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Your iPad will finally show you files

Apple has resisted exposing files and folders for years, but a new Files app will change that in iOS 11.

Sean Hollister Senior Editor / Reviews
When his parents denied him a Super NES, he got mad. When they traded a prize Sega Genesis for a 2400 baud modem, he got even. Years of Internet shareware, eBay'd possessions and video game testing jobs after that, he joined Engadget. He helped found The Verge, and later served as Gizmodo's reviews editor. When he's not madly testing laptops, apps, virtual reality experiences, and whatever new gadget will supposedly change the world, he likes to kick back with some games, a good Nerf blaster, and a bottle of Tejava.
Sean Hollister
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The new Files app.

James Martin/CNET

Sorting through files and folders may not be your idea of fun -- but as Apple transforms the iPad into a work-ready laptop replacement, those files are coming along for the ride.

The new Files app -- arriving as part of iOS 11 this fall --- looks like pretty much what you'd expect, based on a quick presentation at WWDC 2017. Nested folders and files, with little thumbnail previews of your images and documents. 

Files also supports drag-and-drop, like other first-party apps in iOS 11.

GIF by Donovan Farnham/CNET

There's a grid view, a list view, a Recents page and the options to search and favorite and tag. The best part could be that Apple's trying to make it a one-stop shop for all your files by listing those from iCloud and third-party online storage systems like Box, DropBox, OneDrive, Google Drive and Adobe's Creative Cloud as well.

Update, June 6: Apple confirms that the Files app will appear on iPhone as well.

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Files supports most major third-party cloud storage providers.

James Martin/CNET

See the WWDC live blog here.

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