iExplorer 4.6.0 — macOS

iExplorer for Mac is a practical utility that lets you browse and transfer data from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod without needing a jailbreak. You plug in the device, and the app shows its contents — music, photos, app data, messages, and more — in a straightforward folder view. It also mounts the device as a disk, so moving files back and forth feels like using a regular external drive.

One of the common questions people ask before installing concerns backups. iExplorer can create a full backup of your device on its own, and it can also open backups already stored on your computer. From there, you can export contacts, messages, notes, and call history. If you use iCloud, the app shows content stored there as well, including app data and photos.

Transferring music is another frequent request. iExplorer moves songs and playlists from your iPod, iPhone, or iPad back into iTunes, which is handy if you have music on the device that isn't in your computer's library.

iTunes must be open for iExplorer to detect your device

The most frequent problem people run into is the device not showing up in iExplorer after connecting it. Usually this happens because iTunes isn't running. The app relies on iTunes to communicate with the device, so keep iTunes open in the background. If the device still doesn't appear, unplug it, restart both iTunes and iExplorer, then reconnect the cable. A different USB port or cable can also help — some third-party cables don't pass data reliably.

Another issue that comes up is the app refusing to launch the first time. The Gatekeeper bypass step in the terminal can feel unfamiliar, but it's straightforward. After mounting the disk image, open Terminal, paste the command shown in the installer's instructions, and press Enter. Then drag iExplorer to the Applications folder. If you skip the terminal step, macOS may block the app from opening. You can also right-click the app and select Open from the context menu as a workaround.

People sometimes find that music they transferred from the device doesn't appear in iTunes right away. iExplorer exports the files to a folder on your Mac first. You need to drag those files into iTunes manually, or use iTunes' Add to Library option. The app doesn't place them directly into your iTunes library — it hands you the files, and you decide where they go.

No jailbreak needed for file access on standard iOS devices

Do I need to jailbreak my iPhone to use iExplorer? No. The app works with standard iOS devices connected over USB. It reads the file system through iTunes' device management, so nothing on the phone needs to be modified.

Will this mess up my existing backups? It won't touch them unless you tell it to. iExplorer can create its own backup files, and it can open backups you already have, but it doesn't overwrite or delete anything automatically. Your iTunes backups stay where they are.

Can I get my text messages off an old iPhone onto my Mac? Yes. iExplorer reads messages from the device's backup data and lets you export them. You can save them as text files or PDFs, depending on what you need.

Does it work with the latest version of iOS? Version 4.6.0 includes iOS 16 compatibility improvements, so it should handle devices running that version. Older iOS versions work as well, since the app has been around for a while and supports macOS 10.10 and later.

Retrieve data from an old iPhone using iExplorer's sidebar

Say you have an old iPhone sitting in a drawer. You plug it into your Mac, and iTunes recognizes it. You launch iExplorer, and the device appears in the sidebar with a folder for media, one for app data, and one for backups.

You want the photos first. You click the photos folder, see the thumbnails load in a grid, and select the ones you need. You drag them to a folder on your desktop — no import process, just a file copy. Next, you check the messages. iExplorer shows them threaded, and you export the conversations you want to keep as PDFs.

Then you remember there's a notes app with some information you need. You browse to the app data section, find the notes app's folder, and look through the files. You locate the document and copy it to your Mac.

Finally, you want to put a few music files back onto the phone. You drag them from your Mac into iExplorer's music section, and they transfer over. The whole process takes maybe ten minutes, and you never open iTunes except to keep the connection alive.

Version 4.6.0 brings iOS 16 compatibility improvements, and it runs on macOS 10.10 or later with Intel 64-bit architecture. iTunes is required.

• iOS 16 compatibility improvement.

• macOS 10.10 or later
• Intel 64-bit
• iTunes