For years, I’ve relied on the Preview app on my Mac for viewing images and marking up documents. That’s why I was so excited to see that Apple has finally brought the Preview app to the iPhone with iOS 26. This new app is a powerful tool for viewing, editing, and annotating files right on my phone. It’s much more than just a simple image viewer.
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The Preview app is bundled with iOS 26 and feels like a natural extension of the Files app. I can use it to open a wide range of file types, including images and PDFs. It’s particularly great for tasks like filling out and signing digital forms, which used to be a real hassle on a mobile device.
Whether I’m scanning a document or making quick edits to an image, the Preview app has quickly become one of my go-to productivity tools. Let’s take a look at what it can do.
📄 Viewing and Managing Documents
When I open the Preview app, the main screen shows my recent files. This makes it easy to quickly access documents I’ve been working on. The app is deeply integrated with the Files app and iCloud Drive, so any document I have stored there is accessible within Preview.
One of the features I use most is the document scanner. By tapping the scan icon, I can use my iPhone’s camera to create a high-quality scan of a physical document. The app automatically detects the edges of the page and corrects for any distortion, resulting in a clean and legible digital copy. The scanned document is then saved as a PDF in my Files app.
I can also create new documents directly from the app. There’s an option to start a new empty image, which is great for quick sketches. I can also create a new document from whatever I have on my clipboard. This is a handy shortcut for grabbing an image from another app and bringing it into Preview for editing.
🖋️ Marking Up and Signing Forms
Where the Preview app truly shines for me is in its markup capabilities. When I open an image or a PDF, I can tap the Markup icon to bring up a full suite of annotation tools. I can draw on the document with different pens and highlighters, add text boxes, or even use a magnifier to call attention to a specific area.
This is incredibly useful for providing feedback on a document or highlighting important information. The tools are intuitive and responsive, making it easy to mark up files with precision, even on a smaller screen. The plus icon reveals even more tools, like adding shapes or a sticker.
The ability to fill in and sign PDF forms is a huge productivity booster. When I open a form, Preview automatically detects the fields where I can type. To sign the document, I can go into the Markup tools, tap the plus icon, and select ‘Add Signature’. I can create and save my signature, and then easily place it anywhere on the document. It makes dealing with digital paperwork so much simpler.
🖼️ Quick Image Edits
While the Photos app is still my primary tool for photo editing, the Preview app is perfect for making quick adjustments to images. I can perform basic edits like cropping and rotating right from within the app. It’s a convenient way to make minor changes without having to switch to another application.
The markup tools are also great for annotating images. I can draw arrows to point things out, add text to explain something, or just doodle on a picture for fun. It’s a versatile set of tools that works just as well for images as it does for documents.
Overall, the Preview app is a fantastic addition to iOS 26. It fills a gap in the iPhone’s built-in productivity suite and brings a level of functionality that I previously had to rely on my Mac for. It’s a powerful and flexible tool that I know I’ll be using on a daily basis. I also wrote about another new app, check out my guide to the Games app.
- The New Games App in iOS 26 – A Gamer’s Guide
- Liquid Glass in iOS 26 – An In-Depth Look at the New Design
- iOS 26 – A Complete Guide to What’s New
- Mastering the iOS 26 Lock Screen – A How-To Guide
- Apple Intelligence in iOS 26 – A Practical Guide
- How to Use NameDrop in iOS 26 – The New Way to Share
- iOS 26 Messages App – A Guide to Advanced Features
