Preview App on iPhone & iPad: iOS 26 Guide

This guide walks you through the new Preview app in iOS 26 on iPhone and iPad. You’ll learn how to open, view, annotate, and share PDFs and images using the built-in tools, plus how to use the new smart features like auto-fill and AI-powered search. No special setup is needed—the app comes preinstalled with iOS 26.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone or iPad running iOS 26 or later (check Settings > General > Software Update).
• Some PDFs or images stored on your device or in iCloud Drive to practice with.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Preview App – Locate the Preview icon on your Home Screen (a white document with a blue magnifying glass). If you can’t find it, swipe down on the Home Screen and search for “Preview.” Tap to open.
2. Import a File – Tap the plus (+) button in the top-left corner, then choose “Browse” to pick a file from Files, or “Photo Library” to select an image. You can also drag and drop files from other apps if you’re using Split View.
3. View Your Document – Once opened, you’ll see the document in a clean reading view. Swipe left or right to move between pages (for PDFs) or pinch to zoom. Tap the thumbnail icon (a rectangle with a line) in the top-right to see all pages in a grid.
4. Annotate with Markup – Tap the pen icon in the top-right toolbar to enter Markup mode. Here you can draw, add text, highlight, and more. Use the color palette at the bottom to change pen color, and the slider to adjust thickness.
5. Add Text or Shapes – In Markup mode, tap the plus (+) at the bottom right to add a text box, signature, magnifier, or shapes like arrows and rectangles. Drag them to position, and use the blue handles to resize.
6. Use Smart Fill (iOS 26 feature) – If you have a form PDF, tap the “Fill” button (a pencil with a checkmark) in the top-right. Preview will automatically detect fields and let you tap to fill them in. For text fields, a keyboard appears; for checkboxes, just tap.
7. Search Within a PDF – Tap the magnifying glass in the top-right to search. Type a word or phrase; results appear as thumbnails. Tap one to jump to that page. In iOS 26, search can also find handwritten notes and text in images.
8. Share or Export – When done, tap the Share button (square with an arrow) to send the file via AirDrop, Mail, Messages, or save to Files. You can also choose “Print” to create a PDF copy.
9. Organize Your Documents – Back in the main Preview screen, you’ll see all your recent documents. Swipe left on a document to delete or pin it. Tap “Edit” in the top-right to select multiple documents and move them into folders.

Common Mistakes

• Not saving annotations – Annotations are saved automatically, but if you force-quit the app immediately after marking, you might lose them. Wait a few seconds or swipe away from the app normally.
• Using Markup on a photo without duplicating – If you annotate a photo from your library, the original is modified. To keep the original, duplicate the photo first (Share > Duplicate) or use a copy.
• Confusing Preview with Files – Preview is a viewer/editor, not a file manager. To move files between folders, use the Files app.
• Forgetting to exit Markup – If you can’t scroll or zoom, you might still be in Markup mode. Tap the pen icon again to exit.

Tips

• Use Apple Pencil for precision – On iPad, an Apple Pencil makes drawing and handwriting much easier. You can also set it to only start Markup when you tap with the pencil (Settings > Preview > Apple Pencil).
• Quick signature – In Markup, tap the plus (+) > Signature to add a saved signature. You can also create a new one by drawing with your finger.
• Dark mode reading – In Settings > Preview, enable “Smart Invert” to make PDFs easier to read at night without altering colors.
• Use Split View for multitasking – Drag a document to the side of the screen to open it in Split View, so you can reference it while working in another app.

Troubleshooting

• Preview won’t open a file – Make sure the file format is supported (PDF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, HEIC). If it’s a large file, try closing other apps to free memory. If it still fails, restart your device.
• Annotations not showing when shared – Check that you’ve exited Markup mode and that the file is saved as a PDF (not an image). When sharing, choose “PDF” as the format if you want to keep annotations.
• Smart Fill not detecting fields – This feature works best with clear, digital PDFs. If the form is a scanned image, you may need to use the text tool manually. Try converting the scan to a searchable PDF first (in Files, tap the file > Share > “Create PDF”).
• Search not finding text – Ensure the PDF has a text layer. If it’s a scanned document, run OCR by tapping the “Enhance” button in the search bar (iOS 26 feature) to make text searchable.
• App crashes or freezes – Update to the latest iOS version, then force-quit Preview (swipe up from bottom and hold, then swipe the app away). If it persists, delete the app and reinstall from the App Store (your documents are safe).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Preview available on all iPhones and iPads?

Preview is available on devices that support iOS 26, which includes iPhone 11 and later, and iPad Pro 3rd gen and later, iPad Air 3rd gen and later, iPad mini 5th gen and later, and iPad 8th gen and later.

Can I edit PDFs in Preview?

Yes, you can annotate, fill forms, add signatures, and even reorder or delete pages (by tapping the thumbnail view and dragging or using the trash icon). However, you cannot edit existing text directly—you’d need a dedicated PDF editor for that.

Does Preview replace the Files app?

No, Preview is a viewer/editor, while Files is a file manager. You can open files from Files in Preview, but you’ll still use Files to organize and store them.

How do I convert an image to PDF in Preview?

Open the image in Preview, tap the Share button, then choose “Print.” In the print preview, pinch out with two fingers to zoom in, then tap the Share icon again and select “Save to Files” to save as a PDF.

Can I use Preview offline?

Yes, Preview works fully offline. You can view, annotate, and share files without an internet connection. iCloud sync will update when you’re back online.

Is my data safe in Preview?

Preview stores your documents locally and in iCloud if you enable iCloud Drive. Your annotations are saved in the file itself. Apple encrypts iCloud data in transit and at rest, but always be cautious when sharing sensitive documents.

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