How do I get to files in phone storage?

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vt8235 Author

Level 1

9 points

How do I get to files in phone storage?

Hello,

I admit this phone (SE) makes me look really stupid(thanks Apple)

So I've scanned documents as pdf with Office Lens and saved them in "Phone Storage".

Now I wish to download them to a windows pc or select them and send them from the phone. No success.

Steps tried: look around in icloud app on phone. Nothing to be found. I cannot wrap my head around something so simple like that app. Just some coloured pills (joke's on me again thanks)

2. I installed icloud on windows and there I was met with same serenity and peacefulness.

Tutorials around web are even more Zen about the all thing.

So, it's basically something I have to learn with how Apple understands files and what they are willing to let me do about them.

Where is the Mighty Manual? please before I self-implode

Thanks to any survivor willing to help!

iPhone SE, iOS 11.0.3

Posted on Jan 1, 2018 6:42 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Diana.McCall

Level 7

21,297 points

Jan 1, 2018 6:57 AM in response to vt8235

Hi. Documents in an iPhone are stored by the app that created them. So, they should be in the OfficeLens app. When viewing a document, you should be able to share (copy) it to other locations, including iCloud, by tapping the Share icon (box with arrow pointing up).

The iPhone User Guide is a free iBook download. Open iBooks and search for it.

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Answer 2

Jan 2, 2018 7:02 AM in response to vt8235

So many questions...

As you have found, you can share the document by opening it in the OfficeLens app. You should be able to share it to iCloud (or any other cloud server you have installed) using the many functions in the sharing popup. If OfficeLens has inadequate functionality, you can take that up with the author.

The sharing icon for a pdf in Safari should list every app capable of handling a pdf document, including iBooks. Personally, I use the GoodReader app, which allows very flexible document management, including copying or syncing to cloud servers or even Windows shared folders (SMB shares). Other apps, like FileExplorer and Documents6, also support flexible document management, both locally and with network or cloud servers.

If you want to avoid sending the documents to iCloud, or using a 3rd-party app, have you tried connecting the device to the iTunes program on your computer? You should then find the documents listed under the app, and you can copy them from there.

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Answer 3

vt8235 Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 1, 2018 9:17 AM in response to Diana.McCall

@Diana.McCall

Many thanks for answering but it still has drawbacks. There are hundreds of pdfs. I have to operate on each of them.

But wait there is more: the list is there but I can do nothing on each of the files other than delete them. There is no share, no send, no upload/download, ...no nothing but swipe left and delete.

Secondly, in Safari there's the option to save a file, in this case a pdf. When asked where I want it saved, I get: 1. iCloud Drive and 2. my phone but the phone is not possible, only icloud is an option.

So, basically I have a smartphone I am not supposed to use as a smartphone. Am I still missing bits in my interaction with this product?

Edit: my bad, I opened now the pdf and the options to share are there. But saving to my files gets me where I started as these are my files. So basically I have to send each one of them per email or to a cloud folder?

Why can I not access them in iCloud for desktop? Wait I first have to send them to iCloud but here is the phone the cable and the desktop computer why can I not access the files in the phone's memory?

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