Sometimes I want to download files straight from the link on a website as it can be done on a desktop computer. I'm not talking about streaming video sites like YouTube, just plain href links designed to be downloaded with something like right-click and "Download linked file as…" on a PC or Mac.
On Android, for example, I can tap on a video link and have the MP4 file saved locally in a downloads folder so I can watch it offline. So I am wondering how I can do the same on an iPhone (running iOS 12)?
I've seen an answer on the Apple Discussion forum that involves clicking on the share button in Safari. One of the actions is download to Dropbox (which I haven't managed to get working yet) but I cannot see "save to Files", at least for videos, which is what I need.
Also tried two apps that have an integrated browser that lets you download the files when tapping the link. I've found them to be extremely unreliable as I couldn't get them to finish downloading a full video, so I gave up on them.
From an old similar question for the iPad I'm guessing it's not possible, but I just want to be sure if there any good solutions that I'm missing, or will have to develop my own application or switch to Android? Seems like a basic functionality to me.
Best Answer
Safari is getting a download manager in iOS 13 which is due to release sometime later this fall.