Fix Incoming for Google Drive Issue Preventing Many File Types From Opening in Apple's Files App [Updated] - MacRumors
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Fix Incoming for Google Drive Issue Preventing Many File Types From Opening in Apple's Files App [Updated]

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Since the Google Drive app for iOS was updated earlier this month, several iPhone and iPad users have been unable to open Microsoft Word documents and many other file types in Apple's Files app for iOS 11 or iCloud Drive app for iOS 10.

google drive docx files
Instead, when users with the Google Drive app installed attempt to open a DOCX file in the Files or iCloud Drive apps, for example, the Google Drive app automatically opens and displays a prompt to save the file.

MacRumors has been able to duplicate the issue, which is likely a Google Drive problem rather than a Files or iCloud Drive one.

The only solution to the problem for now appears to be uninstalling the Google Drive app. Google has yet to comment on the matter, but it will presumably have to release another update to the Google Drive app to fix this issue.

Update: The issue appears to be the result of Google registering for the "public.data" UTI and setting its handler rank to "owner." Then, the latest update to Google Drive seemingly added open-in-place support for "public.data," which is all data types, and became the default opener for many other file types.

A source familiar with the matter informed MacRumors that Google is aware of the issue and working on a fix.

Update 2: Google Drive has been updated and no longer hijacks file opening duties in Files or iCloud Drive.

Tags: Files, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Microsoft, Microsoft Office

Top Rated Comments

Phil A. Avatar
Phil A.
112 months ago
The files app is a bit of a mess and will remain so until developers embrace it properly. On this issue, the solution I use is to open Word first and then select the file by going to the "other" location which opens the files interface and you can open the file from there

It's not ideal, but better than nothing
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cmaier Avatar
cmaier
112 months ago
The issue is that google drive registers itself to open all files that don't have other apps that register as open-in-place
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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