iOS 12 Files App Sidebar and Tagging Updates

With the release of iOS 12, Apple introduced focused refinements to its Files app to enhance document management and navigation across iPhone and iPad. This update streamlined the sidebar interface for faster access to storage providers and favorites, while significantly improving the tagging system to make categorizing and organizing files more intuitive. Below is a detailed breakdown of the specific updates made to the Files app sidebar and its tagging functionality in iOS 12.

In iOS 12, the Files app sidebar received usability improvements that gave users greater control over their storage locations and shortcuts:

  • Direct Sidebar Editing: Users gained the ability to customize their sidebar directly by tapping the "Edit" button at the top of the sidebar panel. This allowed users to toggle third-party cloud providers (such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive) on or off, and reorder them by dragging them up or down the list.
  • Organized Sections: The sidebar clearly distinguished between "Locations" (device storage, iCloud Drive, external locations), "Favorites" (pinned folders), and "Tags." This segmentation made navigating between local storage and cloud accounts much faster.
  • Streamlined Favorites: Adding and managing folders within the "Favorites" section became simpler. Users could drag folders straight into the Favorites list or remove them directly from the edit menu.

Enhanced Tagging Functionality

Tagging in iOS 12 shifted from a passive viewing method to an active, customizable file management tool:

  • Inline Tag Editing: Prior to iOS 12, editing tags was limited. With the update, users could edit tags directly from the sidebar. Tapping "Edit" enabled users to delete unused tags, rename existing tags, and assign new color codes without leaving the app.
  • Drag-and-Drop Tagging: Apple improved drag-and-drop integration, allowing users to apply a tag by simply dragging a file or folder directly onto any tag listed in the sidebar.
  • Multi-Tag Filtering: Selecting a tag in the sidebar instantly filtered and displayed all associated files across various storage locations, whether stored locally "On My iPhone/iPad" or within iCloud Drive.
  • Context Menu Tagging: Users could quickly tag documents from the contextual pop-up menu by long-pressing an item and selecting "Tags," making it easier to apply multiple tags to a single file at once.