How to access the iphone file system. We cut the apples. What's inside the iOS file system? Other methods to access all data on jailbroken devices

Taig jailbreak utility 2.1.2 was recently released to fix UI Cache and Cydia issues. If you have already done with Taig, it will now be useful for you to install afc2.

Afc2 gives you full access to the 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 the afc2 package on jailbroken iOS 8.3 devices, follow this guide.

How to install afc2 after jailbreak 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 that, be sure to do a respring for the changes to take effect.

After you reboot your device, you can access the iOS file system using third party tools like IEXPLORER or iFunBox. Read on to find out more about this.

How to browse the file system using IOS IEXPLORER

Step 1: Download and install file manager for iOS, 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 start IEXPLORER.

Step 3: Find and click on the "root" entry in the sidebar. Now you will 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.

Don't miss the Apple news - subscribe to our Telegram channel, as well as to Youtube channel.

Unlike Windows and Android, iOS does not have a user-accessible file system, but this does not mean that the iPhone or iPad cannot be used as a file manager. If your work involves the processing of files and documents that you need to upload, edit and send, without third party applications you can hardly do it. Below we will look at several file managers for iOS devices that will help you with your documents.

First, let's figure out what requirements a good file manager should meet. A good file manager should do a great job with the following features:

Import: The file manager is required to quickly import files and documents, and the more options to import, the better.

Control: A good file manager should give the user complete freedom to manipulate files. The user should be able to create folders, add tags, change color indicators for files, archive folders, and much more.

Export: A file manager from which you cannot "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 packed with every feature imaginable. Documents lets you easily import and manage files (from computer, cloud storage, web pages, etc.) (drag and drop, share, archive, add tags, and more).

Documents works great with all formats, including text, video and audio files. The app allows you to read books, listen to music, share files, view PDFs, etc.

In the era cloud sync Data Documents gives you a sense of confidence that all your important files are stored locally on the device, and iCloud will not delete old, but necessary photos if it suddenly runs out free place... With Documents, you don't have to worry about Dropbox not syncing properly if you don't have a reliable 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 application Files replacing obsolete iCloud Drive... Users Mac new the file manager may seem similar to the Finder.

The Files app is built into iOS and allows you to connect to multiple cloud storages within a single app. If you are using multiple cloud services iCloud, Dropbox and OneDrive, for example, and you want one central point where you can manage all the files they store, the Files app is just what you need.

As for importing files, Apple's application has a drawback here - the application lacks the ability to download files from the Internet or transfer via Wi-Fi. Nevertheless, this disadvantage is fully compensated for by the presence of a wide range of functions for managing and sharing files. For example, Files allows you to drag and drop documents not only within the app (with this feature, you can add tags, designate favorites, and move files and folders), but also into and out of it.

The oldest popular powerful file management tool, valued by millions of users.

If you often work with PDF documents on iPhone or iPad, GoodReader will become your irreplaceable assistant. The application allows you to import files from cloud storage, local servers or computer and sort into folders.

GoodReader makes scrolling through documents on iPad a pleasure. Of course, smooth scrolling is not something out of the ordinary, but many applications do not cope with this task. GoodReader is one of the few applications with which you can scroll through countless pages of "multivolume" PDF documents without puffing or puffing.

Among other things, the application allows you to add annotations to documents. You can type in the appropriate text fields or write by hand using Apple Pencil. GoodReader also has the ability to add stickers to PDF pages.

FileBrowser has not only functions that no decent file manager can do 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.

FileBrowser has support for a wide variety of media and document formats.

It has everything you could possibly want from an iOS file manager: access to remote computers, file servers and NAS, an interface for working with cloud storage and 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 because of the opening additional opportunities, and one of the main ones - access to the file system of the device. It was found 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 analogous to iTunes is impossible. Therefore, Cydia creator Jay Freeman has released a special tweak. Apple File Conduit 2 that fixes this problem.

Apple File Conduit 2 is fully compatible with all iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch running iOS 7.1.x.

How to open 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, as well as learn about the pros and cons of jailbreaking.

2. Open the store for third-party applications and tweaks Cydia, 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 required one and install it by clicking the button in the upper right corner.

5. After the Apple File Conduit 2 installation process is complete, be sure to restart your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Apple File Conduit 2 tweak opens full access to the file system of the i-device under iOS control 7.1.x for desktop file managers such as iTools, iFunBox and iExplorer.

Among dozens of different file managers for i-gadgets, only a few can be distinguished. However, two programs are especially popular among users: the iFunBox we recently reviewed and the hero of this review - DiskAid.

