iPadOS 15: Files App Gains NTFS Support, Progress Indicator, and More

Apple in iPadOS 15 has added the ability to access NTFS-formatted media from within the Files app. The additional support for the Windows-related format, first discovered by YouTuber Steven Fjordstrøm, is read-only, so like on macOS you can't modify files stored on NTFS devices, but you can at least copy any data on them for working on elsewhere on your iPad.

files app ipados 15
The Files app has also gotten a new circular progress indicator to indicate the transfer of data when moving or copying files. Tapping the graphic opens a larger progress bar showing further details on the data transferred/remaining, the estimated time remaining, and the ability to cancel the transfer.

In another notable addition to the Files app, if you're using a mouse or trackpad, it's now possible to click-hold and drag a selection box over multiple files and folders to perform batch actions, such as compress, move, copy, and so on. Lastly, you can also now use Groups as a view option, so that files and folders are arranged on the screen in separate sections according to kind.

What do you think about the new additions to the Files app? Let us know in the comments. iPadOS 15 is currently going through beta testing with developers, with a public beta due out next month and an official release in the fall.

Related Forum: iOS 15

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Top Rated Comments

Calle68 Avatar
48 months ago
Good for year 1994!
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
femike Avatar
48 months ago
Baby steps Apple, you can't rush this. Waiting in anticipation for write access in 2035.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
48 months ago

The platform vendor implementing most of the important features while third parties can do enhanced versions with even more features is, IMHO, exactly how it should work.
We will have to agree to disagree. I think Apple can do far more they just choose not to.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cupcakes2000 Avatar
48 months ago

If the iPad wants to be taken seriously it needs a fully functioning operating system. iPadOS just doesn’t cut it.
Not fully functioning implies broken, however it’s not broken, it functions perfectly well.

Perhaps what you meant to say is that untill iPadOS does what you feel it should do, then you will take it seriously.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple Mac Daz Avatar
48 months ago

Thanks! I was looking like crazy for them:).
A good “normal” file manager is THE one big missing feature on IpadOS. This if Ipad wants to be taken seriously.
If the iPad wants to be taken seriously it needs a fully functioning operating system. iPadOS just doesn’t cut it.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BornAgainMac Avatar
48 months ago
I wish the Files app and a way to click to download an entire directory tree in the iCloud Drive to be downloaded to local storage.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)