Open iPhone file system. Slice the apples. What's inside the iOS file system? Continuation is available only to members
Taig Jailbreak Tool version 2.1.2 was recently released to resolve UI Cache and Cydia issues. If you have already done it using Taig, then it will be useful for you to install afc2 now.
Afc2 gives you full access to file iOS systems via USB, using third party tools such as iFile or IEXPLORER. Without installing this package, you will not be able to access the root file system. To learn how to install afc2 package on jailbroken iOS 8.3 devices, follow these instructions.
How to install afc2 after jailbreaking iOS 8.3
Step 1: Open Cydia from the home screen of your iOS device.
Step 2: Click on the “Search” tab.
Step 3: Type “Apple file” into the search bar and you will see Apple File Conduit “2”. Click on it to open it.
Step 4: Click the button Install then Confirmation to download and install the package on your iOS device. After this, be sure to respring for the changes to take effect.
Once you reboot your device, you will be able to access the iOS file system using third-party tools such as IEXPLORER or iFunBox. Read on to find out more about this.
How to Browse File System Using iOS IEXPLORER
Step 1: Download and install an iOS file manager such as IEXPLORER (download) or iFunBox (download). In our example, we will use IEXPLORER.
Step 2: After installation, connect your iOS device to your computer using USB cable and run IEXPLORER.
Step 3: Find and click on the “root” item, which is located in the sidebar. You will now have access to your device's file system and can browse it freely. If afc2 is not installed, you will not see the Root folder.
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When working with a jailbroken iOS device, problems may arise that can only be solved by modifying the files. And for this you need to know the basic structure of the file system, understand where everything is and which files are responsible for what, where programs and tweaks are installed and how they interact with each other. We'll talk about all this.
Main directories and files
iOS - UNIX-like operating system and uses a very similar file system structure to UNIX and OS X. The "folder" here is called a "directory", and the file system "grows" from the root /. The ~ sign denotes the user's home directory. In normal mode, this is the directory /var/mobile/, in root user mode - /var/root. Some directories are standard for UNIX systems. This is /boot - here in UNIX the system kernel and RAM disk are located (in iOS the kernel is located in the /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.kernelcaches/kernelcache directory), /etc - settings for low-level services, /tmp - temporary files, /bin - commands to run using the terminal, /mnt - mount point for external file systems (flash drives, etc. are connected here).
The directories that are most interesting to us are /System, /Library and /var. This is where the operating system itself (the first directory), system data (the second), application settings and their data (the third) are stored.
Standard (pre-installed) applications are located in the /Applications directory. The executable files of Cydia, Zeusmos and some other .app programs are also located here, the installation of which requires a jailbreak. There are many more files here than there are icons on the iOS desktop, since some internal services are also located here, separated as separate applications (Facebook service built into iOS, Print Center and some others). On an unjailbroken device, this directory is updated only when the entire firmware is updated, but some applications from Cydia are installed in it, like the Cydia store itself.
Downloaded from App Store applications are stored in /var/mobile/Containers/Bundle/Application , each in its own subdirectory. The names of these subdirectories are encoded, and in order to understand what kind of application it is, you need to go into the directory and move to the next one. Applications not installed from App Store, are also usually found here. Each application is assigned a subdirectory in the /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application directory, within which the application stores its settings and data created during operation. We will look at its structure in more detail later.
System updates are downloaded to the /var/mobile/MobileSoftwareUpdate directory. They can be removed via standard application"Settings". All wallpapers are stored in /Library/Wallpaper and system sounds- in /System/Library/Audio/UISounds, music and video from the computer - in /var/mobile/Media/iTunes_Control/Music.
The directory /var/mobile/Library/caches/com.saurik.Cydia is especially worth mentioning. This is where tweak deb packages are stored until Springboard is restarted. If you need to download a tweak to your computer, you can get it from here. Also, during installation, tweaks often create additional directories where they store their own data. Usually such directories are mentioned in the tweaks' documentation.
Programs for working with the device’s FS directly
There are several programs for working with the FS of a device after jailbreak.
- iTools is a program for Mac and Windows that allows you to add and delete files to the file system. This is where its functions end. An advantage for many may be the bookmarks bar to the left of the FS viewing window, where you can find programs, tweaks, ringtones or device wallpapers.
