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Apple’s iOS 26 introduces a brand-new ‘Preview’ feature to streamline how users interact with files and media on iPhones. Soon after the release of iPhone 17, the iOS 26 update made headlines with multiple features and app-related issues.
Amidst all the talk, the Apple Preview app stands out through its features and functionality. From faster file viewing to interactive content, this addition could redefine productivity for iPhone users. Let’s take a look at how the app works and how one can enable it.
A macOS staple for years, Preview allows users to view files, sign documents, edit images, and even convert formats. There are only a few programs that have stayed relevant since the 1980s for macOS, and Preview is one of them.
Introduced in 1989, Preview served a simple purpose of quickly loading up images and PDF (Portable Document Format) files. For Mac users, Preview reduced the waiting time to open up an image editor or bulky software tool to check the contents of a file.
With new features like image editing tools and digital sign tools, Preview has vastly increased the productivity of Apple users. The feature, however, had been absent on iPhones until iOS 26.
Also Read: Apple Music’s iOS 26 Upgrade Brings Lyrics Translation, Karaoke Mode, AutoMix, and More
Users can launch Preview from the home screen’s App Library (inside the Productivity & Finance group) or by searching for it on the Search button. Preview will also start by default when users tap on a compatible file in various other apps, including the Files app.
Previously handled through the Files or Notes apps, the Preview app will help iPhone users to quickly view pictures and PDFs on mobile.
Supporting almost all formats, when users open an image file using the Preview app, three dots appear in the top right corner to rotate it, change its size, flip it, and quickly remove the background.
From editing to digital signatures and document scanning, working on PDFs will also become easier with the Preview app. Users can navigate the three dots up in the top right corner of the screen to get options for rotating the current document page or jumping to a specific page. By tapping on a page in the document, a little pop-up icon will appear on the left to get a thumbnail view of the pages in the PDF.
To scan a document into Preview, users need to position the first page of the document in the viewfinder, and it should be automatically snapped. Users can save the file after adding pages, followed by clicking on the checkbox in the top right corner.
The app is available for devices ranging from the 11th generation to iPhone 17 and its variant lineup. With Preview, users can now use it for everyday work, such as viewing, combining, and sharing PDFs and images without third-party tools on their iPhones.
However, for heavy PDF authoring like advanced OCR, redaction at scale, or complex form creation, users are advised to consider other advanced tools.
