Why is my iPhone's Files app stuck and how can I fix it?

Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Turn off Sync this iPhone

This will delete all iCloud data including the corrupted data from your phone. You can then turn this on again to see if it has fixed the issue for you.

This issue happens for me when I switch from WiFi to Cellular while downloading a file which I believe corrupts the file.

Ok, so annoyingly I was stuck with the same issue. Some PDF downloaded and didn’t allow me to close it.

solution that worked (no! force closing the phone didn’t work!): Go to Safari > Google > Search download picture (or something) > When download completes, open the download folder (will be marked in a blue arrow next to the URL) > from here you will be able to open the Download folder > Delete the file that is causing the Files app to get stuck.

That will help you revert to how the app normally works.

Howdy anilkumar65,

It sounds like the Files app isn’t working correctly. We know how important having a working Files app is for you, and we will help get you to the right place to find a resolution.

1. Close and reopen the app

Force the app to close. Then open the app to see if it works as expected.

2. Restart your device

Restart your iPhone or restart your iPad. Then open the app to see if it works as expected.

3. Check for updates

To see if updates are available for the app, open the App Store, tap your profile icon, then scroll down to see if updates are available. If updates aren't available for the app, update the software on your iPhone or iPad.

4. Delete the app, then redownload it

Delete the app. When you do this, you might lose data that was stored in the app. Then redownload the app. Then check to see if the problem with the app is fixed.

This info is located in this support article: If an app on your iPhone or iPad stops responding, closes unexpectedly, or won’t open - Apple Support

Take Care.

I found this solution on other threads that worked for me. You can give it a try

HOW DID I FIX IT?

-Open the “Mail” app, then compose a new email. Then tap on choose file icon, and find the document that’s causing a trouble and delete it.

Then force restart your iphone

Force restart iPhone

If iPhone isn’t responding, and you can’t turn it off then on, try forcing it to restart.

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

Hope this helps

I found this solution on other threads that worked for me. You can give it a try

HOW DID I FIX IT?

-Open the “Mail” app, then compose a new email. Then tap on choose file icon, and find the document that’s causing a trouble and delete it.

Then force restart your iphone

Force restart iPhone

If iPhone isn’t responding, and you can’t turn it off then on, try forcing it to restart.

1. Press and quickly release the volume up button.
2. Press and quickly release the volume down button.
3. Press and hold the side button.
4. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.

Hope this helps

Managed to fix mine.

Was very quick and easy….

Tap settings

Tap General …. Look for Iphone storage….

Offload App, your data will be kept, wont loose any files or folders.

Go back to home page, search for Folders App ( greyed out).

Tap on Folders app, it will start downloading from iTunes….

Have Fun

BTheBuilder wrote:

Managed to fix mine.

Was very quick and easy….

Tap settings

Tap General …. Look for Iphone storage….

Offload App, your data will be kept, wont loose any files or folders.

Go back to home page, search for Folders App ( greyed out).

Tap on Folders app, it will start downloading from iTunes….

Have Fun

For me this worked. Thank you!

There was just one thing I needed to change: After Offload the „Files“ app I restarted the iPad (without reloading the app before). After the restart I reloaded the files app and it was useable.

File hanging when loading in Files app on iPad, unable to cancel. Files returns to hung file after restart.

This fix worked for me…

1. Open Gmail and compose a new message.
2. Add attachment from Files (random file worked for me, not hung file).
3. After file loads, select file and remove.
4. Cancel new message and close Gmail.
5. Files opens correctly. Deleted problematic file.

same issues. I had to turn on airplane mode first, then turn off iCloud Drive.

rebooted the phone.

And turn off airplane mode to turn on including drive.

was driving me nuts but fixed it!

Next time, try this: press and hold the power button until Siri appears, then ask her to restart your cell phone, she will ask you for confirmation. The iPhone will turn off. Connect it to the power source and it will turn on again.

Hi all, I’ve just encountered this problem for the first time and following a force reset on my iPad, the problem has been fixed …. much to my relief! 😅

It happen also at my ipad. OS is updated ipados 17.1.1. Closing app file, restarting device didnt work at all. I also cannot do deletion of files.

At first I make some pdf files, but cannot be saved. Then everything on files keep not responding

Same problem over here. On iPad Pro,

While the files app has been working very very good for a very long time, since the update iPadOS 17.4.1, the app started to give problems. It freezes in accessing anything, local on iPad, iCloud, any other server that I always have been able to access.

It all started when loading in a Word file and starting the word app. Used to work without problems before.

All given hints over, like offloading the app, numerous restarting etc.etc. Do not help. Also the info of Apple Support, which shows the obvious things to do, that we all already know, does not help.

Can only hope this will be solved with the next update.

Jim

I am having the same problem. It happened for the first time when I tried to open a pdf file. Then the whole phone got stuck. After rebooting, I could again open Files app just to get stuck again and again. After several such attempts, the phone got stuck altogether and I could not even shut down or restart the phone. Then I drained the battery to make it switch off. After charging up, I could switch it on. Now again (after several weeks) when I tried opening Files app, the app was frozen, but I could use other apps.

I tried offloading the app several times as mentioned above, and it solved the problem temporarily. Yet the same thing happens. I think there is a bug in the Files app. It was quite nice until this problem occurred. Now I am fed up with it.

This has been happening to me for almost a year now (2023-2024). I literally switched a google pixel because of this. The one thing that is more **** than anything apple has created is their icloud servers. Dial up was faster