iOS 26 and iPados 26: significantly improved film management

Apple’s new operating systems iOS 26 (iPhone) and iPados 26 (iPad) not only get a new, glassy look (“Liquid Glass”), they also bring various improvements in productivity. While the Apple tablet finally receives a reasonable window system, a whole series of practical innovations also spill over on the iPhone. Both platforms are given an improved files app (“Files”) that ends various nicks that have existed for years.

“Open with” and default apps

So far, there has been no possibility in iOS or in iPados to determine which file type was opened with which app. Apple seemed to decide more or less arbitrarily. It often remained the recently installed app for a specific file type, but sometimes an Apple application persisted. In files within iOS 26 and iPados 26 there is now the “Open” command known from the MacOS finder, which can be reached via the context menu. Suitable apps then appear underneath for the file variant. It is also possible to set a default application for a file type so that it will remain with the right opening in the future.

In addition, there is an improved list view on the iPad, which, among other things, has customizable columns and can also fold in – parts of it are also available on the iPhone. Finally, you can also color folders and have emojis, as Apple allows this to be allowed in MacOS 26 for the first time. All in all, the files app on iPhone and iPad is so much more powerful. At first, only the new look is disturbing, which goes hand in hand with more rounded corners and new fonts, some of which are quite thick and take up a lot of space. But you will have to get used to this if Apple does not make any changes here as part of the beta program.

Preview debuts on the iPhone

In the run-up to the presentation of the new operating systems, there had been rumors about their own preview app. This is now not only available under Ipados 26, but also part of iOS 26. Here, too, Apple apparently tries to standardize the platforms.

iOS 26 and Ipados 26 will be released in autumn, we tap September. There is currently a beta phase for developers, from July the public may also Public beta Mittest.