Unable to upload files in iOS

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Level 1

20 points

Unable to upload files in iOS

Is there a way to upload non-image files to a web site with iOS? I've tried all sorts of work-arounds, but nothing works. The Files (iCloud Drive) chooser is presented but only image files are not grayed-out. PDF or MP3 - files which I would like to be able to upload from my Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, etc... to a CMS on a web site are allowed by the web site, but they are grayed-out in the iOS file chooser.

This lack of functionality is *almost the only thing preventing me from using my iPad Pro for "real" work. I will have to have my MacBook with me just to accomplish this simple task.

If anyone has any tips or information on this please let me know.

Posted on Jun 14, 2018 1:47 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 15, 2018 1:56 PM in response to Adam Webb

Adam Webb wrote:

Do you know if there are specific things that a site should or shouldn't do to be compatible with iOS?

Thanks.

There´s nothing special that needs to be done to a form in a website to be compatible. That's the point of cross compatible standards compliant HTML. It should work everywhere the same.

Adam Webb wrote:

It does seem that there is something on the website itself that is indicating to the iOS file chooser/browser what files it supports. Again, macOS is interpreting it differently somehow.

Forms can be set to allow or disallow certain types of files. They may specifically limit the file types when uploading from an iOS device for some reason. While allowing them from a Mac or PC. It does come down to how the form input was implemented.

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Answer 2

Jun 14, 2018 2:25 PM in response to Adam Webb

I have no issues uploading any type of file from my iPad and iPhone, even from those cloud services. Even files not explicitly downloaded will download before being added to the file upload input on a website and be there for the upload.

Are you sure the website is not limiting the types of files?

Are you using Safari? Or some other browser?

What iOS version is your iPad running?

Works for me on iOS 11.4 just fine.

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Answer 3

Adam Webb Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 15, 2018 4:49 AM in response to Phil0124

Yeah, I suppose there's a chance that the content management site I want to upload to is somehow to blame. File types they support are listed and I've had no issues under macOS or Windows browsers. On all platforms I've used Safari, Chrome, and Firefox. Same results on iOS, no issues on macOS.

iPad is on 11.4.

I'll see if I can try to upload on some other sites under iOS and if I notice the same gray-out issue where files aren't selectable in the file chooser.

Do you know if there are specific things that a site should or shouldn't do to be compatible with iOS?

Thanks.

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Answer 4

Adam Webb Author

Level 1

20 points

Jun 15, 2018 5:12 AM in response to Adam Webb

To follow-up:

I tested this at Wordpress.com and sure enough - the CMS there let me upload a PDF, and even pick an MP3 to upload - both were not greyed-out and were able to be picked. The PDF worked, the MP3 failed "elegantly" with a message on the site saying that the file type was not supported.

It does seem that there is something on the website itself that is indicating to the iOS file chooser/browser what files it supports. Again, macOS is interpreting it differently somehow.

I've submitted a support ticket to the CMS provider. I wonder what has to be implemented on the site to make this work on iOS?

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Unable to upload files in iOS

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