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icloud files and data I previously downloaded are no longer on my phone. I can still access them, they're all still there but with the little cloud icon meaning they only exist in the cloud. Having to redownloaded 100s little vid clips, images, files. Why do I have to redownload files from my icloud storage to my iphone again? Thanks!
iPhone XS, iOS 13
Airhaun,
What you're seeing with iCloud Drive is how it works. When you tap on it, the file is downloaded temporarily so it can be opened. To store a file on your iPhone, and access it when you're not connected to a network you'll want to follow the steps below.
You'll need to copy the file from iCloud Drive and paste it into the On My iPhone storage location. One way you can do this is to long tap on the file so the secondary menu appears, then select Copy. You'll then want to go back to the main Browse menu and select the On My iPhone location. Hold your finger on a blank part of the screen again for the secondary menu to appear. You can then either Paste the file into this locate or create a New Folder and paste it in there. Check out the, "Organize your files," section of this article for more tips: Use the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Cheers!
Airhaun,
What you're seeing with iCloud Drive is how it works. When you tap on it, the file is downloaded temporarily so it can be opened. To store a file on your iPhone, and access it when you're not connected to a network you'll want to follow the steps below.
You'll need to copy the file from iCloud Drive and paste it into the On My iPhone storage location. One way you can do this is to long tap on the file so the secondary menu appears, then select Copy. You'll then want to go back to the main Browse menu and select the On My iPhone location. Hold your finger on a blank part of the screen again for the secondary menu to appear. You can then either Paste the file into this locate or create a New Folder and paste it in there. Check out the, "Organize your files," section of this article for more tips: Use the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Cheers!
Hello Airhaun,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities. From your message it seems like you would like to know why files you had downloaded on your iPhone are no longer on the iPhone but only seen in Files > iCloud.
If you're not finding the tracks on your iPhone, you have the option to download them again, or you can copy them and then Paste it into a location under Files > On My iPhone through the Files app. You can learn more about this under the "Find your files," section of this article: Use the Files app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
If you prefer to leave them only in iCloud Drive, you can simply download them as you need to use them. Doing so allows you to reduce the amount of storage being used on your iPhone. You can read more about iCloud Drive here: iCloud Drive FAQ.
All the best.
Hi Starr,
I'm thankful for your quick your reply. I understand how to access and download the files. The problem is once I DL them, how do keep them from magically becoming undownloaded? The image I included are of files that were once on my phone but now only exist in the cloud forcing me to DL them again. I want to have access to them at all times. even when I have no wifi/data connection. Once I download them on my phone, I would like them to stay on my phone unless I specifically remove them.
What would cause this, any idea?
Hi chris_g1,
Thanks! This is it - the answer to my question, solution to the problem!
With gratitude
Hi Airhaun,
Glad to hear that worked!
If you run into any other issues, don't hesitate to reach out here on the Apple Support Communities.
Cheers
Redownloading previously downloaded icloud files to iphone
