AppleFileViewer

Free & open source · Windows · macOS · Linux

Your iPhone backups, finally readable.

AppleFileViewer opens the backups that iTunes, Finder or Apple Devices save on your computer and shows your photos, messages, WhatsApp chats, calls, notes and more — offline, read-only and free.

Download Other platforms

Latest release on GitHub

AppleFileViewer showing a photo library with albums AppleFileViewer showing a photo library with albums

Everything in your backup, one click away

A native-feeling desktop app for the data iPhone keeps in its local backups.

  • Photos & videos

    Camera roll with albums, favorites and smart albums. HEIC and videos play without extra codecs.

  • Messages

    iMessage and SMS conversations with attachments, in a familiar chat layout.

  • WhatsApp

    Private and group chats with sender names, photos, videos and voice notes.

  • Calls & voicemail

    Full call history and voicemail recordings you can play and save.

  • Notes

    Apple Notes with folders and rich text formatting preserved.

  • Voice Memos

    Listen to and export your recordings.

  • Contacts

    Your address book, used everywhere to show names instead of numbers.

  • Global search

    Press Ctrl/⌘ + K to search messages, chats, notes and contacts at once.

  • Export

    Save conversations and data as PDF, HTML, CSV, TXT, JSON or vCard; copy original media files.

  • Encrypted backups

    Unlock password-protected backups right in the app.

  • Light, dark, EN/TR

    Follows your system theme; English and Turkish interface.

  • Windows, macOS, Linux

    One app, the same features on every desktop platform.

Screenshots

Captured from the real app using a synthetic demo backup.

Backups found automatically — encrypted ones are marked
Device and backup overview
Message threads with attachments
Notes with folders
Global search across the whole backup
Unlocking an encrypted backup

Private by design

Your backup contains your whole life. It never leaves your computer.

  • Works fully offline — no account, no cloud, no uploads.
  • No telemetry, analytics or tracking of any kind.
  • Read-only: your backup files are never modified.
  • Decrypted data lives in a temporary folder and is wiped when you lock the backup or quit.
  • Open source under the MIT license — anyone can audit the code.

Encrypted backups supported

If “Encrypt local backup” is on for your iPhone, the backup is protected with a password. AppleFileViewer can unlock it:

  1. Select the backup marked LOCKED.
  2. Enter the backup password you chose in iTunes, Finder or Apple Devices.
  3. Browse as usual. Lock it again (or quit) and the decrypted copy is deleted.

The password is never stored. If you forgot it, nobody — including this app — can recover the backup.

Download

Free for everyone. Pick the file for your computer.

The app is not code-signed, so your system shows a warning the first time. See “First launch” below — it takes a few seconds. All releases & release notes

First launch of an unsigned app

Code-signing certificates cost money every year; this free app skips them. Here is how to open it safely.

  1. Run AppleFileViewer-Windows-Setup.exe (or the portable .exe).
  2. If “Windows protected your PC” (SmartScreen) appears, click More info → Run anyway.
  3. Backups are found automatically in %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup (iTunes) and %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup (Apple Devices / Microsoft Store iTunes).

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free?

Yes. It is open source under the MIT license: free to use, share and modify.

Does it need my iPhone connected?

No. It reads the backup that is already on your computer. Make a fresh backup with iTunes, Finder or Apple Devices first if you want the latest data.

Can it change or damage my backup?

No. Everything is opened read-only; the app works on temporary copies.

Where are my backups stored?

Windows: %APPDATA%\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup or %USERPROFILE%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup. macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup. You can also pick any folder, e.g. on an external drive.

Why does my system warn me about the app?

The app is not signed with a paid certificate. The source code and build pipeline are public on GitHub; see “First launch” for how to open it.

Does it send any data anywhere?

No. There is no telemetry. The only optional network access is checking GitHub for a newer version.

Is this an Apple product?

No. It is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc.