If you do not open a file for a long time, it is often only in the iCloud and you cannot access it without internet. This is how you prevent that.
This way you can always access a file
The Files app automatically syncs with you iCloud and that ensures that you have access to your files anytime, anywhere. Provided there is an internet connection of course. If you do not open a file for a long time, it often happens that the file is suddenly no longer on your iPhone, but only in your iCloud. Apple does this to save space on your iPhone. You can recognize these files by a cloud icon.
In general, it is not a problem at all that this happens. You are connected to the internet and opening the file is lightning fast. So fast that you don’t even notice that the file is in your iCloud and not on your iPhone. Things change when the power goes out, or at least when you no longer have internet. Because then you won’t be able to access it at all. Fortunately, you can easily prevent this:
- Open the Files app;
- Browse to the file you want to save;
- Long press on the file and choose ‘Save download’.
The file will now be immediately put back on your iPhone. If you have performed the above steps, you can be sure that this file will always remain on your iPhone from now on. And that means that you can always access it, even if, for example, you no longer have any internet access during a power outage. We recommend doing this with all your important files so you never get an unpleasant surprise!
By the way, you can do the same on your MacBook. Just search for the file in question in Finder, Ctrl-click it and click Save Download. The file will then be permanently saved to your Mac.
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