The newly designed Files app in iOS 13 brings many new improvements over the previous version. Not only do you get more detailed information about any file when using the app, but there are new controls available to you in iOS 13 which make managing files a breeze.
iOS 13 and iPadOS Files app now also features support for external USB storage, SD Card as well as the ability to work with File servers/network share drives that support SMB 3.0. Files app has also added the new Shared folders feature with improved permissions and privilege management that aids in better collaboration.
Apart from these advanced features, Apple has also focused on how users can do some every day tasks easily when using the app. One of these improvements centers around renaming existing Files and Folders.
How to Rename Documents in Files App using iOS 13
When you save documents into Files from various sources such as PDF from Safari etc, it saves them with the original download name. In iOS 12, there was no straight forward way to rename a file on your iPhone when using the Files App.
Open Files App on your iPhone
Tap on Browse at the bottom right and locate the document
Long Press on a document thumbnail in the Files App
Explore the new Files app controls in iOS 13 and iPadOS
Choose ‘Rename’ from the context menu
Type the new document name overriding the old one in the text box.
Enter the new name and press ‘Done’
Tap Done once complete
Its that simple in iOS 13! The old file name is renamed immediately.
Rename Folders in Files app using Context menu
Renaming a Folder in the Files app works in the same manner.
Simply Long press on the Folder that you want to rename and choose ‘Rename’ from the context menu to get started.
Explore the other File app controls from this context menu.
A word of caution when using External or USB drives with your iPhone or iPad. Please note that the file formats supported with external drives are Unencrypted APFS, Unencrypted HFS+, FAT and exFAT.
Make sure to check out our comprehensive coverage of the new Files App on iPadOS:
We hope that you found this short article useful. Please let us know in the comments below if you have any questions or if you would like to share a favorite tip or two.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
The Files App in iOS13 does NOT allow for renaming a file extension. You can only rename the primary name of a file. For example, if I have a .doc extension, I cannot change it to .pdf , in case a file extension has not been categorized properly.
In the pages app! Why can’t I name a file before I save it? Going to the folder to change the name is the dumbest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Can’t Apple get it right?
Joe.L
While you can rename files and folders, you cannot rename an SD card or external drive at this time with iOS13 or iPadOS–at least not that we can discover.
The Files App in iOS13 does NOT allow for renaming a file extension. You can only rename the primary name of a file. For example, if I have a .doc extension, I cannot change it to .pdf , in case a file extension has not been categorized properly.
In the pages app! Why can’t I name a file before I save it? Going to the folder to change the name is the dumbest thing I’ve seen in a long time. Can’t Apple get it right?
Joe.L
Do you know if it is possible to rename a SD card using the Files app or any other ios app for that matter?
Hi John,
While you can rename files and folders, you cannot rename an SD card or external drive at this time with iOS13 or iPadOS–at least not that we can discover.
If you find a way, let us know.
Liz
Hello,
I’m receiving an error every time I try to rename a file name on my iPad Pro 11.
When I try to rename the file I get two blue dots and then my IPad is frozen.
Can someone help?