Get files from iPhone through Linux

Two questions:

1、I am an embedded software developer. How can I get files from iPhone through Linux?

2、What is the file system of iPhone?

iPhone 13, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 14, 2023 8:41 AM

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2 replies

Sep 14, 2023 9:11 AM in response to Jon_Huang

Jon_Huang wrote:

Two questions:
1、I am an embedded software developer. How can I get files from iPhone through Linux?
2、What is the file system of iPhone?


1: Use an sftp, WebDAV, or some other equivalent add-on app, and transfer the files directly. Apple platforms have additional options, including iCloud Files. Alternatively, update debugging-built versions of the app to transfer the files directly.


2: APFS


3: It is easy to infer use of a third-party app-development framework here and not Xcode and the Apple app development tools, I would encourage discussing these details and other with with folks more familiar with the particular third-party app-development framework you’re using for your app. If you’re using React or Flutter or such for instance, there are places on the ‘net with far more depth of knowledge and far more discussions of those than I’ve encountered around here.

Sep 15, 2023 5:58 PM in response to Jon_Huang

What files are you looking to get?


It is easy to retrieve pictures since the iPhone appears like a camera when connected on many Linux systems.


For accessing other things, you would need to utilize the libimobiledevice project.

https://libimobiledevice.org


Unfortunately Apple keeps changing the APIs so things can break. Plus I don't think there is a lot you can access. It has been a while since I utilized this utility, but I didn't see much use except to make a local backup of the iPhone. While I could access some other items such as Notes on the iPhone, I could only read the really old notes I had stored....Apple changed the format where I could "read" data, but it needed to be heavily parsed.



Get files from iPhone through Linux

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