- iFunBox - has significantly more possibilities. With its help, you can create directories, delete, rename files or export them to a PC. The only thing that is surprising is the lack of search in the FS.
- Filza File Manager - allows you to view file metadata directly on the device, rename, move, delete them, and open many types of files. There is a built-in search for folders and simultaneous work with several files.
- iFile is superior to Filza File Manager in many ways. Some opportunities are only available after payment full version program, however, the interface in the utility is more convenient and understandable.
Of course, work with file system You can also use the terminal. There is full support for UNIX commands, so managing the FS will be very fast and convenient.
Application directories and sandboxes
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Unlike Windows and Android, iOS does not have a file system accessible to users, but this does not mean that the iPhone or iPad cannot be used as a file manager. If your job involves processing files and documents that you need to upload, edit, and forward, third-party applications are almost indispensable. Below we will look at several file managers for iOS devices that will help you work with documents.
First, let's figure out what requirements a good file manager should meet. A good file manager should excel at the following functions:
Import: A file manager is required to quickly import files and documents, and the more import options, the better.
Control: A good file manager should give the user complete freedom of action with files. The user should be able to create folders, set tags, change the color indicators of files, archive folders, and much more.
Export: A file manager from which you can’t “get” anything is useless. Users should be able to export any file to another application for viewing and editing.
Documents by Readdle
Documents is the best third-party file and document manager for iPhone and iPad. The app is completely free and comes with every feature you can imagine. Documents makes it easy to import files (from your computer, cloud storage, web pages, etc.) and manage them (drag, share, archive, add tags, and more).
Documents works great with all formats, including text, video and audio files. The application allows you to read books, listen to music, share files, view PDF, etc.
In the era of cloud data synchronization, Documents gives you the peace of mind that all your important files are stored locally on your device, and iCloud won't delete old but important photos if it suddenly runs out free space. With Documents, you don't have to worry about Dropbox not syncing properly when you don't have a strong internet connection. Everything you need will always be at your fingertips.
Files from Apple
Starting with iOS 11, iPhone and iPad have a new standard Files app, replacing the outdated iCloud Drive. For users Mac new the file manager may seem similar to Finder.
The Files app is built into iOS and allows you to connect to multiple cloud storage services within one app. If you are using several cloud services, such as iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive, and you want one central place where you can manage all the files stored in them, the Files app is just what you need.
As for importing files, the Apple application has a drawback here - the application does not have the ability to download files from the Internet or transfer via Wi-Fi. However, this shortcoming is fully compensated by the presence of a wide range of functions for managing and sharing files. For example, Files lets you drag and drop documents not only within the app (you can use this feature to add tags, mark favorites, and move files and folders) but also into and out of it.
The oldest popular powerful tool for working with files, appreciated by millions of users.
If you often work with PDF documents on your iPhone or iPad, GoodReader will become an indispensable assistant for you. The application allows you to import files from cloud storages, local servers or computer and sort into folders.
GoodReader makes scrolling through documents on your iPad a pleasure. Of course, smooth scrolling is not something out of the ordinary, but many applications fail to cope with this task. GoodReader is one of the few apps that lets you scroll through countless pages of multi-volume PDF documents without huffing or puffing.
Among other things, the application allows you to add annotations to documents. You can type text in the corresponding text fields or write manually using Apple Pencil. GoodReader also has the ability to add stickers to pages of PDF documents.
FileBrowser not only has features that no decent file manager would be without, but also the ability to connect to a remote computer and work with the files on it!
The application allows you to view, copy, move, download and upload, stream files between computers, servers, NAS drives and cloud storage without the need to download additional software. Geeks and system administrators will appreciate it.
FileBrowser supports a huge number of different media file and document formats.
It has everything you could possibly want from a file manager for iOS: access to remote computers, file servers and NAS, an interface for working with cloud storage and with files on your gadget, a built-in reader for all popular photo, audio and video formats, documents and PDF files.
Users Jailbreak iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch due to opening additional features, and one of the main ones is access to the device’s file system. It was discovered that after “hacking” gadgets on iOS 7.1.x using the Pangu exploit, such access to system files missing and work with them through file managers iTools, iFunBox and iExplorer being analogues of iTunes is impossible. Therefore, Cydia creator Jay Freeman released a special tweak Apple File Conduit 2, which eliminates this problem.
