need to install the updated applications.

A Comparison to Android

While this functionality isn’t a perfect replication of Android’s local file system, the differences are not necessarily drawbacks. As more applications are updated to leverage iOS 8’s extension system, you will gain the ability to access files from any location in a standardized manner.

This access will be available across nearly all applications, regardless of whether the files are stored locally, on a remote server, or within a cloud storage service.

Image Credit: LWYang on Flickr