How to play my own MP3 files (not purchased from Apple) on iPhone?

You import the files to iTunes on your computer, then sync them to the phone.

They will play in the native Music app.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201253

The Files App is perfectly capable of playing mp3 files directly.

Outside of that there are a number of MP3 players in the store that you can transfer the music files into.

VLC for instance can access the Files App and add the MP3 files to its audio library. Or access files from an FTP server directly.

See here: ‎VLC for Mobile on the App Store

This is a user-to-user forum. Apple does not participate and does not actively monitor the contents of posts. Decorum and terms of use monitoring is almost exclusively by forum members at level 2 (150 points) and above, who report can potential issues to the hosts to follow up. This is the most active support site on the Internet, with thousands of posts a day. It is beyond the capability of the small forum host staff to read everything (or even a small sample of everything).

So it is safest to assume that Apple will not see your post. You can provide direct feedback to Apple by going to https://apple.com/feedback.

Enjoy the Android if that works better for you. But, this is why I'll stay with Apple. Apple security may not be as simple as the other platform, but in doing things they way they do (using iTunes for example to transfer music to your iPhone) ensures the data you have on your phone is the most secure. Sadly, Android has never taken security to the level Apple has.

seems like a crippling limitation of iOS currently, and one that has been done for some sort of corporate or DRM benefit, not mine.

You say limitation, I say great security feature.

Typically, iOS prevents apps from seeing each other's data.

This is entirely for your protection, not any company's.

You should always get the device that best meets your needs. No one in this user-to-user forum cares what choices you make.

deputycleric wrote:

Phile0124, thanks the VLC advice. However, VLC cannot see the folder under Files to which the files have been uploaded (and under which they will indeed play on an individual basis).

Where is this folder located exactly? I can see all my folders in both iCloud Drive, and on My iPad / iPhone from VLC.

I agree, once you learn to work within the parameters of the iOS operating system, you can do pretty much anything you can do on Android, but much more security.

I'd rather have a device that has no possibility of being hacked remotely., then one with several dozens of proven and available hacks.

You need iTunes to import to the built-in Music app, however, there are many other apps that can play MP3s on an iPhone. Search for them in the App Store.

deputycleric wrote:

I appreciate the advice here, and it has been an interesting few hours of learning, but not having something as simple as a universal file/directory browser, quite apart from the MP3 issue, seems like a crippling limitation of iOS currently, and one that has been done for some sort of corporate or DRM benefit, not mine. Too bad, since overall I feel iOS has the edge for look and feel, but I prefer not to be hogtied in this manner.

Not having a universal file/directory browser is the primary reason that iOS is as secure as it is. You cannot provide access to any file from any app and still have a secure system. And, in fact, iOS does not use files at all internally. All data are stored in databases owned by the app that created the data, and that data is inaccessible to any other app unless you as a user grant explicit permission (for example, granting permission for Whatsapp to access your contacts). Which is why there’s a constant stream of hacks and trojan apps in the Google Play Store that can steal data. Google swats them as soon as they hear about them, but by then it’s usually too late. If you are willing to give up security for a little flexibility in how you access content then by all means go with an Android-based phone.