DiskAid is one of the easiest file managers to manage. While working with it, you will not be required to know the iOS file system, or to connect additional plugins, or anything that could be confusing. Everything is very simple and intuitive.

By connecting your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch to your computer via USB and launching DiskAid, you will immediately see a panel with sections, made in the style of iOS 7. This will start your acquaintance, as well as all further interactions with the program. DiskAid provides the following features:

• Uploading individual photos and entire albums
• Music library management including audiobooks, playlists and podcasts
• Downloading Videos and TV Shows from the iTunes Store
• View and export text messages, call log, contacts and notes
• Control file system directly

For lovers wireless technologies it is possible to connect the device to DiskAid via Wi-Fi. To do this, immediately after starting the program, click the Activate Wi-Fi button. This function favorably distinguishes DiskAid against the background of other file managers, work with which is possible only when connecting an i-device via a USB cable.

The amazing functionality and elegant design of the program is overshadowed by its paid-for. In order to use most of the feature sets, the user needs to purchase DiskAid on the official website for $ 29.90 (previously the program cost much less - $ 9.90).

But the free version of DiskAid can also become an indispensable assistant in managing your i-gadget, especially if your device is jailbroken. DiskAid, like any other file manager, unleashes its full potential on a jailbroken device. Thanks to the functionality of the program (available in free version) you will be able to manage all your tweaks and upload the necessary files to their directories. This can come in handy in a number of cases, for example, when you want to throw off the original WinterBoard theme found on the Internet.

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 basic structure file system, understand where what lies and what files are responsible for what, where programs and tweaks are installed and how they interact with each other. We will talk about all this.

Main directories and files

iOS - UNIX-like operating system and uses a file system structure very similar to UNIX and OS X. The "folder" is referred to here as "directory" and the filesystem "grows" from the root /. The ~ symbol indicates the user's home directory. In normal mode, this is / var / mobile /, in root mode, it is / var / root. Some of the 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 - low-level services settings, / tmp - temporary files, / bin - commands to run using the terminal, / mnt - mount point for external file systems (flash drives are connected here, etc.).

The most interesting directories for us are / System, / Library and / var. This is where the operating system itself (first directory), system data (second), application settings and their data (third) are stored.

Standard (pre-installed) applications are located in the / Applications directory. It also contains executable files for Cydia, Zeusmos and some other .app programs, which require a jailbreak to install. There are much more files here than icons on the iOS desktop, since some internal services are located here, which are highlighted as separate applications (the Facebook service built into iOS, Print Center and some others). On a non-jailbroken device, this directory is updated only when the entire firmware is updated, however, some applications from Cydia are installed in it, like the Cydia store itself.

Downloaded from App Store apps stored in / var / mobile / Containers / Bundle / Application, each in its own subdirectory. The names of these subdirectories are coded, and in order to understand what this application is, you need to go into the directory and go 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, inside which the application stores its settings and data created during operation. We will consider its structure in more detail later.

System updates are downloaded to the / var / mobile / MobileSoftwareUpdate directory. They can be removed through the standard "Settings" application. All wallpapers are stored in / Library / Wallpaper, while system sounds- to / System / Library / Audio / UISounds, music and video from a computer - to / var / mobile / Media / iTunes_Control / Music.

The /var/mobile/Library/caches/com.saurik.Cydia directory is worth mentioning separately. This is where deb packages of tweaks are stored until Springboard is restarted. If you need to download the 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 tweak documentation.

Programs for working with the FS device directly

There are several programs for working with FS after jailbreak.

• iTools is a program for Mac and Windows that allows you to add and delete files in FS. This is where its functions end. An advantage for many can be the bookmarks bar to the left of the FS browser, where you can find programs, tweaks, ringtones or device wallpapers.
• iFunBox - has much more features. It can be used to create directories, delete, rename files or export them to a PC. The only thing that is surprising is the lack of a search by FS.
• Filza File Manager - allows you to view file metadata right on the device, rename, move, delete, open many types of files. There is a built-in folder search and simultaneous work with multiple files.
• iFile is in many ways superior to Filza File Manager. Some opportunities open only after payment full version programs, however, the interface in the utility is more convenient and understandable.

Of course, you can also work with the file system using the terminal. It has full support for UNIX commands, so file system management will be very fast and convenient.

Application directories and sandboxes

Continuation is available only to participants

Option 1. Join the "site" community to read all the materials on the site

Membership in the community within the specified period will open you access to ALL Hacker's materials, increase your personal cumulative discount and allow you to accumulate a professional Xakep Score!