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Best File & App Manager for iPad?
I like using my iPad, but I find the onboard file & app management truly annoying.
I need a nice, simple, easy way to save, organize, re-name, and move both files & apps on the iPad itself, without all the cute graphic nonsense, constant finger scrolling, overbearing interference from iOS, etc. Also, the default app cannot access internal files (as far as I can tell) so it's not much use to me.
All I want is something similar to the file management integral to Microsoft Windows, so I can organize files and apps the way I want, but that seems to be pretty much impossible on the iPad, without a third party app (at least that's my impression).
I don't want to reply on Wi-fi enabled junk such as Dropbox, Apple iCloud, etc. because that means I'm tethered to Wi-Fi, and in any case I have some iPad USB flash drives to store my files, if I need external storage.
I've been looking here, but I am not sure if they are good choices https://www.applavia.com/blog/best-file-manager-apps-for-iphone-ipad/
Much thanks!
Comments
I've been using FE pro for a while now, it's really very good, especially if you have multiple cloud services and a NAS drive, makes shifting data around a breeze.. it still uses all the apple style renaming etc and I don't think you'll really get away from it to be honest because it's an apple product and all the file apps have to integrate and work with the files app so you pretty much stuck with the apple paradigm..
I do a lot of file management in the Files app with none of the issues you mention. Sometimes I use AudioShare but the more I use the Files app, the more comfortable I’ve become with it. I tried using file managers but it’s just one more app and one more location for files to sit. Files app has just become more central to everything I use.
What do you mean by “access internal files”?
I don't use any cloud services, and although I have a NAS, I prefer my iPad USB flash drives to store my files. Would FE Pro still be a good choice then?
I’ve gotten use to the Files App as well, and think it’s good enough for my needs.
I’ve never used this one but it’s got over 32k Reviews at 4.7 Stars. It does have some IAP subscriptions and an IAP. They also have a paid version.
Amerigo
Amerigo $17.99
Another option is Documents Pro, but again a subscription.
I did a quick search on appsliced.com and got over 200 results. It’s not the best option but a list of options.
https://appsliced.co/apps?search=File+manager&page=1
When I did use a 3rd party file manager it was the free Documents by Readdle. I used some others but Documents worked best for me.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/documents-file-manager-app/id364901807
There are some things above that are simply impossible on a non-jailbroken iOS device. First, there is and will never be anything that can move apps around. iOS simply doesn't allow that to managed by anything else other than the operating system.
Second, neither the files app nor any other app can manage files internally managed by apps. Apps can now store and access files outside of their own file space, but that wasn't always the case. Before, every app was "sandboxed" so that it could only manage files in its own private file space. Apps could expose files to a location that could be accessed by iTunes on a desktop computer, but that was it.
Then Apple allowed apps like AudioShare, Documents, File Explorer, and Dropbox which were classed as "File Providers". They could make files stored in them available if apps included their API calls. This is closer to, but not the same as open file systems such as Windows. Apps could import files from file providers, but they still had to be in the apps internal storage in order to be used.
Finally came the Files app and the opening up of the file system in limited ways. Apps can now reference files stored outside of themselves without having to copy them to private storage. But, this has to be implemented app-by-app, and not all apps are fully there. Now you start to see apps storing some, but not all, files in visible locations in the file system where you can access them. But the internals of the application, the executables, libraries, etc. cannot be touched by anything. Ever.
Correct. And not by third party apps either, short of jailbreaking. There are file managers that will let you move around files and folders, perhaps in more convenient ways than the files app, but they don't give you any more access to the file system than the regular files app.
That's not a problem. You can use external USB drives to store and move around files. However there are very few apps available yet that are able to directly access those files. Most still need to copy them over to the iPad in order to be able to use them. It's just the way it is with iOS at this time.
They might be good choices if they seem more efficient than the files app. But, the important thing to realize is none of them give you more access to files than what you get through the iOS files app. You'll end up being disappointed if you think that they will. iOS is locked down tighter than a gnat's ass, and will probably remain so forever.
Sorry if all that is bad news for you. Best advice? Forget about trying to make iOS behave like a desktop computer. It doesn't and never really will. But at least the security is better and the odds of breaking things are a lot less.
If it's any consolation, iOS has an amazingly efficient file storage system. When a file is copied to multiple locations, it doesn't actually take up additional storage. Yup, it's true. More info here: https://wiki.audiob.us/doku.php?id=file_storage
Thank you wim (and all other responders)! I had hoped there would be a way to manage iOS files and apps in the causal and flexible manner, as with Windows. I guess not, so I'll stick with the onboard iOS files app. That's interesting about the duplicate file consideration on iOS.
+1 👍
I use File Browser since many years. Mostly to transfer files between PC/NAS and iPad. Recently it has become better with the introduction of tabs. It has become very easy to switch between different locations.
https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/filebrowser-document-manager/id364738545?l=en
My favorite combinations is the Files app, and Documents by Readdle.
Files is great for accessing all the things in the iPad
Documents for Readdle is fantastic for everything else...Google Drive, One Drive, etc..