Apple released iOS 26 on September 15, 2025, introducing the Preview app to iPhone users worldwide. The new app provides tools for editing PDFs and images without requiring third-party software. Preview has been a standard feature on Mac computers for years and now brings similar capabilities to mobile devices.
What the Preview app does
The Preview app allows users to view, edit, and manage PDF documents and image files in one location [1]. The app automatically appears on the home screen after updating to iOS 26 [2]. Users can open the app to access functions including document scanning, PDF annotation, and image editing [3].
Core editing features available
Preview includes tools for cropping, rotating, and resizing images. Users can also remove backgrounds, draw on photos, and add text or signatures to PDF files [4]. The interface resembles the screenshot editor already present in iOS, making navigation familiar for existing iPhone users [5].
Document scanning and file management
The app includes a document scanning feature that uses the iPhone camera to digitize physical pages [6]. The system automatically detects page edges and corrects alignment during the scanning process. Users can export scanned documents in multiple formats and save them to the Files app or share them through other applications [7].
Preview supports PDF form filling, which lets users complete digital forms directly on their phone. The app also provides a signature tool for signing documents without printing them. Users can search within PDF files to locate specific text or sections quickly [8].
Compatibility and installation process
The iOS 26 update works with devices starting from the iPhone SE second generation and all models in the iPhone 11 series and later [9]. Apple released the update globally on September 15, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
The key capabilities of the Preview app include:
- Scanning physical documents into PDF format
- Adding digital signatures to documents
- Filling out PDF forms electronically
- Cropping and rotating images
- Removing backgrounds from photos
- Annotating PDFs with markup tools
- Exporting files in different formats
- Searching text within PDF documents
Preview consolidates editing functions that previously required multiple separate apps on iPhone. The app comes preinstalled with iOS 26 and serves as the default program for opening PDF and image files from the Files app [10]. Apple designed Preview to unify the experience across Mac, iPhone, and iPad platforms while maintaining a simplified mobile interface.


