A listing for an unannounced app named “Files” has been spotted on the iOS App Store only a number of hours before the Worldwide Developers Conference that takes place in San Jose today. This suggests that Apple plans to allow users direct file management access in iOS 11.
Although it has now been pulled, the app was spotted in the Utilities section of the App Store by developer Steven Troughton-Smith late on Sunday. No information was given alongside the app but the blue folder icon is similar to that used on MacOS and there were requirements regarding iOS 11 and a 64-bit file structure support.
We can only speculate at present but the brief appearance of Files may suggest that Apple may be on the verge of releasing an app that could allow users to directly access iOS system and app files.
Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, Apple have gone to great lengths to hide individual files from users of its portable devices, leaving data management to apps and services. However, although this keeps iOS simple some users regard it as a weakness. In iOS 10, Apple introduced the long-requested ability to remove first-party apps from the home screen, instead making them default apps that users can reinstall at a later date.
Troughton-Smith also noticed a listing for the Activities app, suggesting that this will be a removeable item in iOS 11 too.