The Apple File Conduit 2 utility is fully compatible with all iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches running iOS 7.1.x.
How to give full access to the file system of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch on iOS 7.1.x:
1. It is assumed that you have already jailbroken your iOS gadget; if not, you can read the instructions in the article on our website, and also learn about the pros and cons of jailbreaking.
2. Open the Cydia store of third-party applications and tweaks, update all repositories.
3. Open the tweak search tab, enter “Apple File Conduit 2” in the field.
4. In the list that opens, select the one you need and install it by clicking on the button in the upper right corner.
5. Once the Apple File Conduit 2 installation process is completed, be sure to restart your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
Tweak Apple File Conduit 2 provides full access to the file system of an i-device running iOS 7.1.x for desktop file managers such as iTools, iFunBox and iExplorer.
One of the big (albeit unclear to me) problems with iOS, opponents of Apple's platform often mention the need to use iTunes to work with the phone. Although Apple is increasingly “freeing” users from the need to use “tuna” every year, they have not completely succeeded. Fortunately for all iTunes haters, a wonderful program has been in development for several years that allows you to manage your iPhone with ease and grace. Its name is iExplorer, and it can do a lot.
We have already repeatedly referred to this program in our publications. For example, how to use it to change the icon Google Chrome, and here is - in which we showed how to solve the problem of “stuck” applications. But we haven’t yet had a full review of iExplore.
I will not dwell on the program interface - honor and praise to the developers for making it standard. I don’t know about anyone, but I really love it when applications are made in the OS X style and use system design and behavior. In the end, if I wanted different-looking programs, I would have stayed with Windows, especially since there is also a version of iExplorer for this OS. It's better to talk about functionality.
What can the program do? Essentially it has two uses. The first use of iExplorer is to access the phone's file system. Of course, you won’t get full access to all folders without jailbreaking, but the program still has a lot of benefits. Although it is worth noting that iExplorer also supports working with jail, providing more access. What useful things can iExplore do on your phone without jailbreaking?
The very first thing that many people are missing is the ability to download songs from your iOS device to your computer. To the delight of copyright advocates, Apple limited this function; unfortunately for them, Macroplant circumvented this restriction. You can simply download music to a folder on the disk, and iExplorer sees music that you don’t have in iTunes and automatically adds it. There is a function to fully automatically synchronize your entire media library with iTunes when you connect your phone. iExplorer easily syncs metadata such as track play counts and star ratings you've given to songs. You can also conveniently access voicemail, voice recorder recordings and ringtones.
Another useful feature is full-fledged work with photographs: you can easily download photos, upload wallpapers, and so on. For photos (as for almost all files), a preview works in the upper right corner of the window, and by pressing the space bar, the file opens using Quick Look.
In turn, access to the application file system opens up a lot of interesting possibilities, such as editing save files in games (of course, if you know what, where and how to edit).
We smoothly move on to the second application of this miraculous program. At a fairly low price, it can act as a forensics tool, that is, for studying the data contained in your (or not quite your) phone. We have already written about and, what can an amateur do?
Quite a lot actually. iExplorer works with local backups of your phone (and, if necessary, can make them itself) and retrieves various data from them. Here you can delve into the phone book (and even export contacts to address book OS X), view calendar and ToDo tasks, read notes and messages, view call history and browser bookmarks.
Don't forget about applications that do not provide reliable data storage. The sqlite databases in the program directories contain a lot of interesting information, in some cases even your passwords.
iExplorer can mount almost any folder on your iOS device as a disk for easy access by other programs, so digging around in your phone will be very convenient.
Don't leave your iPhone unattended for long if you value the information on it, or protect it with a code (if you're not afraid to forget it).
This is not a complete list of the capabilities of this interesting and unusual program, but listing them completely would inflate the review to obscene proportions, so if you are interested, you can check out the detailed list on the developers’ website. Moreover, there is a lot of additional documentation and lessons there.
As a cool bonus, you can download a very good one on the developers’ website free converter audio and video files Adapter.
Name: iExplorer
Developer: Macroplant
Price: 34,99 $
In-App Purchases: No
Download: For OS X
P.S. Thanks to the courtesy of the developers, we have several licenses for this application that we will give away to our subscribers at