![]() In addition to being an easier way to work with files than shuffling local documents around, this cloud-first approach is an utmost necessity as you can’t backup an iOS device like you would with a Mac, using external drives and apps like Time Machine or SuperDuper. Thanks to the multiple layers of Dropbox and iCloud, I can set up a new iPad every year with relative ease – all I have to do is log into my iCloud and Dropbox accounts and point apps to their associated storage space. iCloud Drive, for secondary file backups and quick access to documents in some apps.iCloud Photo Library, for photos, videos, and, more importantly for MacStories screenshots.I use two iCloud features for my files and documents: iCloud is an umbrella term that covers multiple parts of the modern iOS experience – it’s more in line with Apple’s original goals today than it was when it launched five years ago. However, iCloud isn’t as bad or limited as some are painting it. As an extensible file management platform, Dropbox rocks. I don’t subscribe to the theory that Dropbox is a feature, not a product, when Apple’s implementation of file management in iCloud Drive doesn’t even come close to Dropbox’s feature set. ![]() All my work-related text files and documents are stored in Dropbox, which continues to offer specific advantages over Apple’s iCloud Drive: Dropbox integrates with hundreds of iOS apps, it supports public sharing on a file and folder-based level (fantastic for collaboration), and it even works with external web automation services such as IFTTT and Zapier. It is possible to create your own centralized, Finder-like setup on an iPad, but it comes with substantial trade-offs.ĭropbox is my primary cloud filesystem and backup service. Alas, this also means that people who want to, but can’t adapt – either because they can’t use cloud services at work or prefer not to store personal files anywhere online – will have to work harder to make an iPad their primary computer. If you don’t adapt – if you think you can force iOS to be more like the Mac’s Finder – you’re going to have a bad experience in your transition to iOS. ![]() I use document providers every day for collaboration with the MacStories team.Īccepting this new reality – that an iPad can’t manage local files and folders like a Mac – took time and dedication. While the document picker and document providers get a bad rap, they have improved since the days of iOS 8. I use iOS apps to open and manage files that live in a cloud service, and I leverage iOS’ document providers to open and import files in apps that don’t integrate with Dropbox. Over the past year, I’ve consolidated all my file storage needs in Dropbox and iCloud. ![]() The best way to manage files on iOS is to go all-in with cloud storage and rely on native apps and integrations to access your files everywhere and minimize duplicates. After years of experiments and workarounds, I’ve come to terms with the fact that file management on iOS requires a new mindset altogether.
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